Ty Anderson: Miller deal is no killer, but still confusing from Bruins

People gave up on Miller way too fast(also, why isnt he ever considered a developing player? He hasn't played 200 yet, he's still not an experienced professional player)By the end of the year, he was one of the best D men on the team. Easily the most improved player on the team from start to finish. I think he settles in nicely as the teams #4 throughout that contract.

Chara ????
Krug Miller
???? McQuaid

What about buying out Seidenberg's contract? Is that an option? While I believe he played better this season than 14-15, I would rather see C. Miller in a full time role. Add in that coveted #1 or 2 d-man and I like the back-end

Chara - our saviour
Krug - Mcquaid
The millers

each pairing has a physical defensive presence along with an offensive presence.

What about buying out Seidenberg's contract? Is that an option? While I believe he played better this season than 14-15, I would rather see C. Miller in a full time role. Add in that coveted #1 or 2 d-man and I like the back-end

Chara - our saviour
Krug - Mcquaid
The millers

each pairing has a physical defensive presence along with an offensive presence.
- Videoj

It's an over 35 contract. If you buy him out the team is still on the hook for the entirety of his cap. If they want any of that hit gone they'll have to try and trade him.

I would have thought resigning krug would have been a higher priority. But if this management group has shown me anything I guess expect the unexpected. You have 5.25 million locked up in 2 D men that can seem to stay healthy. To Miller's credit, he did get a career best 71 games in last year, but his shoulder issues you think would be a concern.


I just dont see enough to commit 4 years to the kid. If you absolutely have to have him, why not shorter term. The deal on its face makes zero sense unless Sweeney is working on something bigger already (I mean, thats the hope right). You said it best Ty, its 2.5 million less to have for a top D man.

Great blog. If it was half the term at $2M then I think folks would breathe a lot easier. But committing $10M to this kind of player seems outrageous. I'm sure a bridge deal of $1.5-$2M could haves sufficed. Odd.

Oh and I'm not a complete troll. Chicago born and raised but now living in the Boston area and want the Bruins to do well so there's good stuff to talk about at the bar.

Great blog. If it was half the term at $2M then I think folks would breathe a lot easier. But committing $10M to this kind of player seems outrageous. I'm sure a bridge deal of $1.5-$2M could haves sufficed. Odd.

Oh and I'm not a complete troll. Chicago born and raised but now living in the Boston area and want the Bruins to do well so there's good stuff to talk about at the bar.
- acmidd28

Seidenberg is 34 so could be bought out but he won't be. Seidenberg was injured to start the season & never really got back to his former self but he is still a solid option at the 4/5 spot.

I'll post the comments I posted yesterday late. This is a great signing & at 2.5 million is a steal.

This is a solid signing by Boston & great value, ridiculous cheap actually for what he brings to the rink. Coburn was just recently signed in TB at 3.7 & I'd far prefer K. Miller. You can't sign a Dman with a pulse in the NHL that can play a regular top 6 role in the NHL for under 3 mil per & K. Miller played as a top 4 for Boston & had a solid season. Miller was & is a late bloomer. He is in only his 2nd full season, 3rd season having 159 games of NHL experience, so although 29 in November not fully developed & still learning the NHL game.

He lead Boston in hits by D with 166, good for 17th in the entire NHL for Dman, tied for 1st in blocked shots with 123 good for 48th overall by Dman. Had he not missed 11 games he would have made the top 10 for hits & 32nd for blocked shots for all NHL Dman! He plays on Bostons #1 penalty killing unit, lead all Boston D in plus minus at +15 & some how scored 5 goals seeing 0:03 seconds of PP TOI/GP taking almost all his zone starts in the defensive zone.

Here's how this may play out. This sets up the Yandle signing perfectly. Yandle & Krug will be the offensive Damn with Chara & C. Miller; when playing, supporting on the 2nd PP unit. Chara, Seidenberg, McQuad & Miller will primarily contribute defensively forming the top 6 with Morrow & C. Miller the depth Dman learning their trade playing when injures hit & getting Chara some time off to rest. The only problem with this concept is that if Boston were to sign Yandle, C. Miller would have to be exposed in the expansion draft. Boston may simply live with these 7 less listed above less Yandle & spend the savings extending Marchand & buying a UFA RW to replace Eriksson should be walk.

This also plays perfectly to expansion. Seidenberg, McQuad, Morrow & K. Miller will all be exposed in the expansion draft. Boston will lose 1 of these 4 in expansion leaving Boston in a good position at D post expansion. If Yandle is signed C. Miller would also have to be exposed.

I'm not sure how anyone can be unhappy about a Dman with these stats getting 4 years at 2.5 million per. You shouldn't be able to sign any Dman with these stats under 3.5.

Tuesday @ 11:49 PM ET
I should have qualified the expansion protector issue as if Boston choose the 8 skater option they could keep Yandle; if signed, & C. Miller.

Here are a few of the scenarios. Only 2 options available. 7F, 3D & 1G or 8 skaters & 1G, players with 2 years or less of contractual obligation having been met at either the NHL or AHL level are exempt.

7F, 3D & 1G option. No UFA signings or trades.

Krejci, Bergeron, Belesky, Spooner, Pastrnak, Hayes, Connolly, Chara, Krug, C. Miller & Rask.

7F, 3D & 1G option. 2 UFA signings; Yandle & RW, or trades.

Krejci, Bergeron, Belesky, Spooner, Pastrnak, UFA RW; possibly even Eriksson, 1 of Hayes or Connolly, Chara, Krug, Yandle & Rask.

8 skaters & 1 G signing 1 UFA D; Yandle or other solid Dman, or acquiring 1 in trade.

Krejci, Bergeron, Spooner, Pastrnak, Chara, Krug, Yandle, C. Miller & Rask.

Tuesday @ 11:49 PM ET
I should have qualified the expansion protector issue as if Boston choose the 8 skater option they could keep Yandle; if signed, & C. Miller.

Here are a few of the scenarios. Only 2 options available. 7F, 3D & 1G or 8 skaters & 1G, players with 2 years or less of contractual obligation having been met at either the NHL or AHL level are exempt.

7F, 3D & 1G option. No UFA signings or trades.

Krejci, Bergeron, Belesky, Spooner, Pastrnak, Hayes, Connolly, Chara, Krug, C. Miller & Rask.

7F, 3D & 1G option. 2 UFA signings; Yandle & RW, or trades.

Krejci, Bergeron, Belesky, Spooner, Pastrnak, UFA RW; possibly even Eriksson, 1 of Hayes or Connolly, Chara, Krug, Yandle & Rask.

8 skaters & 1 G signing 1 UFA D; Yandle or other solid Dman, or acquiring 1 in trade.

Krejci, Bergeron, Spooner, Pastrnak, Chara, Krug, Yandle, C. Miller & Rask.
- striker777

I am not sure of this, but did they make it so teams have to protect players with a NMC or NTC? If they did, then boston would be forced to protect Chara.

This is a solid signing by Boston & great value, ridiculous cheap actually for what he brings to the rink. Coburn was just recently signed in TB at 3.7 & I'd far prefer K. Miller. You can't sign a Dman with a pulse in the NHL that can play a regular top 6 role in the NHL for under 3 mil per & K. Miller played as a top 4 for Boston & had a solid season. Miller was & is a late bloomer. He is in only his 2nd full season, 3rd season having 159 games of NHL experience, so although 29 in November not fully developed & still learning the NHL game.

He lead Boston in hits by D with 166, good for 17th in the entire NHL for Dman, tied for 1st in blocked shots with 123 good for 48th overall by Dman. Had he not missed 11 games he would have made the top 10 for hits & 32nd for blocked shots for all NHL Dman! He plays on Bostons #1 penalty killing unit, lead all Boston D in plus minus at +15 & some how scored 5 goals seeing 0:03 seconds of PP TOI/GP taking almost all his zone starts in the defensive zone.

Here's how this may play out. This sets up the Yandle signing perfectly. Yandle & Krug will be the offensive Damn with Chara & C. Miller; when playing, supporting on the 2nd PP unit. Chara, Seidenberg, McQuad & Miller will primarily contribute defensively forming the top 6 with Morrow & C. Miller the depth Dman learning their trade playing when injures hit & getting Chara some time off to rest. The only problem with this concept is that if Boston were to sign Yandle, C. Miller would have to be exposed in the expansion draft. Boston may simply live with these 7 less listed above less Yandle & spend the savings extending Marchand & buying a UFA RW to replace Eriksson should be walk.

This also plays perfectly to expansion. Seidenberg, McQuad, Morrow & K. Miller will all be exposed in the expansion draft. Boston will lose 1 of these 4 in expansion leaving Boston in a good position at D post expansion. If Yandle is signed C. Miller would also have to be exposed.

I'm not sure how anyone can be unhappy about a Dman with these stats getting 4 years at 2.5 million per. You shouldn't be able to sign any Dman with these stats under 3.5.
- striker777

Meh

shoreorrpark

I only really post here when I'm shocked by the Ty's comments or opinions. I frequent hockebuzz, Dobber, Spectors & numerous other sites as I'm a fantasy hockey pool freak. I enjoy reading Ty & a few other bloggers here but I find that the message boards here get way to off track on the subject matter. I can only assume we have a bunch of younger kids that like to troll & other.

I primarily post on Spectors rumor message board as the debate, conversation & opinions seem very insightful & the regular contributors have fairly solid deductive reasoning skills.

I don't know how anyone can be unhappy with this signing. You can't get a true top 6 Dman with a pulse under 3 million & Sweeney just locked up a Dman that made the top 20 in hits, top 48 in blocked shots for Dman & if he hadn't missed 11 games would have made the top 10 & 35 respectively. He plays on the #1 penalty kill & is a solid developing Dman with 159 games of NHL experience. He may be 29 but that matters not. It takes in or around 6 years or 400 games for NHL Dman to reach theri full development.

This wasn't a priority for Sweeney it just happened. Miller was a UFA & if he had gone to market would have gotten more. IT probably went something like this. Sweeney to Miller's agent. We'll give Kevin 2.5 for 4 years. Miller's agent we'll take it. Miller should consider getting a new agent as if Coburn got 3.7 in TB his agent just did him no favors but Miller has no track record having only played parts of 3 seasons.

The NHL & NHLPA made an announcement almost 3 weeks ago live on TV. Players with NTC's can be exposed. Players with NMC's must be protected. Chara will need to be protected & I have no issues with that. His cap hit in his 40th year; 2016-17, under an odd CBA rule drops from 6.9 to 4 million. I want Chara to retire a Bruin & move into player development working with the Bruins young D of the future.

The NHL & NHLPA made an announcement almost 3 weeks ago live on TV. Players with NTC's can be exposed. Players with NMC's must be protected. Chara will need to be protected & I have no issues with that. His cap hit in his 40th year; 2016-17, under an odd CBA rule drops from 6.9 to 4 million. I want Chara to retire a Bruin & move into player development working with the Bruins young D of the future.
- striker777

Fair enough. I will be surprised if K. Miller makes 400 games in 6 years with his shoulder. Call me impressed if he does.

Well at 159 games Miller has already moved into fairly elite company.

A typical career of an NHL player can be summarized with one word. Its short! Over half of all NHL players play less that 100 games during their career and for approximately 5 percent of players, their first NHL game is also their last. If we look at this from a different angle, long careers are extremely rare. Only 4 percent of players (that's 1 out of 25) dress up for more than 1000 games.

As per QuantHockey

Regular Season Playoffs
Number of Players 5 649 5 649
Minimum Games Played 1 0
Maximum Games Played 1 767 (Gordie Howe) 266 (Chris Chelios)
Average Games Played 247.50 20.39
Median Games Played 91 3

Well at 159 games Miller has already moved into fairly elite company.

A typical career of an NHL player can be summarized with one word. Its short! Over half of all NHL players play less that 100 games during their career and for approximately 5 percent of players, their first NHL game is also their last. If we look at this from a different angle, long careers are extremely rare. Only 4 percent of players (that's 1 out of 25) dress up for more than 1000 games.

As per QuantHockey
- striker777

I like this striker guy.

Makes sense.

I really don't understand the flip-flopping constantly. I expected everyone on here to tear up this signing. The entire season (other than perhaps the last 20 games) people ripped him apart. I said numerous times that he led the Bruins in +/- last season, and was near the top this season as well. He does everything he needs to, other than his puck moving ability essentially.

My only problem is the increase from 800k to 2.5 million. I think the reason there was no bridge is because Julien believes so much in him that they don't want him deserving a 4 million+ contract in a couple years. This could be a decent signing moving forward. Perhaps Boston is looking to the future and less at this season. In 3 years, they'll be rid of Seids and Chara and potentially Mcquaid. This would make Miller and Krug the most experienced guys on the back-end. Having some veteran presence for when Carlo, Zboril and C. Miller (hopefully) are developing.

Or, maybe I'm just making excuses...

I like this striker guy.

Makes sense.

I really don't understand the flip-flopping constantly. I expected everyone on here to tear up this signing. The entire season (other than perhaps the last 20 games) people ripped him apart. I said numerous times that he led the Bruins in +/- last season, and was near the top this season as well. He does everything he needs to, other than his puck moving ability essentially.

My only problem is the increase from 800k to 2.5 million. I think the reason there was no bridge is because Julien believes so much in him that they don't want him deserving a 4 million+ contract in a couple years. This could be a decent signing moving forward. Perhaps Boston is looking to the future and less at this season. In 3 years, they'll be rid of Seids and Chara and potentially Mcquaid. This would make Miller and Krug the most experienced guys on the back-end. Having some veteran presence for when Carlo, Zboril and C. Miller (hopefully) are developing.

Or, maybe I'm just making excuses...
- Videoj

I feel like other things needed to happen first before we lock up the depth

It's not like you gave Sbisa 3yrs at 3.6
or Dorsett 4 yrs at 2.5

Seidenberg is 34 so could be bought out but he won't be. Seidenberg was injured to start the season & never really got back to his former self but he is still a solid option at the 4/5 spot.

I'll post the comments I posted yesterday late. This is a great signing & at 2.5 million is a steal.
- striker777

Ah, I thought if the contract extended until he was over 35 it was counted under the 35+ rule...nevermind

Tuesday @ 11:49 PM ET
I should have qualified the expansion protector issue as if Boston choose the 8 skater option they could keep Yandle; if signed, & C. Miller.

Here are a few of the scenarios. Only 2 options available. 7F, 3D & 1G or 8 skaters & 1G, players with 2 years or less of contractual obligation having been met at either the NHL or AHL level are exempt.

7F, 3D & 1G option. No UFA signings or trades.

Krejci, Bergeron, Belesky, Spooner, Pastrnak, Hayes, Connolly, Chara, Krug, C. Miller & Rask.

7F, 3D & 1G option. 2 UFA signings; Yandle & RW, or trades.

Krejci, Bergeron, Belesky, Spooner, Pastrnak, UFA RW; possibly even Eriksson, 1 of Hayes or Connolly, Chara, Krug, Yandle & Rask.

8 skaters & 1 G signing 1 UFA D; Yandle or other solid Dman, or acquiring 1 in trade.

Krejci, Bergeron, Spooner, Pastrnak, Chara, Krug, Yandle, C. Miller & Rask.
- striker777

No Marchand...perfect. Trade him now, Avs will take that Rat

No Marchand...perfect. Trade him now, Avs will take that Rat
- DDM-Coga

We would love Rants or Kogs

Sorry. No (frank)ing way. Was anybody awake while watching the BRUINS Defense last year. You put #47, #54 or #86 In a top 4 role next year this team once again misses the playoffs in a Titanic fashion similar to the last 2 years
Holy poop what is everyone drunk already