Dec 13, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman
Kevan Miller(86) chases after the puck during the second period against the Ottawa Senators at TD Banknorth Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
If the Boston Bruins are going to make an attempt to get back into the playoff race this season, they’ll be without one of their harder working defenseman. This morning, Boston Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli announced that Kevan Miller sustained a right shoulder dislocation during the Bruins game against the Calgary Flames. Miller will now undergo season-ending surgery.
Chowder and Champions
Kevan Miller played forty-one games for the Bruins in his first full NHL season. He tallied seven points(two goals) for the Black and Gold. His +20 was the highest on the team, and twelfth overall in the league.
With Miller gone for the season, the B’s will have to go rummaging through the AHL roster to find a replacement for the season. At this point, the Bruins might as well give everyone a shot from Providence. If nothing else, they can showcase all of their potential NHL talent and see if any of the other teams are interested in making a trade.
While Miller’s injury is certainly no fault of the Bruins front office, there will be more fingers pointed at an already embattled Peter Chiarelli. Before the start of the season, the B’s organization had profound depth on the blue line. The Bruins could have traded some of their lower-ended players for a modest return. Instead, they chose to trade their number three blueliner, Johnny Boychuk for draft picks.
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That’s when the bottom fell out of the tub. Dennis Seidenberg didn’t come back from injury as quickly as expected. Zdeno Chara got injured early in the season, and hasn’t quite been the same. Adam McQuaid got hurt (again). Matt Bartkowski (who was sure to be gone after taking the B’s to arbitration) plays in a limited role due to his Jekyll and Hyde playing. Dougie Hamilton has also had an up and down year (and he’s the top scoring blueliner with thirty-two points).
Now the Bruins will have to try and finish out their season and hang on to their dwindling eighth seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs. It’s looking more and more like a one-and-done season for the Black and Gold.