Miller: 'I Have A Different Appreciation for the Game Now'

Boston Bruins 2021 Training Camp is presented by Plymouth Rock Assurance.
BOSTON - When Kevan Miller takes the ice these days, he does so with a newfound appreciation. Nearly two years away from the game that he loves has made him realize that no day at the rink should be taken for granted.
"If anything, I'm just in a different position than I was before the injury…sometimes you take things for granted," said Miller, who has not played an NHL game since April 2019 when he suffered a broken kneecap that has required four subsequent surgeries and endless hours of rehabilitation.
"Playing in the NHL, you take things for granted. That's not something I'm gonna take for granted anymore. Every day, every shift, every practice, every time I get to put on my skates with the guys, I have a different appreciation for the game now.
"Every day is a gift to be out there playing…I think that's probably the biggest thing. Maybe the pressure is off a little bit and I'm just enjoying every second of it."

Miller has been a full participant throughout Bruins training camp, clearing the hurdles of re-adjusting to the speed, physicality, and competition of an NHL practice. As such, he appears to be on course to make his return to NHL action on Thursday night when the Black & Gold open up the 2020-21 season against New Jersey Devils in Newark.
"Excited to be back and be around the guys again, to be playing and competing again. It's been a long road," said Miller, who is entering his seventh season with the Bruins. "Feeling 100 percent. Obviously, there's a little bit of adjustment getting back into drills and playing scrimmages. It's been a good couple days. So far, so good. Really looking forward to Thursday."
The 6-foot-2, 210-pound blue liner is among the Bruins that have been spending the most time at the rink during camp as he continues to put in maintenance work both before and after practices to ensure that his right knee remains in the strongest condition possible.
"After four procedures, there's some scar tissue," said Miller. "That's just the nature of things. It was the same thing with my shoulder or anybody's injury. Sometimes it takes some time for that to reabsorb and get back to 100 percent normal.
"It's something I do every day. Get here early and stay a little later, but that's part of the process."
Following the departures of Zdeno Chara and Torey Krug, the 33-year-old California native is now the senior-most defenseman on the Bruins' roster. With such a distinction comes some added responsibilities as he looks to build on his leadership role, which has already included wearing the 'A' at times in the past.
"We love and miss [Zee], it's tough to see him go. But we're on to the next chapter here," said Miller. "Saying that I'm the old one on D now here, never thought I'd be saying that. It's good. I'm excited to take on a little bit of a different role. But at the same time, I think we'll do it as a committee. No one is gonna fill his shoes. No one is gonna fill Torey's shoes.
"Zee's a guy that I looked up to since I first got here. Just tried to take what I can from him and I've learned a lot. I'm grateful for his time here and his friendship."

Part of that leadership role includes mentoring some of the Bruins' young defensemen, including his camp partner, Jakub Zboril. Miller, who is embracing the responsibility, has paired up with Zboril at past training camps and said it's clear that the former first-rounder has made significant strides in his development.
"Jake's a great player. He sees the ice really well. He skates really well, he makes good plays," said Miller. "I think this is the second or third camp in a row that I've been partnered up with him to start. I think he's made leaps and bounds since the first time he got here to where he is now. He's competing, he's ready to go for practice.
"He's a guy that makes sure he is detail oriented. I think that's something that when he first got here was a little bit different. He's learned and done a great job growing with the game. I've really enjoyed playing with him."
Miller has played a mentoring role before, having paired with Matt Grzelcyk when the young blue liner entered the league in 2017. Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy would like Miller to take the same type of approach with Zboril, who is looking to establish himself as a full-time NHLer for the first time.
"Defend hard, take care of your own game, and when it comes to what he can do for Jakub is push him every day in practice to be the best pair. Build in the habits of a good pro," Cassidy said of his asks of Miller. "Jake has been up and down a little bit, but he hasn't been here full time. I think that's something we ask of all our experienced guys.
"Other than that, we want him to be the consistent presence until Jakub kind of finds his way through the league, what he can do, what he can't do. That's the ask for Kevan…we feel they can complement each other."

Wait, There's More

Sunday's Training Camp Lineup

GROUP A
FORWARDS
Brad Marchand - Patrice Bergeron - Jack Studnicka
Jake DeBrusk/Par Lindholm - David Krejci - Ondrej Kase
Nick Ritchie - Charlie Coyle - Craig Smith
Anders Bjork/Trent Frederic - Sean Kuraly - Chris Wagner
DEFENSEMEN
Jeremy Lauzon - Charlie McAvoy
Matt Grzelcyk - Brandon Carlo
Jakub Zboril - Kevan Miller
John Moore - Connor Clifton
GOALIES
Tuukka Rask
Jaroslav Halak
GROUP B
FORWARDS
Matt Filipe - Greg McKegg - Zach Senyshyn
Paul Carey - Cameron Hughes/Oskar Steen - Robert Lantosi
DEFENSEMEN
Urho Vaakanainen - Steven Kampfer
Nick Wolff - Jack Ahcan
GOALIES
Daniel Vladar
Jeremy Swayman
Callum Booth