Boston Bruins: Kevan Miller Impressing in Training Camp
With opening night less than a week away, the Boston Bruins' blue line will look very different than just a few months ago. With the departures of Zdeno Chara and Torey Krug, Kevan Miller is now the longest-tenured defenseman on the roster. The Los Angeles native has spent seven seasons in Boston but has not appeared in an NHL game since April of 2019 due to a broken kneecap. After a lengthy recovery process, Miller has arrived at training camp determined to earn a spot in the lineup.
Before Miller's injury during the 2018-19 season, the 33-year-old had seven assists in 39 games. He has been a solid player over the years, accumulating 67 points in 324 career games. In that span, Miller has also landed 712 hits and blocked 324 shots. While he has never recorded more than 15 points in a season, Miller has been a staple on the Bruins' blue line when healthy.
Miller will be a veteran presence on a defense full of youth, which is important to head coach Bruce Cassidy. When asked about Miller on Friday afternoon, Cassidy said, "Kevan has the upper hand in terms of experience, that bite. Obviously we've talked about (how) we lost that with (Zdeno Chara), so Kevan can give us some of that."
Furthermore, Miller brings an edge that no one on the roster has. He has never backed down from a fight and is known for being an enforcer.
The key for Miller will be staying healthy on a defensive unit that will look to him for his veteran leadership.
The Bruins defenseman is expected to start the season on the third-line pairing alongside Jakub Zboril. It is a pairing that could be very efficient for Boston as Miller has experience taking younger players under his wing such as Matt Grzelcyk.
Regardless of who ends up in the lineup, Miller's competitive style and attention to detail will benefit the Bruins' younger players. It has been a long road back for Miller, but he has been a pleasant surprise at training camp so far. With the season fast approaching, Miller is seemingly on the verge of securing a starting spot.