It’s Miller time again for the Jets

WASHINGTON — It was a rare sight Wednesday morning: Colin Miller, sweat still dripping from his forehead, sitting at his locker stall alongside most of his Winnipeg Jets teammates.

For only the seventh time this season, the 33-year-old wasn’t required to remain on the ice long after the official morning skate had ended, grinding through extra work with the other healthy scratches and rehabilitating players and catching the late bus back to the hotel.

Instead, he was slated to be in the lineup later that evening against the Washington Capitals. So we wandered over to chat with the veteran defenceman, looking to better understand what hockey life is like when — more often than not — you’re on the outside looking in.

“It’s mental. Its super mental,” said Miller, tapping his head.

“You have to make sure you’re not overthinking things. Make sure you’re ready to go when you get the chance. There’s been more out than in, so it’s a lot of time to think and overthink things. But just making sure that when you do get in, stick to the things that you know you’ve always been good at and the game slows down after that.”

Wednesday’s game will officially be the 579th of Miller’s NHL career, which began a decade ago in Boston and has also included stops in Vegas, Buffalo, Dallas and New Jersey. He no longer takes the next one for granted, realizing his days as a full-time player might well be over.

The role of a journeyman depth defenceman who has to scratch and claw his way into the lineup is one Miller admits a younger version of himself probably wouldn’t have embraced quite so smoothly.

“I think so. I’ve had my fair share of healthy scratches throughout the course of my career at different ages,” he said with a laugh.

“You learn. You learn how to handle it differently, how to prepare when you go back into a game. Like, maybe it’s been a week since you played the last game and maybe you’re not going to feel 100 per cent comfortable the first shift but know that it’s going to come. That’s just part of it, right? I think that’s going to be something that’s inevitable when you’re not in a steady routine.”

Sitting out is one thing. But you also have to be a good teammate, keeping any pouting or self-pity private.

“That’s sometimes kind of how it goes, but that’s part of being a professional. It’s part of being part of a team,” said Miller. “It’s not necessarily about you, it’s about the team and what’s working best for the team. And you want the best for them.”

That’s something Miller and fellow veteran blue-liner Luke Schenn — who is set to be relegated to the press box Wednesday against the Capitals — have done very well, according to their head coach.

“I think that’s where our group is good. I think they recognize that whatever lineup goes in, it’s to have team success,” said Scott Arniel.

“We talk to those guys. They recognize and they know their roles. Those guys recognize that when they do come in, they have to bring what they do best to the game.”

The Jets began the year with eight NHL defencemen on one-way contracts, although Dylan Samberg started on the injured list. He’s now returned, but Haydn Fleury (concussion protocol) and Neal Pionk (lower body) are both currently sidelined.

That has now opened the door for the team’s top blue-line prospect, Elias Salomonsson, to make his NHL debut. The 21-year-old will be in the lineup Wednesday against Washington, which had Miller taking a trip down memory lane.

“For him, it’s a culmination of a lot of hard work,” said Miller.

“I just remember from mine, just being so excited to be there. It kind of seems like the lights are a little brighter in an NHL rink. Everything just sounds fresh. A lot of excitement I’m sure for him.”

Miller’s first game came at the historic Bell Centre in Montreal. He was a member of the Bruins at the time, which added some extra sizzle given their storied rivalry.

“There’s so much excitement. It’s something you push for your whole life. Something you’ll never forget,” said Miller, who has produced 181 points (43 goals, 138 assists) over his career.

He may no longer be the same wide-eyed kid looking at those bright lights, but Miller said he’s thankful for every opportunity he still gets to suit up in the best league in the world, even if it requires plenty of patience.

Wednesday’s game marks his second straight appearance — only the second time that’s happened all season — and he hopes to keep building some personal momentum while also helping his team get things turned around following an extended rough patch of play.

“(Playing consecutive games) things just roll into the next one and it doesn’t take that first shift or two to kind of get into it,” he said.

“For our group, I don’t think there’s panic. We know what we have in this room. We know this group that we have is a resilient group. A composed group. But this is definitely an important road trip.”

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