The Boston Bruins have officially walked back the signing of defenseman Mitchell Miller.
On Sunday, the Bruins parted ways with 20-year-old defenseman Miller “effective immediately” after Boston signed him to an entry-level deal on Friday. Miller, previously a 2020 draft pick of the Arizona Coyotes, had his draft status revoked after it was revealed that he was convicted in juvenile court for repeatedly bullying and assaulting a black, disabled classmate. Miller was 14 and in middle school at the time.
In a statement, Bruins president Cam Neely apologized to the victim and his family, but as of Sunday night, no one from the organization has directly reached out to them.
“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.”
#NHLBruins issue update on Mitchell Miller: https://t.co/M8YIVcg27t
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) November 7, 2022
While NHL commissioner Gary Bettman had recently stated that Miller was “not eligible” to play in the league, hockey fans were still rightfully furious at the decision. Even team captain Patrice Bergeron and forward Nick Foligno outwardly criticized the signing over the weekend while speaking to the media.
Bergeron on the Miller signing: "The culture we built here goes against that type of behaviour. We’re a team built with character and character people. What he did is unacceptable and we don’t stand by that. In this locker room, we are all about inclusion, diversity, respect."
— Terry Koshan 🇺🇦 (@koshtorontosun) November 5, 2022
Nick Foligno on the players' reaction to the signing of Mitchell Miller:
"I don't think any guy was too happy"
— Mike Stephens (@mikeystephens81) November 5, 2022
Hockey fans continued to lambaste the Bruins for their lack of care and thought after Miller’s release, which coincided with “new information” the team had learned despite the incident in question now being years old.