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As Torey Krug signs with Blues, Bruins re-sign Kevan Miller…more to come? |
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Free agency officially opened up at noon Friday afternoon and it turned out to be one strange day for the Bruins.
General manager Don Sweeney was scheduled to speak at 5:00 PM EST Friday. Shortly before then we were notified that Sweeney would not be addressing the media at 5:00 PM, and instead would be seen on zoom “later” Friday evening.
The news release sparked rumors. Torey Krug? Taylor Hall? A Tuukka Rask trade?
As we waited and waited and waited, no news came until the Bruins made official what others were reporting: the signing of Kevan Miller.
The Bruins made the signing official just minutes after news broke that Krug and the St. Louis Blues had come to terms on a seven-year, $45.5M contract.
Yes, the same AAV as the Bruins reported offer. The only difference was the Blues offering seven years compared to the Bruins six.
Let’s begin with Miller.
It’s a one-year, $1.25M contract for Miller.
The 32-year old missed the entire 2019-20 season due to a knee injury and has not appeared in an NHL game since April 4, 2019.
Miller revealed he is doing great and is back on the ice multiple times a week. Whether the 2020-21 season begins in January or later, Miller expects to be ready to go when the puck finally does job.
Had things been normal in the world, hockey season would be upon us. However, Miller would not have been cleared in time for an opening night return.
“I’m doing really well. Knee is feeling great, body is feeling great. Obviously, had a lot of time to get things in order. I’m making really good progress. I’ve been skating two to three times a week. I’ve been training. I’m really, super excited to have the opportunity to play again,” Miller said.
“If we were playing right now, I wouldn’t be cleared. But come puck drop, I definitely will be. I have no doubt in my mind I will be 100% by then.”
Miller met with the media back in June where he made it clear he wanted to play in the NHL again in 2020-21. In re-signing with the Bruins, Miller gets that opportunity. Miller never had a chance to speak with other teams during the process, but he’s happy to be back in Boston.
“I didn’t get to the point where we’re legally allowed to have offers from other clubs. It’s different obviously in the past there was like a five-day grace period. That wasn’t this time. We got basically, last night, basically we had an understanding how this was going to go. So I didn’t really hear any offers from any other clubs,” Miller said
“To be honest with you, I’ve always wanted to play in Boston. It’s where I started and it’s where I envision playing this year. I think me personally, I have some unfinished business there and I really want to win and that’s my main goal. I think this gives me the best opportunity to do that.”
With Krug signing right before Miller joined the zoom, it was on the zoom call Miller learned that he and Krug would no longer be teammates.
“Ah, man. Did he really? That’s a bummer. Ah, man,” Miller said when learning of Krug’s decision.
“Obviously, he’ll certainly be missed from a player standpoint. From a personal standpoint, I’ve been basically with the guy for my entire career and his entire career. He’s a good friend and I wish him nothing but the best. But I’ll tell him to keep his head up when we face St. Louis. In all reality, that’s tough news for us but I wish him the best and he’ll certainly be missed.”
The departure of Krug is one that stings, especially seeing him leaving for St.Louis, but something seems a bit off here.
Did the Bruins truly want Krug back? Or was their reported offer of six-years, $6.5M just a formality, knowing Krug would be offered something better elsewhere?
The Bruins are on record making it clear they went to add size to their blue line. You know, like the size say an Alex Pietrangelo brings?
But what really throws a wrench into things is this report from TSN’s Pierre LeBrun.
This report leads me to believe the Bruins like their chances of landing Pietrangelo or Hall.
If they lose both the Hall and Pietrangelo sweepstakes on top of losing Krug however, well oof.
Oh, and for the update on the whole Sweeney press conference thing.
Yeah, “later” is 1:00 PM Saturday.
Maybe by then the Bruins will have more to add then the re-signing of Kevan Miller.
Boston Bruins Blogger • 
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