Miller ready for action after recovering from fractured larynx

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This article was published 17/01/2025 (238 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Colin Miller wasn’t sure what all the fuss was about.

While the Winnipeg Jets defenceman is fully aware it’s not every day a fractured larynx ends up on an injury report, he made it clear this wasn’t nearly as ominous as it sounds.

“It honestly wasn’t really that hard of a shot. It just caught me in a bad spot off my stick,” Miller said Friday after seven skaters and Eric Comrie took part in an optional skate. “It was a little scary for a sec there, and then, (it) came back. So, all good now.”

Miller was mostly nonchalant as he spoke to a group of reporters for the first time since taking a shot that rode up his own stick into the neck area in a game against the Detroit Red Wings on Jan. 4.

In real time, things looked serious, especially given the way Miller made his way to the Jets’ bench and then went down on one knee while walking down the tunnel to the dressing room.

After the initial shock, things calmed down rather quickly, at least relatively speaking.

“My wind was taken away for a little bit there,” said Miller, who has two goals and eight points in 34 games this season. “But 10 minutes after, it was pretty status quo. Unfortunate that there was a little break in there (the larynx).

“I don’t know, stuff is going to happen in this game. And sometimes there are little things that you’re not so used to. So, like I said, it was a little scary there.

Miller sounded like someone who may have been lobbying to step back onto the ice that night before he was ultimately ruled out.

“It was the right move by our staff,” said Miller. “Those things you’ve just got to kind of slow down for a sec and realize that we’re just trying to play it safe and smart.”

As the Jets get set to close out an eight-game homestand against the Calgary Flames on Saturday, it’s still unknown whether Miller or Haydn Fleury (lower body) will be ready to return to the lineup.

Jets assistant coach Marty Johnston said both players continue to progress, but it was apparent any decision won’t be made until at least Saturday morning.

Johnston admitted that in real time, the nature of Miller’s injury was cause for concern and provided flashbacks to a moment he recalled as a teenager.

“Yeah, it was a scary moment. We weren’t really sure what happened,” said Johnston. “And I remember years and years ago, there was Trent McCleary. I remember when he went down and you sort of, you hope that it’s nothing like that, but there certainly was some worry on the bench and the players were very concerned, but we’re happy to see that he’s recovered well.”

McCleary was a forward with the Montreal Canadiens when he was hit in the throat by a slapshot in a game against the Philadelphia Flyers in January of 2000 and required an emergency tracheotomy to survive.

Ultimately, it ended McCleary’s career.

Fortunately, the injury to Miller wasn’t nearly as severe.

Much like he was when speaking to reporters on Friday, Miller had a similar demeanour on the night of the injury after returning from his quick trip to the hospital for an X-ray.

“He was even in good spirits that night, trying to somewhat calm the rest of the guys down but you have to be careful with those types of injuries,” said Johnston.

Miller was on the exercise bike the day after suffering the injury and didn’t need much time before he was back on the ice, so he’s managed to keep his conditioning up while taking some extra precautions. Now he’s been cleared for contact and is eager to get back into the lineup for a Jets team that has gone 4-1-2 on this season-long homestand.

“We’ll kind of see as we go. Obviously we’ve been rolling along pretty good, here. We have eight, nine strong defencemen back there that can all play. So help out whenever I can whenever I get that opportunity again,” said Miller. “It’s a privilege to play this game, a privilege to play in the NHL. We’re professional athletes and there’s going to be injuries. It’s something you sign up for.

“I just have a little bit more padding up there, just protect it as much as you can. But I mean it’s kind of those one in a thousand things that happens, right. Hopefully it’s one of those weird ones where it hits you where it shouldn’t ever really happen again.”

Jets forwards Vladislav Namestnikov and Mason Appleton (both out with lower-body injuries) skated on Friday, but aren’t expected to be ready to suit up in game action before the upcoming two-game road trip.

After Connor Hellebuyck started the past three games, don’t be surprised if Eric Comrie gets the call in goal on Saturday against the Flames, who are coming off a 4-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues but are right in the thick of the race for the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference.

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

X and Bluesky: @WiebesWorld