[Signing] Bruins sign Mitchell Miller UPDATE: Rescinded

[cannon7]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Indeed we have disagreed in the past.
But despite that, I would assume that just means we largely look at things through different perspectives and thus arrive, frequently, to different conclusions. Which is fine.

I was referring to PepsiFree, but we have likely not agreed on much, either.

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

I would not assume how you feel about the things we disagree on reflects on you as an overall human being or as a parent (if you are one).

I am going to take the comment I made about your children back. It was inappropriate and I apologize.

But I hope we can apply similar grace to a young man who made some serious mistakes when he was in the 8th grade, too.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by cannon7

I was referring to PepsiFree, but we have likely not agreed on much, either.



I am going to take the comment I made about your children back. It was inappropriate and I apologize.

But I hope we can apply similar grace to a young man who made some serious mistakes when he was in the 8th grade, too.

Thank you for the apology. I appreciate it greatly.

[Drake]

Fluto Shinzawa who covers the Bruins for The Athletic just put out a piece from Bruin's players perspective. It's good.

https://theathletic.com/3765718/2022...eron-marchand/

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by cannon7

This thread is really just a retread of the 2020 one, all with the same participants and viewpoints.

Actually, looking at my posts in that thread, I think my viewpoint has changed slightly. I am still not comfortable with the amount of vitriol being aimed at Miller and anyone who questions whether the strident reaction to everything associated with him is over the top. But I was, apparently, more firmly of the view at the time that banning him from the NHL was an overreaction... having now read about all the stuff he did in more detail and the apology, I'm definitely less sure that it's the wrong thing to do. I think at this point I would say he shouldn't play for any organization in any pro league unless that league AND that organization are satisfied, having spoken to him at length and seen what he says and does, that he understands the full extent of his wrongdoing and the harm it caused to everyone involved and is going to continue to work on himself.

[activeStick]

Based on their comments, it sounds like the players are not exactly excited on the addition. With that team rallying so well around each other in this "reunion" campaign and performing so well, much to the disappointment of those who in the offseason said the Bruins were done, why oh why would management throw a grenade into the room now?

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by cannon7

But I hope we can apply similar grace to a young man who made some serious mistakes when he was in the 8th grade, too.

It was 6 years of frequent bullying. Which cuts both ways in terms of how ####ed up this all is and how much burden of responsibility should fall on the adolescent involved.

It's been about 6 years. I don't know what restorative justice looks like here, but it should probably be more than:
- a coached/forced apology
- being cool with your sister's bf being black
- hiring a black agent

No counselling/volunteering/program participation?


His life has not been ruined...it's up to him to make it what it is. It's not unfair for him to face additional scrutiny if he wishes to pursue a publicized life.

Apparently he did 'enough' to convince the Bruins to give him a shot. But now it's fine for the Bruins to face consequences for their decision. Pro sports teams have earned zero benefit of the doubt when it comes to character decisions

[GullFoss]

I'm fine with where this situation is at. Mitchell can continue to build his skills and progress his career, but hasn't met the bar required to play in the NHL.

If he becomes talented enough to play in the NHL and finds a way to make amends, then he should get the opportunity play in the NHL. Pretty simple.

So...it's a work in progress. Maybe he has to do a lot of charity work. Maybe he has to donate a portion of his career earnings to charity. Maybe he has to make a sincere heartfelt apology. But the door should kept open - that if he can make amends for terrible actions at age 14, he can play in the NHL.

[boogerz]

Originally Posted by chummer

Just a bizarre decision by Cam Neely and Don Sweeney. Bruins are 10-1, reactions from players, fans and media are all negative. Head scratcher for sure.

and lets not forget that the league office approved the deal. Bettman could have stepped in behind the scenes before Miller's ELC was signed and registered, but chose not to. His statement after the fact about about Miller not being "eligible to play in the NHL" is nothing but meaningless lip service to quell the masses.

Even he doesn't step foot in the NHL, Miller is still guaranteed $532,500 USD from his ELC. This is such a poor look on the league to reward someone that bullied a member of a very vulnerable group in society (i.e. a developmental disabled kid/teen who also happens to be black) for years and has zero remorse about it.

Absolutely mind boggling decision-making by the Boston and the NHL. I'd love to hear what the Hockey Diversity Alliance has to say about this...from a PR standpoint, this would that group's moment/opportunity to shine

[Sofa GM]

So I’m a bit confused by the lack of consistency here by statements from Bettman saying Miller may never get to play. So you are not willing to give someone a second chance who made a mistake as a kid….. but Evander Kane still gets to play given what he did as a grown ass adult. Complete joke.

[TheoFleury]

Originally Posted by Sofa GM

So I’m a bit confused by the lack of consistency here by statements from Bettman saying Miller may never get to play. So you are not willing to give someone a second chance who made a mistake as a kid….. but Evander Kane still gets to play given what he did as a grown ass adult. Complete joke.

It's almost as if the league is shameless and has zero integrity

The NHL is an emotionless money making factory that only does the 'right thing' if that fits the formula where talent and money are the two most important variables. Everything else is secondary and malleable

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Sofa GM

So I’m a bit confused by the lack of consistency here by statements from Bettman saying Miller may never get to play. So you are not willing to give someone a second chance who made a mistake as a kid….. but Evander Kane still gets to play given what he did as a grown ass adult. Complete joke.

His statement seemed pretty clear to me. He's not eligible to play now, and things will have to change for him to be eligible to play in the future, not in this exact words.

To me though, Bettman is insinuating what many in here are expressing great concern over. You're an adult now and aren't showing much remorse or responsibility. Show us that in a meaningful way, not a mandated way, and we'll start the process of allowing you to play in the NHL.

That's what I read between the lines, anyways.

[Sofa GM]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

It was 6 years of frequent bullying. Which cuts both ways in terms of how ####ed up this all is and how much burden of responsibility should fall on the adolescent involved.

It's been about 6 years. I don't know what restorative justice looks like here, but it should probably be more than:
- a coached/forced apology
- being cool with your sister's bf being black
- hiring a black agent

No counselling/volunteering/program participation?


His life has not been ruined...it's up to him to make it what it is. It's not unfair for him to face additional scrutiny if he wishes to pursue a publicized life.

Apparently he did 'enough' to convince the Bruins to give him a shot. But now it's fine for the Bruins to face consequences for their decision. Pro sports teams have earned zero benefit of the doubt when it comes to character decisions

So by what everyone is saying it is clearly more of a race issue and not a bullying issue…..would the same conversation be happening if there wasn’t the race issue involved here. I would like to think so but I am not so sure.

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Sofa GM

So by what everyone is saying it is clearly more of a race issue and not a bullying issue…..would the same conversation be happening if there wasn’t the race issue involved here. I would like to think so but I am not so sure.

By what a lot of posters are saying is despite him apologizing to the victim and family and then being told he cannot have any more contact with the family and not breaking that order he is actually not remorseful. There is a mob mentality happening here that is disturbing. There is also a group of posters here who are experts at cyber bullying other posters, specifically one who shared his story and why he feels the way he does and got absolutely #### on for it. I suspect there is more than a few sketons in these posters closets that maybe they should not be so goddamn holier than thou all the time, belittling others who question things that go against their beliefs.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by boogerz

and lets not forget that the league office approved the deal. Bettman could have stepped in behind the scenes before Miller's ELC was signed and registered, but chose not to.

I don't think the league 'approves' signings like you imply - the league certainly isn't conducting a background check on every ELC. They register and track them, but it's on the teams to do due diligence.

Just like at the draft...the league didn't do anything to prevent the drafting of Mailloux.

Originally Posted by Sofa GM

So by what everyone is saying it is clearly more of a race issue and not a bullying issue…..would the same conversation be happening if there wasn’t the race issue involved here. I would like to think so but I am not so sure.

I think the disability is the bigger issue with the nature of the bullying. Use of the N-word certainly amplifies it, though.

[boogerz]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

By what a lot of posters are saying is despite him apologizing to the victim and family and then being told he cannot have any more contact with the family and not breaking that order he is actually not remorseful.

Lets recall some facts:

• Miller issued two apologies to the family. A court-ordered apology and then a Snapchat apology years afterward. There's hardly any sincerity in either of those ways of apologizing.

• The judge went on record to say that he didn't see any indication that Miller was remorseful about bullying Crothers from age 8-14

• The Crothers family is on record saying that they have forgiven Miller's co-bully, but not Miller due to the lack of remorse

• Miller was slated to be a late-1st rounder or second round pick...he fell in the draft because almost all NHL teams had him on their DND lists due to how he addressed the situation

In the past couple years, Miller has made no attempts to demonstrate that he's changed. He hasn't volunteered, donated, taken education related to racism or the developmentally disabled populace. He hasn't done any sort of actual reformation. If he was actually committed to apologizing, he could have found a more creative way to deliver a sincere apology without violating any restraining orders.

Based on what's been released to the public, it's a fair inference that Miller has such little remorse, he can't even be bothered to run a PR campaign on himself to prove otherwise

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

I don't think the league 'approves' signings like you imply - the league certainly isn't conducting a background check on every ELC. They register and track them, but it's on the teams to do due diligence.

Just like at the draft...the league didn't do anything to prevent the drafting of Mailloux.

The league definitely does not check every deal. However, given the amount of press on the situation over the past couple years, Miller is a "high-profile" signing from a PR standpoint. I'd find it hard to believe that NHL senior leadership didn't get advance notice of this deal before it was approved and registered

[Doctorfever]

Some good discussions here.

If any of you have children around the age Miller was when he bullied the other kid, this is a great story to share with them, and learn from it. I do have children that age and I have shared the story with them.

I will say I am glad Calgary never signed him. Although I can’t definitively say if I agree or disagree with a lifetime ban from the NHL.

I guess I would have to know Miller and the victim personally to make that decision.


Edit: I would also like to thank Jay for sharing his story here.

[chummer]

Ron McLean says Sweeney declined an interview.

No surprise, bad PR move by the Bruins.

[Traditional_Ale]

God, would you two please stop ruining the thread?

To some, there is nothing he can do to redeem himself, and so whether he single handedly builds orphanages in third world countries or chooses to say nothing, its going to be either "he's just trying to save his hockey career" or "look, he's saying nothing, throw him in the gallows."

[PuckDemon]

I very much believe that people should be given a chance to redeem themselves and that we always need to be careful not to let mob justice get out of hand. In this particular case, it really does not seem like Miller has reformed or even owning up to the full extent of his past beyond the one incident. I think the NHL's decision is right. They will review the case at the time when he wants to make the jump to the NHL. He has a chance at redemption but it's not guaranteed. If it doesn't work out, hockey-wise or redemption-wise, he still can go on to live a regular life like the rest of us 9-5 joes.

[Reggie Dunlop]