Contract Termination: [BOS] Bruins part ways with Mitchell Miller

[5cotland]

Bruins Issue Update On Mitchell Miller | Boston Bruins

BOSTON -Bruins President Cam Neely announced today, November 6, that the Boston Bruins will part ways with Mitchell Miller.

www.nhl.com

Statement from Bruins President Cam Neely:

"Today the Boston Bruins have decided to part ways with Mitchell Miller, effective immediately.

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. 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.

Based on new information, we believe it is the best decision at this time to rescind the opportunity for Mitchell Miller to represent the Boston Bruins. We hope that he continues to work with professionals and programs to further his education and personal growth.

We owe it to our fans, players, staff, partners and community to make sure that our practices and protocols are in keeping with the ethos that we demand from ourselves and as an organization. As such, we will be reevaluating our internal processes for vetting individuals who wish to earn the privilege of playing in the National Hockey League for the Boston Bruins.

We are sorry that this decision has overshadowed the incredible work the members of our organization do to support diversity and inclusion efforts. We will continue to stand against bullying and racism in all of its forms.

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.

Finally, as a father, I think there is a lesson to be learned here for other young people. Be mindful of careless behaviors and going with the group mentality of hurting others. The repercussions can be felt for a lifetime."

Mitchell Miller and his agent caught in a lie after issuing statement

The situation regarding the Boston Bruins signing Mitchell Miller is one of the messier situations when it comes to signing

www.bladeofsteel.com

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[PizzaAndPucks]

Still shocked Boston signed him in the first place. This kid might not even be able to fetch a contract over seas after all this. Deservedly so that is.

 

[wintersej]

Why would the NHLPA even stand up for this guy? I get it they are there for the players, but this piece of shit doesn't deserve a union to see to his rights.

Maybe they should just telll him to stay at home and kill off his career doing nothing for three years. I don't think any team in any league bar Russia will take on this guy.

It’s a case the NHLPA has to take even if it feels gross to them. They can’t open the door to teams just trying to cancel contracts when the bad stuff the person did happened before the contract and was common knowledge. If they win the case will depend on if Millers side being untruthful matters when the Bruins were negligent on following up on their own. But they have to take the case.

 

[Big Phil]

Phil, what you don't seem to see, that in your position to be fair to the perpetrator, you are letting the victim down. And I don't mean the victim in the past, I think you are letting Isaiah down in the now.
As the twitter message clearly shows Isaiah feels preassured by Mitchell's attempts to get his ok, also he is clearly feeling hurt about his handling of this today. So he is still a victim and you only seem to care about Mitchell's wellbeing.

I'm personally usually not vindictive and as a German I'm very much used to a more rehalitation based approach in justice, so usually I wouldn't be that far off. But here, clearly, the situation is still not pacified (sorry, don't know how to say this in better English), so IMO the protection of the victim has to be considerd as well, not only the possible rehabilitation of Mitchell Miller.

What I would do if I were him, Miller, I mean, is that obviously the dust isn't settled over this right now. He's going to find a job somewhere in professional hockey this year. I would focus on that, work on your game, stay with your extra curricular programs and then in a few months touch base with the victim and his family again. If he is still good enough to get an NHL contract again then someone is going to look for him if they have seen him make an effort. He's only 20, lots of time to prove this. Some people have this "forever banned" approach, and that's just ugly. I also don't like the tyrannical NHL approach either, none of that is good.

I believe in seeing closure on both ends here. I believe there can be a world in the near future where these two guys can talk about what happened without the lens of the sports media. Both can move on, heal, etc. Even with an NHL career Miller will have to explain this to people someday.

Like I said before, under the Canadian system, both Miller and Isaiah are protected from this incident because it isn't made public under the age of 18. To me that is a better system for young offenders.

He’s done newspaper interviews in the past, around the draft.

I think Miller would do a terrible job on camera with questions from a person familiar with the story.

I’m not sure what major media you think is refusing to cover this. Your theory is goofy and baseless.

At this point, or even in the future, I doubt very much Rogers or anyone would actually seek him out for an interview. 20-30 years ago I'd say yes, but today? Not so. There isn't that balance. Hey, if there is an interview with the kid on a Saturday night because they would be interested in his story then you can call me on it, but this isn't how the media works.

 

[MXD]

Why would the NHLPA even stand up for this guy? I get it they are there for the players, but this piece of shit doesn't deserve a union to see to his rights.

Maybe they should just telll him to stay at home and kill off his career doing nothing for three years. I don't think any team in any league bar Russia will take on this guy.

It’s a case the NHLPA has to take even if it feels gross to them. They can’t open the door to teams just trying to cancel contracts when the bad stuff the person did happened before the contract and was common knowledge. If they win the case will depend on if Millers side being untruthful matters when the Bruins were negligent on following up on their own. But they have to take the case.

Well, the NHLPA winning the case wouldn't equate Miller being forced back into Boston's lineup.

 

[McD37]

Still shocked Boston signed him in the first place. This kid might not even be able to fetch a contract over seas after all this. Deservedly so that is.

Really no point discussing this guy anymore. His hockey career is basically over.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Miller Still Under Contract With Bruins; NHLPA Grievance Likely

The Boston Bruins may have announced that they have parted ways with defenseman Mitchell Miller but the controversial 20-year-old rearguard is still technically under contract with the Bruins. “Technically, they haven’t parted ways [with him] just yet,” TSN NHL Insider Chris Johnston said on the...

bostonhockeynow.com

Why are these so called hockey experts suggesting that the NHLPA would file a grievance?

Isnt the best court of action to just pay him AHL level salary. And tell him to stay at home? But also free to sign with another team/another league ?

The grievance would only take place if the Bruins actually attempt to terminate the contract. Even if they assign him on-paper to the AHL and treat him as nonexistent, they would still be treating the contract as valid and therefore there's nothing to file a grievance over. But they don't have a right to terminate the contract, and the PA would immediately respond with a grievance if they tried.

This is likely a big part of why Bettman was so prickly after the contract was signed, and why he went straight to "ineligibility" as his response. He has no power to declare Miller ineligible, but he was trying to lay a foundation for a case that the contract was somehow not valid. In reality, the contract brought the NHLPA into the picture in terms of protecting any sort of precedent that could be applied to other players. That was a major blunder in terms of handcuffing the team and league as they move forward.

 

[Pens x]

Those of you happy that Miller is banished for **** he did as a 14 year old six years ago better have lived 100% pure lives.

 

[McDavid is too whiny]

Those of you happy that Miller is banished for **** he did as a 14 year old six years ago better have lived 100% pure lives.

he f***ed around and found out

 

[General Fanager]

Those of you happy that Miller is banished for **** he did as a 14 year old six years ago better have lived 100% pure lives.

Nope certainly not, I am far from perfect. However, he is not just banished for what he did when he was 14. Apparently he did it for many years and has shown zero remorse about it at all. He only cares now cause it will cost him a career.

If he showed true remorse and an effort to educate himself and change then he might have a shot. That HAS to start with accepting that its his own fault and no one else is to blame. 2nd chances are earned, they aren't a right.

 

[McDavid is too whiny]

Nope certainly not, I am far from perfect. However, he is not just banished for what he did when he was 14. Apparently he did it for many years and has shown zero remorse about it at all. He only cares now cause it will cost him a career.

If he showed true remorse and an effort to educate himself and change then he might have a shot. That HAS to start with accepting that its his own fault and no one else is to blame. 2nd chances are earned, they aren't a right.

that sounds unlikely

 

[General Fanager]

that sounds unlikely

I absolutely agree with you. I just mean there is a path forward if he should so choose.

I guess time will tell.....

 

[Statto]

Going by her other posts, she forgave the other boy involved as he showed genuine remorse

Stop providing facts…it ruins the narrative

 

[tarheelhockey]

Those of you happy that Miller is banished for **** he did as a 14 year old six years ago better have lived 100% pure lives.

To me it's not about what he did 14 years ago, and it's not about remorse. You and I would probably have similar opinions on those two topics.

It is about the victim coming out and directly saying that Miller lied (not misstated, but actively lied) about attempts to resolve this issue within the past month or so. The statement by Isaiah is a game-changer compared to everything else that came before that. Unless Miller/King are able to show some sort of incredibly compelling evidence to the contrary (which seems very unlikely) it looks an awful lot like Miller misrepresented himself first to his agent, and then by extension to the Bruins, and then by proxy to the general public. At that point it's fair to say he's made an effort to deceive his way into an NHL contract, which is quite a different story altogether.

Any business is well within their rights to kick someone to the curb if their current, adult behavior tarnishes the business' public image, not to mention calling into question the terms upon which they were hired.

 

[North Cole]

Why would the NHLPA even stand up for this guy? I get it they are there for the players, but this piece of shit doesn't deserve a union to see to his rights.

Maybe they should just telll him to stay at home and kill off his career doing nothing for three years. I don't think any team in any league bar Russia will take on this guy.

Because the Bruins are idiots and made him a member of the union. The union can't choose who it represents, it has to represent all of it's workers the same, otherwise it's not really a union. They already paid him 90K to sign so it's kind of hard for them to terminate the contract without him agreeing which he won't because he might never see another NHL contract. ARI just renounced his rights, much harder to renounce a ratified contract.

I hope the NHLPA doesn't get a bunch of flak, they've been dealt a shit hand in this.

 

[Statto]

Those of you happy that Miller is banished for **** he did as a 14 year old six years ago better have lived 100% pure lives.

You’ve followed the details of this very closely have you?

 

[Kimota]

I wonder what will happen with this guy. Go to some unknown league somewhere....?

 

[wintersej]

Those of you happy that Miller is banished for **** he did as a 14 year old six years ago better have lived 100% pure lives.

Way to pop into the story without having any understanding of what is going on! Thanks for your input!

 

[rocketdan9]

The grievance would only take place if the Bruins actually attempt to terminate the contract. Even if they assign him on-paper to the AHL and treat him as nonexistent, they would still be treating the contract as valid and therefore there's nothing to file a grievance over. But they don't have a right to terminate the contract, and the PA would immediately respond with a grievance if they tried.

This is likely a big part of why Bettman was so prickly after the contract was signed, and why he went straight to "ineligibility" as his response. He has no power to declare Miller ineligible, but he was trying to lay a foundation for a case that the contract was somehow not valid. In reality, the contract brought the NHLPA into the picture in terms of protecting any sort of precedent that could be applied to other players. That was a major blunder in terms of handcuffing the team and league as they move forward.

So these writers like Jeff Marek, are trying to add drama??....but Bruins dont need to go there. Yeah it sucks having MM on paper. But just bury him in the AHL and tell him to stay home. However, anytime another team or different league wants to sign him. He is free to go....

This would be most convenient and cheapest for the Bruins. But I wonder if MM will still file a grievance. Since the above, is almost like a contract termination with no opportunity to make NHL salary.

 

[Zen Arcade]

The headline could be "man beats orphan to death with sack full of dead puppies" and there'd still be people in the replies going "oh, so you're perfect!?!"

Along with the people saying they were beaten to death with a sack full of dead puppies but they took it in stride and moved on with their lives.

 

[Arthur Morgan]

Those of you happy that Miller is banished for **** he did as a 14 year old six years ago better have lived 100% pure lives.

people have lost their careers for much less and what we're suppose to go to bat for someone who doesnt even want to help them selves?
after what he did why on earth do you care if he makes the NHL? sure he can go on to live a normal life like everyone else but as for the NHL I think he made his decision.
the guy did nothing to make amends and then lied about doing those things.
kid is a dummy and I can't believe you even care after what his victim said..... oh but I guess because he's a good or potentially good hockey player his past doesn't matter?
what if that was your child he tormented from the 1st Grade till the 11th Grade? oh I guess that doesnt matter right?
mannnn give me a break with that bs

The headline could be "man beats orphan to death with sack full of dead puppies" and there'd still be people in the replies going "oh, so you're perfect!?!"

Along with the people saying they were beaten to death with a sack full of dead puppies but they took it in stride and moved on with their lives.

makes me sick that its okay just because they are good at sports....

 

[Talik Sanis]

Those of you happy that Miller is banished for **** he did as a 14 year old six years ago better have lived 100% pure lives.

Look, as someone who is radically opposed to the oh-so-easy demonization and systematic ostracization of individuals for past failings, particularly a single instance of poor judgement or an action that was not deemed problematic at the time the incidents themselves occurred, even I have to say Miller is nowhere near deserving of a position in any organization.

We're talking about regular violent actions, inspired by racial animus, towards a developmentally delayed individual over the course of years, for which the person involved has displayed few to no signs of repentance and engaged in almost no actions that show that he has attempted, and is attempting, to grow as a human being. Indeed, further malfeasance on his part has only compounded the original crimes as he seeks to minimize his responsibility and, by all appearances, deceive others.

Even when we want to avoid "witch hunts" and punitive moral grandstanding, we have to examine each case on its own merits.

And Miller has no merits to speak of.

 

[DeadGhost]

There's gotta be a reason his agent and his parents don't want him in front of a camera faking an apology. It's so easy to feign remorse.

 

[Amadeus]

You don't get the right to live a normal life after ruining someone else's.

 

[ratbid]

Those of you happy that Miller is banished for **** he did as a 14 year old six years ago better have lived 100% pure lives.

Projection

 

[Guttersniped]

There's gotta be a reason his agent and his parents don't want him in front of a camera faking an apology. It's so easy to feign remorse.

He doesn’t admit to being a bully. The people who keep claiming he has said sorry haven’t actually examined exactly what he has and hasn’t apologized for.

Miller doesn’t admit to bullying Isaiah for years, he claims they were actually friends. (Isaiah says he bullied him for years and they were never friends.)

Miller doesn’t admit to using racist language, he claims Isaiah used the “N-word” a lot and he “innocently” repeated back.(This is refuted in the police report.)

Miller has given a very watered down version of the “prank”: he claims they were just approaching random kids and didn’t target Isaiah (again refuted) and he denied assaulting him (the assault was caught on video).

Miller has apologized for trouble the “incident” has caused everyone and has apologized for being a bad friend to Isaiah. That’s it.

He hasn’t however apologized for the years of bullying, racist language, assault, etc because he hasn’t admitted to any of it.

He was forced to make the limited apology. He was found guilty, and while his family and supporters think Isaiah and his family are the villains, Miller knows people outside his echo chamber are sympathetic to his victim. So he still tries to be vaguely apologetic while saying he wishes he was “still friends” with Isaiah.

This is why he bombed his draft day interviews, he gave terrible answers to specific questions about all this.

Any tv interviewer familiar with the facts who presses him on this would either get him to completely change his story or twist himself in knots to avoid admitting any actual bullying.

He would be very evasive, very unsympathetic or very unbelievable or some mixture of all of these.