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Boston Bruins: Top 5 players that will need impressive training camp to make 2021 opening night roster

By Matt Hawkins

LAVAL, QC - OCTOBER 16: Jack Studnicka #23 of the Providence Bruins skates the puck against the Laval Rocket at Place Bell on October 16, 2019 in Laval, Canada. The Laval Rocket defeated the Providence Bruins 5-4 in a shoot-out. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
LAVAL, QC - OCTOBER 16: Jack Studnicka #23 of the Providence Bruins skates the puck against the Laval Rocket at Place Bell on October 16, 2019 in Laval, Canada. The Laval Rocket defeated the Providence Bruins 5-4 in a shoot-out. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JANUARY 10: Kevan Miller #86 of the Boston Bruins takes a shot against the Washington Capitals during the first period at TD Garden on January 10, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JANUARY 10: Kevan Miller #86 of the Boston Bruins takes a shot against the Washington Capitals during the first period at TD Garden on January 10, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

These five players will need an impressive training camp to make the Boston Bruins’ 2021 opening night roster.

At the end of training camp, the Boston Bruins will have some tough decisions to make in regard to who makes the regular roster, who gets sent down to the AHL, and who makes the taxi squad.

When it comes to players that are in between making the NHL roster and going down to the AHL or being put on the taxi squad, the B’s have many of these players.

Related Story. Boston Bruins: Five players destined for 2021 taxi squad. light

Most of these players are prospects that have very limited NHL experience but are ready to play in the NHL and don’t exactly benefit from playing in the AHL anymore. However, Boston just doesn’t have a spot open for them on the roster at the time, unless they can prove in training camp that they deserve to play over an experienced veteran.

The B’s also have some veterans that may not make the team and could be put on the taxi squad because, like the prospects, there just isn’t room for them on the regular roster.

Here are five players that I think have a chance to make the Bruins’ 2021 opening night roster, but will need an impressive training camp to win over management and the coaching staff to earn their spot.

5. Kevan Miller will need an impressive training camp to make the Boston Bruins’ 2021 opening night roster.

Defenseman Kevan Miller hasn’t played in an NHL since April 4 of 2019 after he went down with a serious lower-body injury. Now, over a year later, he is finally ready to return.

Even with a spot, possibly even two, open to take on the left side of the Bruins’ defense, Miller may not be able to win one of them thanks to the likes of prospects Urho Vaakanainen and Jakub Zboril who will also be fighting for a spot on the roster.

Although Miller has the disadvantage of coming back from a serious injury, he also has the advantage of having over 300 games of NHL experience. With the B’s losing veteran Torey Krug and potentially losing Zdeno Chara, they may decide to go with Miller over one of the prospects as the left side of the defense is already inexperienced enough with Jeremy Lauzon and Matt Grzelcyk.

However, with Miller not playing in a hockey game in over a year, I think he’ll most likely start this season in the AHL on a conditioning stint or on the taxi squad as extra depth.

Miller will definitely need to show he’s ready to return to game action in training camp. If he can’t do so, he’ll lose both a lineup spot to prospects and even the seventh defenseman spot to John Moore.

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