By: Steve McClure | Follow me on Twitter / X @stmcclure1993
Kevan Miller, a Boston Bruins’ alumnus who played for the club from 2013 through 2021, is celebrating his 37th birthday today. Miller was a rugged, stay-at-home defenseman who played in 352 contests for Boston until knee injuries prematurely ended his career.
The University of Vermont product and two-year captain, signed an amateur contract with the Providence Bruins in 2011. Miller was up and down on a two-way contract between Providence and Boston before being signed to a four-year contract in October of 2016. It was his robust 2015-16 season that convinced the Bruins brass that Miller was a worthy investment. He played in 71 regular season games, managing eighteen points and a +15 while averaging 19:04 of ice time per night. During that 2015-16 season, he scored five goals, blocked 123 shots, and accumulated 164 hits—all would turn out to be career highs.
In Game 81 of the 2018-2019 season, Miller broke his kneecap. He immediately underwent surgery in hopes of returning for what he hoped would be a long playoff run. After months of rehab and skating—and with the team about to eliminate the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference finals, Miller was on target to return for the Stanley Cup finals. Much to his consternation, Miller experienced a devastating setback as he recracked the same kneecap—right along the edge of one of the newly placed screws. Not only would he not return to help his team—in a series where the Bruins mightily missed his hard-nosed presence against St. Louis, he would miss the entirety of the 2019-20 season as well.
After a mentally-trying and arduous physical rehabilitation, the 6’2” third-pairing defenseman finally returned in January of 2021. He played 28 games and again averaged 19:04 of nightly ice time. However, in July of 2021, after missing the second round playoff series against the Islanders due to a concussion, Miller called it quits. In an Instagram post he wrote to Bruins’ fans, “Although my spirit for the game is there, unfortunately my body isn’t.”
Miller owned a 13-58-71 line in his regular season time with the Bruins. But his true value came in protecting the Bruins’ own goal crease, providing team leadership (he was named alternate captain as early as his fifth season with Boston), and demonstrating commitment to the Bruins’ crest.
Happy birthday to a former Bruins warrior!
Leave a Reply