An undrafted free agent, University of Vermont product Kevan Miller’s had to grind and fight his way to the National Hockey League. A mainstay on the Providence blue line since 2010-11, it would be a slew of injuries to the big league Bruins that’d present the 26-year-old with a chance to prove his worth at the game’s highest level. And after 16 games for the Black-and-Gold, the Bruins have seen all they needed to, inking the blue-liner to a two-year, one-way contract extension.

The contract will pay the California-born defensemen $800,000 a year, basically guarantees that he’ll stay in the NHL, and brings a boatload of questions to the Boston defense.

At 6-foot-2, Miller brings the kind of game that the B’s are undoubtedly missing with the loss of Dennis Seidenberg to a season-ending knee injury. Through 16 contests, Miller’s blocked 28 shots, and has been credited with 41 hits (some of the biggest we’ve seen this year, no less). He’s rough around the edges, and can be relied upon in his own end, an obvious plus.

Paired with Boston captain Zdeno Chara on the Bruins’ top pairing, there’s been little to worry about when No. 86 comes over the bench and onto the ice.

“He’s pretty big, pretty physical, he’s having a good game,” said Boston coach Claude Julien on Monday. “Nothing changes as far as that’s concerned. Guys that are playing well should be out there and they’re normally out there. He was really solid for us tonight. Big body, threw some heavy checks, and was a big factor in our win today because we’re a little young back there.”

For a Boston defense forced to put second-year talents like Dougie Hamilton and Matt Bartkowski out in crucial moments and penalty kills, and with Torey Krug knocking on the doorstep for d-zone ice-time if one of Hamilton or Bartkowski can’t go, Miller’s brought an absolutely invaluable stabilizing presence to the backend. The introduction of Miller has also lessened the ice-time burden on the 6-foot-5 Adam McQuaid, too.

“I’ve played with Kev [Kevan Miller] for three years now, we been D partners. He just plays his game. It’s a pretty simple game, its and effective game, he’s a strong kid and I’m sure he’s a bear to play against for the other forwards,” Bartkowski noted on Monday, adding, “I think we complement each other pretty well. I skate a little more, I guess, I get up in the play a little more and he’ll always stay back but sometimes he gets up in the play and he’ll add offense too.”

What you see is (basically) what you get with Miller. He’s without question more comfortable in the defensive zone than the attacking zone -- though he’s recorded a goal and two points this year -- and has made life without Seidenberg a bit smoother for Julien’s squad.

And with a new contract in hand, could he be pushing somebody out of town?

Much has been made about the Bruins’ influx of young defensemen that can do a number of things well. Krug’s an offensive machine, but needs a guy like a Miller or McQuaid to keep the pairing’s balance in check. Hamilton is emerging as a strong two-way defender, and Bartkowski has been a steady presence on the second or third pairing in 2013-14, with eight points in 34 contests.

Krug, a pending restricted free agent, and Hamilton (with one year left on his entry level deal after this season) are locks to remain in Boston. But guys like Bartkowski and McQuaid, with Miller in the fold and even more talent coming up through the Boston pipeline with guys like Zach Trotman and Joe Morrow (currently seventh in the AHL for scoring among defensmen), could seemingly be on the outs if the right deal presented itself.

And with the Bruins in a “win now” situation, they could be Boston’s best trade chips.

It’s no secret that B’s general manager Peter Chiarelli would like to add a veteran defensemen to his lineup for a Cup run in 2014, but there are a few things they won’t move no matter how sweet the deal. Centermen Ryan Spooner skates at the top of that list.

But a guy like McQuaid, a player that’s missed 18 games this year due to injuries (and has an injury history), is not among Chiarelli’s untouchables. Much like Mark Stuart in 2011, who was moved along with Blake Wheeler to Atlanta for Rich Peverley and Boris Valabik, No. 54 could be in a situation where his inability to stay on the ice eventually led to the club’s young guns stealing his spot. In this case, Miller would and seems like the guy about to do that.

However, a lineup with both McQuaid and Miller gives Julien the option to roll two (or even three when you factor Chara into the equation) pairings that have a stay-at-home presence.

Could that put the B’s in more of a mindset where they’re moving Bartkowski? Perhaps.

Despite his play and growth that seemingly began with last year’s botched trade to Calgary, the 25-year-old Bartkowski has been solid throughout his tenure with the Bruins, but there’s no real love affair between he and the B’s. With no disrespect to Bart as he’s known throughout the room, the Bruins could seemingly live life without him just fine, as they did through much of their season pre-Seidenberg injury, as Bartkowski served as the club’s healthy scratch most nights.

Miller’s extension leaves the B’s with six d-men signed for the 2014-15 and that’s still without a contract in place for either Barkowski or Krug, meaning that somebody’s gotta go.

But just who, remains to be seen.

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