Boston Bruins: Kevan Miller’s career might be over

Speaking to the media, Boston Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy said no matter what Kevan Miller won’t be returning. I don’t know if we will ever see Miller play again.

One of the greatest things about hockey is seeing a player deliver a bone-crushing hit. It energizes the crowd as well as the bench. Kevan Miller seemed born to be a member of the Boston Bruins.

Miller was the resident tough guy on the roster. Nobody wanted to mess around with him. He reminded you of the days of the big, bad, Bruins.

But that style of play doesn’t lend itself to a long career. Miller’s injury report is longer than the declaration of independence.

Just last season Miller had some brutal injuries. The list includes a fractured larynx, a vertically broken kneecap, and then horizontally breaking the same kneecap.

Miller just deserves credit for trying to come back from those injuries. A lot of players would have probably given up already.

But once again there is a bump in the road. Don Sweeney spoke to the media on Friday and said that Miller won’t return this season.

This isn’t exactly surprising. With the season near its conclusion I didn’t expect Miller to comeback. The suspension of the season doesn’t change that.

But now I wonder if Miller will even play another hockey game. Miller’s contract is set to expire at the end of the season. As much as the Bruins love him it doesn’t really make sense to bring him back.

Boston has plenty of talented defensemen in the system. They are doing so well a guy like John Moore is stuck on the 9th floor. You also have guys like Jakub Zboril and Urho Vaakanainen who could soon find their way onto the NHL roster.

With his injury history I don’t know if any other team would want to sign Miller. It would simply be too big of a risk. Even though he might still be able to play, Miller might be forced to retire.

No matter what ends happened Kevan Miller will always be welcome in Boston. He is everything you could ask a Bruins player to be.