. "My overall health and my family are now the priority. This was not an easy decision to make, but it's time to hang up my skates."
The 33-year-old defenseman could have been an unrestricted free agent July 28. He scored four points (one goal, three assists) in 28 regular-season games and had one assist in four Stanley Cup Playoff games this season.
Miller sustained a season-ending injury during Game 4 of the Stanley Cup First Round against the Washington Capitals after he was hit by Capitals defenseman Dmitry Orlov in the second period of a 4-1 win. He had passed the puck after carrying it into the offensive zone and was hit by Orlov above and between the face-off circles. He was tended to on the ice by the Boston trainer and skated off with assistance.
Miller missed the Bruins' run to Game 7 of the 2019 Stanley Cup Final and the entire 2019-20 season after injuring his right knee April 4, 2019. He said in June 2020 that he had multiple setbacks in his recovery, including four surgeries on his kneecap.
"I've been extremely fortunate to play for some great coaches and mentors that have molded and shaped me as a player and person," Miller said. "On top of that I've had some people step up in a big way to train me on and off the ice, to rehab me after injuries and pick me up when things weren't going my way. Thank you to each and every one of you."
Signed by Boston as a free agent Oct. 21, 2011, Miller scored 71 points (13 goals, 58 assists) in 352 regular-season games and seven points (one goal, six assists) in 33 playoff games.
"'Millsy' and I communicated a lot, and those past two years were crazy things that he had to battle back from, but if there was anybody that was going to do it, it was going to be him," Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo said. "It's good for him to be recognized as that leader and as that guy. I always talk about him in the aspect of just the willingness to never give up. And he never gave up. Even in this retirement sequence that he's been in, he knew he was ready for that, that it was time. He would have kept going if he felt like it was the appropriate thing to do.
"I'm just so thankful to have him around the room, to develop the friendship that I had with him. I know he'll be a guy in my corner, throughout these next six years especially, that I can rely on and lean on at any moment. I just love that guy so much."
Carlo
signed a six-year, $24.6 million contract
(average annual value of $4.1 million) to stay with the Bruins on Wednesday. The 24-year-old could have been a restricted free agent July 28.
NHL.com staff writer Mike Zeisberger contributed to this report
