TORONTO — Kevan Miller’s long, lonesome stay on the blue line taxi squad came to an end here Saturday night when he finally suited up again for the Bruins in their Atlantic Division duel at the Air Canada Centre.
Miller, 30, partnered with Matt Grzelcyk on the third pairing, bumping Adam McQuaid to the press box, where he joined the likes of newcomer Nick Holden and perpetual scrub Paul Postma.
Now in his fifth NHL season, Miller was out of the lineup for nine games, dating to his Feb. 1 upper-body injury vs. St. Louis, and sat out the last half-dozen of those games while no longer officially on the injured list. All of which made the former University of Vermont standout eager to pull on his No. 86 Black-and-Gold sweater again.
“Hope to come in, keep things simple and play my game,’’ Miller said before turning in 21:50 of ice time in the Bruins’ 4-3 loss. “I’ve had enough of practices and feel pretty good.’’
With Monday’s 3 p.m. NHL trade deadline approaching, the Bruins still have a cumbersome bunch of nine blueliners on the varsity roster, something likely to change by the time they next play at the Garden, Tuesday night against the Hurricanes.
Of the three extra D-men, the most vulnerable to a change of venue would be Postma, Miller, and McQuaid, although of the three, Postma would be the most likely target. He hasn’t played since logging a meager 8:47 in ice time on Dec. 13.
Another potential move, if the Bruins want to stick to their standard plan of keeping only seven defensemen busy between practices and games, would be to assign Grzelcyk temporarily to AHL Providence. Because he’s a rookie, Grzelcyk would not have to clear waivers on his way down Route 95.
The downside of returning him to the WannaBs: the former BU Terrier has been an effective contributor since being called up in mid-November, collecting 11 points in 40 games and providing solid third-pairing minutes (almost 16:00 per game). To push him down there, he might lose valuable traction, only to face the burden of getting his game back when called up with the playoffs about to begin.
Coach Bruce Cassidy, meanwhile, has to figure the most effective way to keep the likes of McQuaid and Holden ready for action.
“It’s a game-to-game decision,’’ said Cassidy, specifically addressing how soon he might call on Holden, the ex-Ranger acquired in trade on Tuesday for prospect Rob O’Gara and a third-round pick. “Let’s get through tonight and see what we’ve got. He will get in there eventually, I just don’t want to pinpoint a date.’’
Cassidy noted on Friday, after Holden’s first workout with the club, that he also feels compelled to remain loyal to the group of players who, prior to puck drop here, had delivered a 37-13-8 record, fourth best in the NHL through Friday night’s games.
“Adam did a great job . . . Kevan did a great job before he got hurt,’’ mused Cassidy, following the morning workout at the ACC. “It’s always a tough call when you’re playing guys who are healthy, but it’s a good problem to have.’’
Cassidy, no matter the outcome here, could consider changing his blueline mix Sunday when the Bruins close out their five-game road trip with a 5 p.m. start in Buffalo. The quick turnaround could favor a change in personnel, if Cassidy were to feel someone needs rest.
“Certainly an opportunity in back-to-backs to put another couple of guys in,’’ he said. “But again, I don’t want to say for sure. For the most part we’ve been good in back-to-backs. It’s the early parts of those [three-game-in-four-night stretches] we’ve had our problems. The second or third games we’ve been good. We’ve had some time off . . . but, yeah, tomorrow is an opportunity if guys are a little bit tired.’’
Bruins have eyes on Gionta
Seventeen years after departing Boston College, where he was among the most electrifying offensive performers in Eagles history, Brian Gionta could be headed back to Boston — this time as a Bruin.
With Monday’s trade deadline nearing, a steady stream of Gionta rumors on Saturday afternoon had a number of Eastern-based clubs, including the Bruins, pondering whether to sign the 39-year-old for their Stanley Cup push.
A right winger with a righthanded shot, Gionta returned only days ago from South Korea, where he captained the US men’s Olympic team, which failed to make the medal stand. A veteran of 1,006 NHL games (and 588 points), Gionta spent seven seasons with the Devils, where he was a teammate of Bruins assistant coach Jay Pandolfo, following his graduation from The Heights.
The 5-foot-7-inch Gionta didn’t receive any NHL offers this season after playing all 82 games, and delivering a line of 15-20—35, last season with the Sabres. Absent a job here, he jumped at the offer to wear the captain’s “C’’ for the Yanks in PyeongChang.
Bruins general manager Don Sweeney did not directly address Gionta’s situation in a late-afternoon media briefing, but he acknowledged potential interest in some free agents returning from the Games.
“Yeah, we have had discussions with people prior to [the Games],’’ he said. “If there is an area we can continue to supplement our group, we will do that.’’
Lacking some of his trademark zip these days, Gionta nonetheless could be a candidate to provide a boost to Boston’s second line, currently comprised of David Krejci and wingers Jake DeBrusk and Ryan Spooner. That trio had only one goal through game No. 3 of a five-game trip, Krejci finally knocking one home (only his 11th this season) for the winner Tuesday night in Edmonton. The goal came after Cassidy opted to change lines, moving David Backes and Danton Heinen to Krejci’s wings.
Along with the Bruins, both the Devils and Maple Leafs have been rumored to be kicking the tires on Gionta.
Kelly chips in for Canada
Ex-Bruin Chris Kelly, 37, knocked home two goals Saturday to lead Team Canada to the Olympic bronze medal in men’s hockey with a 6-4 edging of the Czechs.
Kelly, acquired near the deadline seven years ago, was a valuable contributor to the Bruins’ Cup win in 2011 and is still remembered fondly among his Black-and-Gold bros.
Marchand texted Kelly right away after the win.
“Either his phone is not working or he is breezing me,’’ kidded Marchand. “Captain Canada is too big now to talk to me. But no, I am very, very, very happy for him and Team Canada. It’s an incredible accomplishment and to see what he has gone through, the career he’s had, and now to have an Olympic medal, it’s incredible for him. It’s something he’ll remember forever.’’
Decision looms for Donato
Bruins prospect Ryan Donato, just back from his Olympic tour, collected a goal and assist Friday night in Harvard’s 6-4 loss at Brown.
Donato, a junior wing/center, has at least three more weeks remaining on his Crimson season and then possibly could turn pro, ostensibly to join the Black-and-Gold varsity roster.
His dad, Teddy, did the same following the ’92 Games in Albertiville, but he had graduated from Harvard (what he still refers to his miracle off ice), in the spring of ’91.
If he were to turn pro, Donato would be eschewing his senior season at Harvard, where Teddy has long been the head coach. But he would be joining a Cup contender, with the advantage of joining a room with some elite pros, particularly the astute Bergeron.
On Saturday afternoon, Sweeney lauded Donato’s performance in South Korea and noted he will reconnect with the promising forward once his Harvard season comes to an end.
“We are excited about Ryan,’’ said Sweeney, echoing remarks he made during last summer’s development camp. “He has to finish his season and we’ll have discussions as to what his decision will be at that point going forward.’’
Leafs go without Matthews
The Leafs were without top offensive star Auston Matthews, who banged up a shoulder Thursday night and will be sidelined indefinitely. The 20-year-old center scored 69 points in his 82-game rookie season and has bettered his average slightly this season, cobbling together a 28-22—50 line in 53 games . . . Ex-Bruin Dominic Moore, closing in on 900 regular-season games, entered Saturday with a 5-6—11 line in 45 games for the Leafs. He was scratched for nine games in January, and produced only 1-1—2 in his 14 games prior to faceoff . . . Still some rumors that the Leafs might move veteran winger, and former University of New Hampshire standout James van Riemsdyk prior to Monday’s deadline. His production his dipped a little this season (25-14—39), but he reached the 25-goal plateau for the fourth time in the last five sesaons. He does get to the net. On the books for $4.25 million, he is on target to be an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Entering the night, the Bruins were 2-1-0 on the road trip, but had scored a meager six goals, all from different contributors: Tim Schaller, Noel Acciari, Krejci, Grzelcyk, Pastrnak, and Marchand. Prior to the trip, they scored 185 times in 55 games, an average of 3.36 goals per game . . . Tuukka Rask (24-10-4) started in net for the Bruins. Backup Anton Khudobin, 6-1-2 in his last nine starts, will close it out in Buffalo.
Kevin Paul Dupont can be reached at kevin.dupont@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @GlobeKPD.
