The Boston Bruins have signed former Arizona Coyotes draft pick Mitchell Miller to an entry-level contract. The Coyotes renounced Miller’s selection after it came to light that he heinously bullied an intellectually disabled child while in 8th grade. As such, it’s a decision by the Bruins that is catching a lot of attention on Friday and it’s news that isn’t sitting very well with many in the hockey world.
Reports seem to indicate that the Bruins think this was an isolated, one-time incident. The team referred to it as a singular “incident”. However, the victim’s mother says this was “years” of trauma. GM Don Sweeney has already said in a media avail, that signing Mitchell Miller “could be the wrong decision” and that he can’t say with certainty this was the right thing to do.
Miller, 20, was charged with assault and violation of the Ohio Schools Act in 2016 when he and another student admitted to bullying Isaiah Meyer-Crothers, a Black classmate with a learning disability. Miller is claiming that he’s learned from his mistake and that he wants to prove he’s not the same kid who did what he did back then, and also that he’s apologized. Chris Johnston of TSN writes, “The mother of the victim Mitchell Miller bullied tells @TPS_Guy that his apology came over Instagram. She claims Miller subjected her son to “years and years and years of torture.”
Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet writes that the Bruins did a lot of digging and talking to people before making this decision. He called it a “long process” from the Bruins’ end of things but also said he was torn between giving a young man another chance to prove he’s a better person and being unable to forgive something as awful as what Miller did.
Miller’s Signing Is Not Going Over Well
Greg Wyshysnki of ESPN writes, “Mitchell Miller’s bullying was cruel, racist, and dehumanizing beyond what his and Boston’s statements indicate. It was enough for Arizona. desperate for young talent, to renounce him as a pick. It was enough for North Dakota to drop him as a player. That was only 2 years ago. Every NHL team knew about Miller’s bullying, because he sent them letters before the draft. Arizona picked him anyway, believing they could make him “a leader on anti-bullying and anti-racism efforts.” Then they found out the full story, and dropped him.”
Arpon Basu of The Athletic writes, “Not seeing the words “racist” or “racism” anywhere in the Bruins’ press release. What Mitchell Miller did was racist. It’s important to acknowledge that if you’re trying to make people believe he’s changed in any significant way.” He adds, “Words like “bullied” and “unacceptable behavior” and “disrespectful” don’t go nearly far enough. It was racism. Overt, disgusting racism.”
Mike Stephens of The Hockey News writes, “what Mitchell Miller did to that kid was not a “lapse in judgement” from a youngster. it was downright evil. calculated. the kind of decision that reveals the darkness of someone’s character regardless of age. it took him years to apologize, if he even has. this is sickening.”
These are just a few of the reactions on social media today. There are tons more and it will be intriguing to see how the Bruins respond to the backlash, if at all. Sweeney says he has not talked to the victim, Isaiah Meyer-Crothers, or his family, but that the Bruins were involved in the process of Miller reaching out and talking to Meyer-Crothers. Says that was an “imperative” part of the process. Sweeney says he picked up Miller at the airport in Boston and told him he would be the one driving him back “if anything goes sideways.”
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