Boston Bruins part ways with Mitchell Miller days after controversial signing
The Boston Bruins have parted ways with Mitchell Miller days after they announced his controversial signing.
Miller, 20, was originally selected by the Arizona Coyotes in the fourth round of the 2020 draft, but they renounced his rights after it came to light he bullied an intellectually disabled Black classmate in middle school.
The Bruins, who announced the signing seemingly out of nowhere Friday, issued a statement at the time defending their decision saying that during an evaluation period, he was accountable for his “unacceptable behavior.”
Two nights later, Bruins president Cam Neely issued a statement on behalf of the organization that based on new information, they felt it was the “best decision at this time to rescind the opportunity for Mitchell Miller to represent the Boston Bruins.”
“The decision to sign this young man was made after careful consideration of the facts as we were aware of them: that at 14-years-old he made a poor decision that led to a juvenile conviction,” Neely said. “We understood this to be an isolated incident and that he had taken meaningful action to reform and was committed to ongoing personal development. Based on that understanding we offered him a contract.”
Miller was charged with assault and a violation of the Ohio Safe Schools Act at the age of 14. He used racial slurs against the student, Isaiah Meyer-Crothers, and along with an unnamed student, forced him to lick a lollipop that had been previously wiped against a bathroom urinal.
Meyer-Crothers’ mother, Joni, told NBC10 Boston that as far as she was concerned, Miller was a “monster.”
“He told our son that his Black mom and dad didn’t love him, that’s why he had white parents,” Meyer-Crothers told NBC10. “On a daily basis, was called the N-word. [Miller] would ask Isaiah to sit with him on the bus, and as soon as Isaiah would sit with him, him and his friends would just punch Isaiah in the head nonstop, and all he wanted was friends. So he was an easy target for Mitchell.”
Members of the Bruins leadership group spoke out against the signing Saturday.
“I had my concerns,” captin Patrice Bergeron said, adding he shared his opinions with the organization when asked by GM Don Sweeny. “In a way, I was not necessarily agreeing with it. To be honest with you, the culture that we’ve built here goes against that type of behavior. We’re a team that’s built something about character, character people and individuals. What he did, obviously, is unacceptable. We don’t stand by that.
“For me, I know for myself anyways, in this locker room, we’re all about inclusion, diversity, respect. Those are key words and core values we have. We expect guys to wear this jersey to be high-character people with integrity and respect. That’s how they should be acting.”
Brad Marchand, meanwhile, said if Miller ever were to join the team is would be because he had changed.
“We have a culture in this organization, in this room. We obviously don’t condone what happened. That will never be part of our team and our organization,” said the 14-year member of the Bruins, adding that “if [Miller’s] with our group, it will be because he’s shown that he’s learned and matured and he’s come a long way. It’s going to be a very long process for him. That’s on him.
“At the end of the day, we can only control what we can, and that’s what’s in our room. If that time ever comes, it will be dealt with when it needs to. As of right now, it’s a long process for him.”
In the Bruins’ statement Sunday night, Neely apologized to the Meyer-Crothers family.
“To Isaiah and his family, my deepest apologies if this signing made you and other victims feel unseen and unheard. We apologize for the deep hurt and impact we have caused.”
Saturday, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman was asked about the signing and said Miller wasn’t only ineligible for the NHL now, but that “nobody should think, at this point, he is or may ever be NHL-eligible.”
As more information about the signing came to light, Miller’s agent, Eustace King, issued a statement that they chose to represent him after “months of research, deliberation, introspection within our organization,” among conversations with outside advisors.
King wrote that Miller had been working with a number of organizations, and committed to working with others this past summer. Among them was The Carnegie Initiative, who’s co-founder Bryant McBride said Sunday night that he met with King to discuss Miller.
“My intent was always centered on finding a way for all to heal and grow. We mutually agreed that Mitchell’s best path forward was to be vocal and own what he had done, followed by him finding his voice to speak loudly as a change agent in hockey,” McBride said, adding “under these circumstances we found it best to move on and not pursue engaging The CI. That decision in no way diminishes the trust that I have had for over 20 years, and continue to have, in Eustace King.”
Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@oilersnation.com.