The Boston Bruins are parting ways with defenseman Mitchell Miller, the team announced on Sunday. Here’s what you need to know:
- On November 4, the Bruins signed Miller to an entry-level contract.
- Miller was selected by the Arizona Coyotes in the fourth round of the 2020 NHL Draft, but had his draft status stripped by the team after it was revealed he had been convicted of bullying in juvenile court.
- NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said Saturday that Boston did not consult the league before signing Miller and that he had “a whole bunch of things to see” before hypothetically releasing him to the NHL.
- Bruins players spoke out on signing Saturday. Nick Foligno said it was “hard for us to swallow” and captain Patrice Bergeron added: “The culture we’ve built here is contrary to that kind of behavior.”
What you say
On Sunday, Bruins President Cam Neely released the following statement:
“Today, the Boston Bruins decided to part ways with Mitchell Miller, effective immediately,” the statement said. “The decision to sign this young man was made after careful consideration of the facts with which we were aware: that at the age of 14 he made a bad decision that resulted in a juvenile sentence. We understood that this was an isolated incident and that he had taken meaningful steps towards reform and was committed to continued personal development. Based on that understanding, we offered him a contract.
“Based on new information, we believe removing Mitchell Miller’s ability to represent the Boston Bruins is the best decision at this time.”
Neely further apologized for the signing, saying that “this decision has overshadowed the incredible work that members of our organization are doing to support diversity and inclusion efforts.”
“We will continue to stand up against bullying and racism in all its forms.”
Neely apologized to Isaiah Meyer-Crothers, a black, developmentally disabled classmate whom Miller admitted to bullying in a juvenile court in Ohio.
“I sincerely apologize to Isaiah and his family if this signing made you and other victims feel unseen and unheard. We apologize for the deep pain and impact we have caused.”
Bruins have not communicated with the victim’s family
As of 9:50 p.m. Sunday, 49 minutes after the Bruins issued their press release severing ties with Miller, Joni Meyer-Crothers and Jamie Crothers had not heard directly from anyone at the Bruins. From start to finish, this lack of communication was central to the Bruins’ disastrous assessment of the situation.
“One hundred percent. One hundred percent,” Meyer-Crothers said when asked if a pre-signing probing call from the Bruins might have influenced their decision.
Because the Bruins never called the family, they didn’t understand Isaiah’s repeated abuse. In her release, Neely said her decision to split from Miller was “based on new information.” – Shinzawa
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