Bruins D Kevan Miller Confirms He Had Knee Surgery Again

Back on April 10, Boston Bruins General manager Don Sweeney told the media that defenseman Kevan Miller had suffered some setbacks in his recovery from surgeries after breaking his right kneecap twice last spring. On Thursday, in a virtual town hall with Bruins season ticket holders, Miller confirmed the main setback was that he had surgery for that same knee eight weeks ago. 

“As far as hockey and rehab goes, I’m still rehabbing,” the rugged rearguard said. “I was on a good trajectory there. I was skating and whatnot, and then I had a setback. So I’m just coming off surgery that I had eight weeks ago. Timing-wise things have been good for me. I’m off crutches now and walking around again. Things are good.”

The rugged defenseman who had 35 PIM’s and seven helpers in just 39 games last season chose to remain in Boston during the NHL pause. So far, so good according to Miller who is an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season.

“Most of my rehab has been done in Boston. I’ve been here ever since. It’s been a little bit different obviously with having to rehab mostly at home. Thankfully, I guess if you want to call it thankfully, I’ve been accustomed to having most of the stuff I need at home now for a little bit. Things are moving along well. I’m feeling good now and back on the train to getting my knee healthy again.”

Miller is at the end of a four-year contract that carried an annual cap hit of $2.5 million. In that Zoom call with the media early last month, Sweeney indicated that the Bruins would love to discuss a new contract with Miller – who expressed a mutual desire to do so – should he be healthy and ready. 

“Kevan Miller has just had some setbacks to where I don’t believe at this time it would be in his best interest to try and ramp up in a short span with the hopes of playing this year,” said Sweeney. “Our intentions for Kevan are that he’s 100 percent healthy so that he can resume when we start the next season. I know Kevan’s a UFA, so we’ll entertain the opportunity to bring Kevan back and he’ll also entertain whether he wants to come back.”

Miller was signed to a two-year ($580,000 per) contract as an undrafted college free agent out of the University of Vermont prior to the 2011-12 NHL season. He signed a one-year, $550 standard contract for the lockout-shortened season prior to the 2013 season and then a two-year standard extension ($800,000) prior to this current contract. In 324 career NHL games, he has 12 goals, 55 assists, and 261 penalty minutes.