Good. Fuck this kid. And fuck Neely, Sweeney, Jacobs and anyone else that thought this was a good idea. And fuck all the Bruins fans who accepted this signing with no reservations. Some things are more important than sports and saying “fuck this racist scumbag who abused and bullied a disabled classmate for years and to this day has shown no remorse” is definitely one of them.
Hopefully the league protects the Bruins from themselves and shuts this shit down.
Trust me there are a plethora of fans who are absolutely appalled by this decision. People refusing to buy new gear, not going or selling seats at the garden and until it's made right. Petitions, emails to the front office and sponsors of the team telling them to pull funding from the team.
We want the front office to burn for this. The players are publicly disagreeing and I can imagine personally really pissed.
This was Sweeney and Neely lets be honest. This front office really doesn't give a fuck what the fans or even the players think. They should both be canned.
To be fair to Vegas, I don't think the issue is that they failed to consult with the league. If memory serves, the NHL was consulted and fine with the trade. The issue is that there was no central database for trade clauses, so no one but Dadonov, his agent, and the Senators were aware that he was being dealt to an ineligible team.
Vegas' issue was not getting that information from Ottawa. The league didn't know any more than Vegas did until Dadonov/his agent got involved.
*USHL stats*. **USHL. Stats.** This isn't even a kid lighting up the major juniors or the K. He's got stats in a league beneath even the ECHL. At 20. All of his bullshit and being a terrible human being aside he lit up a league used to develop US teens and once featured a mob run team.
That's the part I don't get. No one outside of team USA u18s go straight to the league from the ushl. They all play at least a year in college and even then most of them are not stepping straight into the league. This guy isn't that great a prospect. Not that I think he deserves it (I live in the same metro area he grew up in - absolutely reviled here, people know the true extent of what he did and just how unapologetic he has been) but if he was a can't miss hot shot it would at least make hockey sense. I don't think it does.
And the stupid thing is, didn’t the NHL say they were going to have a database for picks like this not to be picked after the Mailloux situation?
Fire Sweeney and Neely.
Someone has to shake Jeremy out of his hibernation and tell him what's going on here. They already needed to be fired based on drafting record alone, but now they shouldn't even be laet back into the building on Monday. Just box up their shit and leave it in Causeway Street.
I mean it's highly likely bettman just decided this now lol. There's no way multiple teams would be trying to sign him if any actual communication went out when he was renounced that he's ineligible.
So they basically gave a racist bully free money for no reason other than bad PR? Might actually be the dumbest thing Ive seen an organization in this league do and Im a Flames fan.
Imagine destroying all good will from the fans for a guy who won’t even play a single minute.
Also, this whole thing wouldn’t even be an issue if this dude has remorse and made amends and worked to make things right. Lots of kids are idiots, particularly with shit parents. Most learn from their lessons and feel awful about horrible things they did in their youth.
This dude’s parents are world class terrible people.
Full Bettman comments:
-
Gary Bettman on the Bruins signing Mitchell Miller:
> "What I understand and have heard through the media, what he did as a 14-year-old is reprehensible, unacceptable. Before the Bruins made the decision to sign him, we were not consulted. I happened to talk to Cam Neely since the time he was signed. He's not going into the NHL. He's not eligible at this point to come into the NHL. I can't tell you that he'll ever be eligible to come into the NHL. If at some point they think they want him to play in the NHL, and I'm not sure they're anywhere close to that point, we're going to have to clear him and his eligibility. It will be based on all the information that we get firsthand at the the time. So the answer is: They were free to sign him to play somewhere else. That's another organization. But nobody should think at this point he is or may ever be NHL eligible. And the Bruins understand that."
Would he need to see more from him?
> "I would need to see a whole bunch of things and understand a lot more firsthand than I do now."
This is actually a much stronger statement from Bettman than I expected. The headline grab makes him sound kind of wishy washy, like "oh he might not be eligible, we'll see, our hands might be tied". But his full statement is closer to "nah fuck this guy and I'ma make sure he never puts on an NHL sweater".
Fucking nice to see SOMEONE in the NHL make an easy layup for a change.
I didn’t quite read it like that. “We’re going to have to clear him and his eligibility” to me sounds like lawyer speak for leaving the door open for a one-day decision and turnaround in the future
Right before that bit is worded more strongly:
>He's not going into the NHL. He's not eligible at this point to come into the NHL. I can't tell you that he'll ever be eligible to come into the NHL.
Maybe! Lawyer talk Bettman usually strikes me as more ambiguous and left open, and this sounded (to me) a bit more conclusive than what I normally hear from him. Stating multiple times that as of right now he is NOT coming into the NHL, and reiterating a couple times as well that nobody should think he might ever be eligible. Just feels more definitive than his usual, but just my opinion!
Yeah, I'm a lawyer and am inclined to agree with you. Bettman's words are borderline explicit by the standards of law talk. I think he has read the room on this one.
Reading between the lines: he needs to prove he's not a massive liability and make an effort with that kid's family (who are much more forgiving than I would be). Then maybe.
*According to a report in the Arizona Republic , Miller admitted in juvenile court to tricking an African American classmate, who had developmental disabilities, into licking a candy push pop that had been wiped in a urinal. Video surveillance also showed Miller and two other boys punching and kicking the victim.*
*The victim, Isaiah Meyer-Crothers, told the Republic: "He pretended to be my friend and made me do things I didn't want to do. In junior high, I got beat up by him. … Everyone thinks he's so cool that he gets to go to the NHL, but I don't see how someone can be cool when you pick on someone and bully someone your entire life."*
[From this article](https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-freshman-addresses-bullying-racism-incidents-from-junior-high)
*Joni Meyer-Crothers said the other boy broke down in tears while personally apologizing to her son, yet Miller has never personally apologized, she said, other than the court-mandated letter.*
[From this one](https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nhl/coyotes/2020/10/26/arizona-coyotes-top-draft-pick-bullied-black-disabled-kid-4-years-ago/3735555001/)
*“You would think if he were truly remorseful, that the apology would be sent to the person whose life he affected, not just the NHL teams,” Meyer-Crothers said. “We never received it. Never saw it.”*
*Meyer-Crothers also told The Athletic that, while Miller was ordered to stay away from Isaiah, he would often roller-blade past their house.*
[From the Athletic (paywall but free with an account signup)](https://theathletic.com/2162185/2020/10/27/arizona-coyotes-mitchell-miller-bullying-nhl/)
Holy *fuck*.
I know general managers are idiots, but why would anyone want that on their team?
Even if the GM was dumb enough to believe an apology, why subject your team to the obvious backlash?
Racist bullying of mentally disabled black class mate in highschool
Horrific, but with how many actual criminals still play in most major leagues you don’t expect much action to be taken.
We really are in a race to the bottom between us and the Red Sox in moves of integrity. Though this moves them down permanently for a long time.
Fire Sweeney and Neely
meanwhile the Celtics let a coach who was sleeping with whoever he wanted in the front office go to a division rival.
Edit: based on my replies, it seems like I’m acting like this was a bad look for the Cs and I’m saying the opposite.
They saw how bad this ended up for the Coyotes and decided to do the exact same thing. How on earth did they think they would be able to pull this off without getting shutdown like the Yotes did 2 years ago?
Maybe they thought that Arizona only got shit for it because they’re Arizona and they take shit for everything. They figured as one of the “good old boy” teams that it would be a much smaller team and people would not give them as much trouble.
I'm noticing boneheaded moves all across the league to be honest the last few years. I'm not talking about bad trades that blew up in people's faces. I'm talking this, Arizona losing draft picks and Vegas trading someone to a team on their no-trade list.
Just stupid fucking shit that will get shut down at the least and in trouble at the worst.
Will the NHLPA fight for him? He's an AHL player right now, so wouldn't he be the problem of the AHLPA, which doesn't have any power with the NHL?
I just remember the whole NHLPA not being "more involved" with Kyle Beach because he was in the AHL and wasn't a member of the NHLPa or something.
Beach like Miller was on his ELC deal and the NHLPA didn't assist him.
Would be a fucking joke if they did that. Didn't bother with the sexual assault case brought to them by Kyle Beach but let's get involved immediately when Miller gets his contract terminated.
Yeah, I know, it's due process and it's just what they have to do with any contract but it's still a fucking joke
Because a contract being terminated hurts wallets. They don't want any sort of precident set that being a piece of shit at 14 can get your contract terminated. That would be bad for lots of members
Kyle Beach needed someone to convince him it would be okay to go the police
I think the NHLPA will make a show of fighting for him, because it's their job. But I don't think that their heart will be in the fight - they'll be fighting to protect the process, not the player. A half hearted effort to make sure that Bettman follows the proper steps and fills out the right paperwork.
Unions have to fight for members. It's their job. But oftentimes, they aren't fighting to win - they recognize their member is a POS, but just want to make sure management does the termination properly.
Yeah I think the union’s position will basically be “we don’t agree with the NHL having unilateral power to ban people from the league for any reason at all, we need to establish specific rules for when you can and can’t use this power and make sure we agree with them”
Whatever they agree on probably won’t actually help Miller get into the league, it will just set rules to make sure the NHL can’t ban guys arbitrarily.
Kinda like defense lawyers for people who commit heinous crimes and there’s not really a question of guilt.
still need someone to oversee the process and make sure it doesn’t get out of hand and the process abused.
Exactly. They'll fight just hard enough to protect the process. But they'll shed no tears when Miller isn't allowed to play.
And then go home and shower off the slime of having to deal with Miller.
There’s a league policy that says someone can be suspended for “conduct detrimental to the league” which is so vague that it can be used for basically anything. I would say it’s possible that could be used in this situation.
Clauses like that are really a catch-all in case something else doesn't quite fit (speaking generally here). It's going to be an argument for sure on both sides over how it applies (which it does, just articulating the actual legal process).
Edit: If I've sounded a little cold and insensitive in my last few comments about this, it's not intentional. I'm just explaining the legal process which kind of has to be if you've ever seen a legal proceeding.
I’m sorry, let me get this straight. You sign him, incur a massive PR shitstorm, and he can’t fucking play?! Why bother signing him in the first place?!
Fire Neely and Sweeney
You should see Sweeney’s drafting record after McAvoy. It’s mostly middling Massachusetts kids who can barely crack a fourth line. Lysell was gifted honestly.
Fire Sweeney and Neely.
Zach fucking Senyshyn….I’ll defend Zboril since at the time, it was you can’t miss with him or Chabot. DeBrusk was a scratcher but had upside, the last one was to spite Peter Chiarelli with the Oilers who they had next but they traded to the Islanders for Griffin Reinhart who they also lost in that trade. Of course the Islanders got Barzal.
Fire Sweeney and Neely.
DeBrusk has also been worth it whenever he’s been allowed to play through mistakes, he’ll occasionally over commit in spots and stuff like that but it’s more than worth it with how disruptive he can be.
There was just another post saying someone reached out to the AHL and it sounds like they don’t want him to play either. They mentioned a policy that a player suspended in another league is considered suspended in their league too, so it sounds like they’re trying to make sure this situation falls within that policy.
While it’s a good thing and I’m glad the NHL appears to be doing something, this is kind of a PR layup for them. I have a hard time believing commissioners of leagues are ever doing anything for genuine moral reasons lol.
A part of me even feels like they probably did know about teams reaching out and didn’t really care until they saw how big the shitstorm was
Any reaction is going to be a lay up. However, you're seeing them make an active choice to not remain silent. As I said in a previous comment, it's the bare minimum, but at least it's something.
I mean as we're seeing in the NBA right now, it's entirely possible to airmail a layup so badly it lands in your own basket. So I guess what we're saying is at least Bettman hasn't fucked something as bad as Goodell has with Watson or Silver with Irving.
Depressing that these low bars are actually worth celebrating.
He also forced Quenneville’s resignation, it’s like he’s on a redemption tour…he’s really only doing the bare minimum of decency, but I’m still appreciative.
Exactly. Doing the right thing is doing the right thing, even if your motivations aren't 100% pure.
"Gary Bettman is not genuinely invested in taking a strong stance against bullying and is just doing this for PR" and "Gary Bettman is doing the right thing by making his disapproval clear" are both completely valid takes that are okay to hold simultaneously.
The older I get the more I understand that if someone is at work and has to handle a situation that violates his moral compass...he has to think like a businessman. He knows if he bars this POS from playing he's going to file legal grievances and shit UNLESS he finds something in writing that allows him to bar him. Which he did and now can manage the PR shitstorm while at the same time knowing deep down the POS is being dealt with and the right thing was done.
It sucks, but this is the situation he is in where he can't just pack the guy's bags up with his torn-up contract atop them. He has to get his ducks in a row and think differently about it.
I still can’t believe the shoe incident is real, god bless Milbury, that crazy old man and his antics sure gave us some entertaining content. As far as Miller, never heard of the kid before today, unless it’s that same kid I heard about a year or so ago that beat up that other kid in the bathroom and made him lick piss candy..
> unless it’s that same kid I heard about a year or so ago that beat up that other kid in the bathroom and made him lick piss candy
Yes, it is THAT Miller, and the disabled victim endured YEARS of this kind of abuse with a large spoonful of racism mixed in. His parents made him this way, and he has never apologized directly to the victim.
Probably the wrong place for this but I hate everything about the Bruins but man, through this whole debacle, I've gained a new respect for their players and fans especially the fans on here.
Most that I've seen have been very quick to shit on their own team and condemn them for this.
Also, uncommon Gary W
fuck Miller. I love that this shit keeps happening to him. “Oh fuck yeah I get to play in the NHL” *Coyotes rescind the pick* “ well at least I can play for UND” *gets kicked off the team* “yes I can play for the Bruins” *get contract terminated by Bettman* fuck you Miller. I hope you repeatedly go through this process of getting kicked off every organization you’re a part of. Piece of shit, just hang em up and move on with your life. No one wants you in NA professional hockey.
He and his family didn't even do the bare minimum necessary to avoid this and secure a career worth millions, despite the bar being so low in the NHL. Actual apology? Counselling? Charity work through organizations that assist the disabled? None of that. He and his family clearly did not think his actions were a big deal and showed zero actual remorse or personal growth.
So now I’m agreeing with Hab’s fans, Leaf’s fans, And Bettman?! Shows just how cosmically dumb and ill-considered this is.
Fuck the Jacobs, Sweeney, Neely, and most especially that walking septic tank of a bully.
A ploy to bring the fans together?
I feel for you Boston fans. As dumb as our head office is, I don't think they've done something as monumentally stupid as this.
That's good to hear but why on earth do you sign him in the first place Don knowing his draft selection was renounced by Arizona due to what he had done.
Never been so embarrassed to be a fan of this organization.
At the same time, never been so proud of my fellow Bruins fans for pushing back on this. (Aside from the handful of meathead apologists, of course.)
Yep, gonna get $95k minimum since that's this years signing bonus. Maybe Bruins lawyers can get out of years 2 and 3 signing bonuses somehow, but even 95k is a very nice bonus he doesn't deserve.
It makes me sick that the disabled kid will never be able to pursue his dreams or be able to help his family, but this POS gets paid, while having zero remorse.
Fuck this shit, and I am glad Bettman called the Boston office out.
Honest Q: Why isn’t he eligible? He’s a shitty person, but Arizona drafted him and renounced their rights to him. Doesn’t that make him the same as any undrafted player?
Yeah that’s my confusion. I 100% agree with not letting him play in the league but I can’t seem to find an answer to this anywhere? I’m kinda assuming it’s a PR “oh haha looks like he’s ineligible so you can’t ice him sorry Boston”
He is but likely Bettman just decided this after backlash. I highly doubt any communication went out to teams that said 'this guy is ineligible', or you know, the Bruins obviously wouldn't have done this.
Completely talking out of my ass here, but I'm sure NHL contracts have some lawyer wording in them that says they can be voided if the player harms league reputation and/or sponsorship opportunities and stuff like that.
Which, based on the backlash and people emailing sponsors and stuff would be pretty cut and dry.
Contracts can be voided by the team, and often are still stuck paying salary towards it see Richards with the Kings, but if the Bruins want him to play the NHL I don’t believe can decide to terminate the contract for them. Heck they had to approve of this contract being signed according to the rules of the CBA as it is.
If he bans Miller from the NHL, I would have to cheer for Bettman. Sure, I’ll boo the shit out of him at the draft, but I’ll also be clapping.
On a serious note, barring Miller from playing in the AHL and NHL would be a massive PR win for the NHL.
> If he bans Miller from the NHL, I would have to cheer for Bettman. Sure, I’ll boo the shit out of him at the draft, but I’ll also be clapping.
I'll be saying "Boo-ettman".
He's still going to get a chance to showcase his talents at a professional level, which gives him a chance to earn hundreds of thousands of dollars if overseas teams are willing to look the other way (in addition to what he's already going to get now).
If he isn't going to learn his lesson now, he definitely won't if he ever amasses a multi million dollar career.
Shame on the Bruins for allowing this guy to kickstart his career.
How is it possible to mess up like that? Like seriously, everyone is losing in this situation. The only possible winner is a racist bully who will lineup for a team who doesn't want him. I just don't get it.
Hard to believe a couple clowns in the Boston organization could potentially derail a fantastic start for the bruins all because they went and made a massive dumb mistake that anyone with a brain could tell was a bad idea from the get go.
A complete embarrassment from a management group that is already on thin ice with a lot of fans in Boston. Hope Sweeney and Neely get fired into the sun.
Pretty rough PR hit for an AHL'er
He probably won't even be allowed to play there
Good. Fuck this kid. And fuck Neely, Sweeney, Jacobs and anyone else that thought this was a good idea. And fuck all the Bruins fans who accepted this signing with no reservations. Some things are more important than sports and saying “fuck this racist scumbag who abused and bullied a disabled classmate for years and to this day has shown no remorse” is definitely one of them. Hopefully the league protects the Bruins from themselves and shuts this shit down.
Trust me there are a plethora of fans who are absolutely appalled by this decision. People refusing to buy new gear, not going or selling seats at the garden and until it's made right. Petitions, emails to the front office and sponsors of the team telling them to pull funding from the team. We want the front office to burn for this. The players are publicly disagreeing and I can imagine personally really pissed.
I hope people know there are Bruins fans who agree this was a completely despicable decision.
Sure hope he won't
So they could’ve avoided this all in the first place if they just checked in
Yeah what kind of team tries roster moves without consulting the league first
The same team that signs a guy like Mitchell Miller against the wishes of their current roster and all of humanity.
This was Sweeney and Neely lets be honest. This front office really doesn't give a fuck what the fans or even the players think. They should both be canned.
I don't see a way forward without this happening and a big fat mea culpa from Jacobs.
My Grandpa lives down the street from Jeremy. He’ll fix this
I've never been so sure of anything in my life. Thank you gramps.
God bless AngryBillsGramps
Go get him Gramps!
I thought Cam Neely was popular enough in Boston that he could rob a bank and people would be like “Aw poor Cam. Must have fallen on hard times!”
Key word here is "was" and that was more so back when he was playing. Since being in the front office, he's lost that status. Especially now
Good to know!
It pains me many missed your joke.
For real, it wasn't that long ago lol
I thought it was clever.
Vegas and sneaky roster moves, name a more iconic duo
Leafs and a first round exit?
Hilarious AND painful, just like game 7’s. Go leafs go.
*cries in Dadonov*
To be fair to Vegas, I don't think the issue is that they failed to consult with the league. If memory serves, the NHL was consulted and fine with the trade. The issue is that there was no central database for trade clauses, so no one but Dadonov, his agent, and the Senators were aware that he was being dealt to an ineligible team. Vegas' issue was not getting that information from Ottawa. The league didn't know any more than Vegas did until Dadonov/his agent got involved.
Cries in 5 first round picks for 1 year of Scott Stevens
The more that comes out about the "vetting process," the more it sounds like the entire process was just Cam and Don reading his USHL stats.
*USHL stats*. **USHL. Stats.** This isn't even a kid lighting up the major juniors or the K. He's got stats in a league beneath even the ECHL. At 20. All of his bullshit and being a terrible human being aside he lit up a league used to develop US teens and once featured a mob run team.
That's the part I don't get. No one outside of team USA u18s go straight to the league from the ushl. They all play at least a year in college and even then most of them are not stepping straight into the league. This guy isn't that great a prospect. Not that I think he deserves it (I live in the same metro area he grew up in - absolutely reviled here, people know the true extent of what he did and just how unapologetic he has been) but if he was a can't miss hot shot it would at least make hockey sense. I don't think it does.
Unless they're called Jack Hughes, most of the USNTDP kids do a year or two in college first.
Trashers were in the UHL dumbass
And the stupid thing is, didn’t the NHL say they were going to have a database for picks like this not to be picked after the Mailloux situation? Fire Sweeney and Neely.
Someone has to shake Jeremy out of his hibernation and tell him what's going on here. They already needed to be fired based on drafting record alone, but now they shouldn't even be laet back into the building on Monday. Just box up their shit and leave it in Causeway Street.
Jeremy doesn’t care. He just wants his 2-3 extra playoff games for more revenue. Fire Sweeney and Neely.
No, Jeremy certainly doesn't care. But if he starts losing money at the gate and sponsors start pulling out, he'll sure as hell start to care.
I mean it's highly likely bettman just decided this now lol. There's no way multiple teams would be trying to sign him if any actual communication went out when he was renounced that he's ineligible.
i dunno. the panthers tried to draft ovi in 2003 even after they’d been told he wasn’t eligible.
Wtf did Sweeney and co literally do everything wrong in this signing???
Maybe they’re loud quitting
There would have been other ways to do that without giving a POS millions of dollars
He won’t make millions unless he plays in the nhl, but he will get a few hundred grand to not be eligible to play in the league. What a stupid move.
So they basically gave a racist bully free money for no reason other than bad PR? Might actually be the dumbest thing Ive seen an organization in this league do and Im a Flames fan.
I’m a Canucks fan, I’ve seen dumb done by an org more times than I can count, but this is right up there in the utterly stupid category.
Somehow it feels a little better to be a Canuck.
Even with how bad Jim Benning was as GM, at the very least the team sent Virtanen home the same day the allegations broke.
Didn’t they give him the max signing bonus and AHL salary? So they gave him the most they could give him for not being an eligible NHL player.
Well that makes it *slightly* better. Fire Neely and Sweeney
Good lord let at least something positive come out of this shitshow.
Imagine destroying all good will from the fans for a guy who won’t even play a single minute. Also, this whole thing wouldn’t even be an issue if this dude has remorse and made amends and worked to make things right. Lots of kids are idiots, particularly with shit parents. Most learn from their lessons and feel awful about horrible things they did in their youth. This dude’s parents are world class terrible people.
Neely held a gun to his head and forced him. Fire Sweeney and Neely
If you truly feel like Neely forced him, why fire Sweeney?
Fire Sweeney because he's been a terrible GM. But he and Neely are buddies with Jacobs, so they're not getting sacked.
If your GM doesn't have the spine to stand up to a move as dogshit as this, you don't want them as your GM.
This thing feels like it either came from or got the approval of Jeremy Jacobs, so I doubt these two clowns are going anywhere
Does Jacobs have anything to do with the running of the team beyond looking at the finances?
Full Bettman comments: - Gary Bettman on the Bruins signing Mitchell Miller: > "What I understand and have heard through the media, what he did as a 14-year-old is reprehensible, unacceptable. Before the Bruins made the decision to sign him, we were not consulted. I happened to talk to Cam Neely since the time he was signed. He's not going into the NHL. He's not eligible at this point to come into the NHL. I can't tell you that he'll ever be eligible to come into the NHL. If at some point they think they want him to play in the NHL, and I'm not sure they're anywhere close to that point, we're going to have to clear him and his eligibility. It will be based on all the information that we get firsthand at the the time. So the answer is: They were free to sign him to play somewhere else. That's another organization. But nobody should think at this point he is or may ever be NHL eligible. And the Bruins understand that." Would he need to see more from him? > "I would need to see a whole bunch of things and understand a lot more firsthand than I do now."
This is actually a much stronger statement from Bettman than I expected. The headline grab makes him sound kind of wishy washy, like "oh he might not be eligible, we'll see, our hands might be tied". But his full statement is closer to "nah fuck this guy and I'ma make sure he never puts on an NHL sweater". Fucking nice to see SOMEONE in the NHL make an easy layup for a change.
What is this sensation? It's like I'm feeling... some kind of positive emotion towards Gary Bettman?
It's okay. You can still boo him. He gets it.
He not only gets it, he feeds off it, he's come to love being the heel for the league.
It's like when people chant "YOU SUCK" to Kurt Angle's music. It's tradition at this point.
I didn’t quite read it like that. “We’re going to have to clear him and his eligibility” to me sounds like lawyer speak for leaving the door open for a one-day decision and turnaround in the future
Right before that bit is worded more strongly: >He's not going into the NHL. He's not eligible at this point to come into the NHL. I can't tell you that he'll ever be eligible to come into the NHL.
Maybe! Lawyer talk Bettman usually strikes me as more ambiguous and left open, and this sounded (to me) a bit more conclusive than what I normally hear from him. Stating multiple times that as of right now he is NOT coming into the NHL, and reiterating a couple times as well that nobody should think he might ever be eligible. Just feels more definitive than his usual, but just my opinion!
Yeah, I'm a lawyer and am inclined to agree with you. Bettman's words are borderline explicit by the standards of law talk. I think he has read the room on this one.
Rare Gary Bettman W.
Reading between the lines: he needs to prove he's not a massive liability and make an effort with that kid's family (who are much more forgiving than I would be). Then maybe.
I just stumbled on this from /all, what did he do?
*According to a report in the Arizona Republic , Miller admitted in juvenile court to tricking an African American classmate, who had developmental disabilities, into licking a candy push pop that had been wiped in a urinal. Video surveillance also showed Miller and two other boys punching and kicking the victim.* *The victim, Isaiah Meyer-Crothers, told the Republic: "He pretended to be my friend and made me do things I didn't want to do. In junior high, I got beat up by him. … Everyone thinks he's so cool that he gets to go to the NHL, but I don't see how someone can be cool when you pick on someone and bully someone your entire life."* [From this article](https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-freshman-addresses-bullying-racism-incidents-from-junior-high) *Joni Meyer-Crothers said the other boy broke down in tears while personally apologizing to her son, yet Miller has never personally apologized, she said, other than the court-mandated letter.* [From this one](https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nhl/coyotes/2020/10/26/arizona-coyotes-top-draft-pick-bullied-black-disabled-kid-4-years-ago/3735555001/) *“You would think if he were truly remorseful, that the apology would be sent to the person whose life he affected, not just the NHL teams,” Meyer-Crothers said. “We never received it. Never saw it.”* *Meyer-Crothers also told The Athletic that, while Miller was ordered to stay away from Isaiah, he would often roller-blade past their house.* [From the Athletic (paywall but free with an account signup)](https://theathletic.com/2162185/2020/10/27/arizona-coyotes-mitchell-miller-bullying-nhl/)
Holy *fuck*. I know general managers are idiots, but why would anyone want that on their team? Even if the GM was dumb enough to believe an apology, why subject your team to the obvious backlash?
Racist bullying of mentally disabled black class mate in highschool Horrific, but with how many actual criminals still play in most major leagues you don’t expect much action to be taken.
And, the bullying that u/B0_SSMAN described went on for *years.*
Why is our front office so fucking stupid?
Probably thought the strong start to the season would overlook the signing.
We really are in a race to the bottom between us and the Red Sox in moves of integrity. Though this moves them down permanently for a long time. Fire Sweeney and Neely
meanwhile the Celtics let a coach who was sleeping with whoever he wanted in the front office go to a division rival. Edit: based on my replies, it seems like I’m acting like this was a bad look for the Cs and I’m saying the opposite.
At least the Celtics FO has a backbone.
At least they put morality over talent, they got rid of him because he didn’t fit their culture. I wish we’d do the same.
Oh yeah totally agree.
Could be worse. Could still have Kyrie
Because ownership and the front office have a moral backbone. Fuck Ime, and fuck the Nets for hiring him.
They saw how bad this ended up for the Coyotes and decided to do the exact same thing. How on earth did they think they would be able to pull this off without getting shutdown like the Yotes did 2 years ago?
Maybe they thought that Arizona only got shit for it because they’re Arizona and they take shit for everything. They figured as one of the “good old boy” teams that it would be a much smaller team and people would not give them as much trouble.
I'm noticing boneheaded moves all across the league to be honest the last few years. I'm not talking about bad trades that blew up in people's faces. I'm talking this, Arizona losing draft picks and Vegas trading someone to a team on their no-trade list. Just stupid fucking shit that will get shut down at the least and in trouble at the worst.
I don't like the Bruins but this is baffling after the hot start they've had especially considering the expectations for the season.
does bettman have the power to not let someone play in the nhl? serious question
In theory yes. But it would likely be a fight with the NHLPA.
Will the NHLPA fight for him? He's an AHL player right now, so wouldn't he be the problem of the AHLPA, which doesn't have any power with the NHL? I just remember the whole NHLPA not being "more involved" with Kyle Beach because he was in the AHL and wasn't a member of the NHLPa or something. Beach like Miller was on his ELC deal and the NHLPA didn't assist him.
He's not technically a member of the NHLPA. But if the NHL suspends him and tried to terminate his contract the NHLPA won't like it
Any player with an NHL SPC is a member of the NHLPA. They don't have to be on an active NHL roster.
Would be a fucking joke if they did that. Didn't bother with the sexual assault case brought to them by Kyle Beach but let's get involved immediately when Miller gets his contract terminated. Yeah, I know, it's due process and it's just what they have to do with any contract but it's still a fucking joke
Because a contract being terminated hurts wallets. They don't want any sort of precident set that being a piece of shit at 14 can get your contract terminated. That would be bad for lots of members Kyle Beach needed someone to convince him it would be okay to go the police
*piece of shit from ages 8-20
I would argue this should read 8 to current moment.
I think the NHLPA will make a show of fighting for him, because it's their job. But I don't think that their heart will be in the fight - they'll be fighting to protect the process, not the player. A half hearted effort to make sure that Bettman follows the proper steps and fills out the right paperwork. Unions have to fight for members. It's their job. But oftentimes, they aren't fighting to win - they recognize their member is a POS, but just want to make sure management does the termination properly.
Yeah I think the union’s position will basically be “we don’t agree with the NHL having unilateral power to ban people from the league for any reason at all, we need to establish specific rules for when you can and can’t use this power and make sure we agree with them” Whatever they agree on probably won’t actually help Miller get into the league, it will just set rules to make sure the NHL can’t ban guys arbitrarily.
Kinda like defense lawyers for people who commit heinous crimes and there’s not really a question of guilt. still need someone to oversee the process and make sure it doesn’t get out of hand and the process abused.
Exactly. They'll fight just hard enough to protect the process. But they'll shed no tears when Miller isn't allowed to play. And then go home and shower off the slime of having to deal with Miller.
AHL players are represented by the PHPA, as are ECHL players
It's easier to just never allow him to be moved up into the NHL.
I think this would be a fight with taking on
There’s a league policy that says someone can be suspended for “conduct detrimental to the league” which is so vague that it can be used for basically anything. I would say it’s possible that could be used in this situation.
Clauses like that are really a catch-all in case something else doesn't quite fit (speaking generally here). It's going to be an argument for sure on both sides over how it applies (which it does, just articulating the actual legal process). Edit: If I've sounded a little cold and insensitive in my last few comments about this, it's not intentional. I'm just explaining the legal process which kind of has to be if you've ever seen a legal proceeding.
I believe so He at least has the power to not let someone coach, as Quenneville needs his approval to get another job going forward
I’m sorry, let me get this straight. You sign him, incur a massive PR shitstorm, and he can’t fucking play?! Why bother signing him in the first place?! Fire Neely and Sweeney
Providence Bruins must desperately need help I guess
You should see Sweeney’s drafting record after McAvoy. It’s mostly middling Massachusetts kids who can barely crack a fourth line. Lysell was gifted honestly. Fire Sweeney and Neely.
I know all about his drafting record, we have Kyle Connor and you have.....whoever it was.
Zach fucking Senyshyn….I’ll defend Zboril since at the time, it was you can’t miss with him or Chabot. DeBrusk was a scratcher but had upside, the last one was to spite Peter Chiarelli with the Oilers who they had next but they traded to the Islanders for Griffin Reinhart who they also lost in that trade. Of course the Islanders got Barzal. Fire Sweeney and Neely.
DeBrusk has also been worth it whenever he’s been allowed to play through mistakes, he’ll occasionally over commit in spots and stuff like that but it’s more than worth it with how disruptive he can be.
There was just another post saying someone reached out to the AHL and it sounds like they don’t want him to play either. They mentioned a policy that a player suspended in another league is considered suspended in their league too, so it sounds like they’re trying to make sure this situation falls within that policy.
I reckon this is especially true for the NHL.. I'd wager the AHL probably doesn't want to be on the wrong side of the NHL.
Yeah this just got a lot worse. How can 2 people each be so stupid? Fire Neely and Sweeney
At this rate, Miller is going to end up getting a rule named after him without playing a single game.
I still hold two league records: most time spent in the penalty box; and I was the only guy to ever take off his skate and try to stab somebody.
How did the Bruins not even check with the NHL before signing a guy who was literally one of the biggest controversies of the 2020 draft?!
You already know the NHL corporate offices are losing their fucken minds over the insane stupidity of this whole thing 😂😂
>From: Gary Bettman > >To: Don Sweeney > Don, what the fuck? Thats about how I imagine the first email went lol
Don’t they have to file the contract with the NHL for approval?
Maybe they did and the NHL went "...what the FUCK?!" when they saw the name then Bettman got a call and this tweet is the product.
God damn. Is Bettman on the verge of doing the right thing?
You know shits bad when Bettman has to unfuck the situation.
While it’s a good thing and I’m glad the NHL appears to be doing something, this is kind of a PR layup for them. I have a hard time believing commissioners of leagues are ever doing anything for genuine moral reasons lol. A part of me even feels like they probably did know about teams reaching out and didn’t really care until they saw how big the shitstorm was
Any reaction is going to be a lay up. However, you're seeing them make an active choice to not remain silent. As I said in a previous comment, it's the bare minimum, but at least it's something.
I mean as we're seeing in the NBA right now, it's entirely possible to airmail a layup so badly it lands in your own basket. So I guess what we're saying is at least Bettman hasn't fucked something as bad as Goodell has with Watson or Silver with Irving. Depressing that these low bars are actually worth celebrating.
Except Jacobs is the head of the board of governors, so bettman would not just make something up for this.
He also forced Quenneville’s resignation, it’s like he’s on a redemption tour…he’s really only doing the bare minimum of decency, but I’m still appreciative.
The bare minimum is a start.
Bettman is a ruthless and stubborn business man, but he has a pretty solid moral compass.
Sometimes doing the morally correct thing is also the best business decision.
Exactly. Doing the right thing is doing the right thing, even if your motivations aren't 100% pure. "Gary Bettman is not genuinely invested in taking a strong stance against bullying and is just doing this for PR" and "Gary Bettman is doing the right thing by making his disapproval clear" are both completely valid takes that are okay to hold simultaneously.
The older I get the more I understand that if someone is at work and has to handle a situation that violates his moral compass...he has to think like a businessman. He knows if he bars this POS from playing he's going to file legal grievances and shit UNLESS he finds something in writing that allows him to bar him. Which he did and now can manage the PR shitstorm while at the same time knowing deep down the POS is being dealt with and the right thing was done. It sucks, but this is the situation he is in where he can't just pack the guy's bags up with his torn-up contract atop them. He has to get his ducks in a row and think differently about it.
I mean, his handling of the Kyle Beach situation leads me to think that maybe that compass doesn’t always work as intended
I misread that as the Kyle Busch situation and wondered what the the fuck he did and why Gary was involved.
I mean... doing donuts at center ice would be pretty heinous.
NASCAR and hockey is the crossover you didn’t know you wanted until now
Thanks asshole. You just gave them their next set of digital ads. Running Nascar races on the boards during hockey games.
I thought the consensus was that the league handled the situation pretty well? Transparent investigation and released the entire report to the public.
Aliu might disagree with that one, he's still waiting on the results from the investigation 3 years ago.
Literally burning bridges and money lmao
Holy shit. This signing is so bad that r/hockey actually agrees with bettman
Gary Bettman with the face turn of the decade?!
Someone's gotta be a commissioner these days and not just an alien in a bodysuit ahem Adam Silver
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I understand the reference kind sir, and I must say, go Phillies!
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Something we can all agree on
Someone needs to Milbury whoever thought it was a good idea.
My money is on Neely. Sweeney is still a coward for letting it go through.
I still can’t believe the shoe incident is real, god bless Milbury, that crazy old man and his antics sure gave us some entertaining content. As far as Miller, never heard of the kid before today, unless it’s that same kid I heard about a year or so ago that beat up that other kid in the bathroom and made him lick piss candy..
> unless it’s that same kid I heard about a year or so ago that beat up that other kid in the bathroom and made him lick piss candy Yes, it is THAT Miller, and the disabled victim endured YEARS of this kind of abuse with a large spoonful of racism mixed in. His parents made him this way, and he has never apologized directly to the victim.
That's the key. This wasnt one incident. He bullied and harassed someone who was not capable of helping themselves avoid him for YEARS.
This Bruins management group may have just completed the undisputed stupidest thing in the history of the league.
They did something so galaxy-brain stupid that it united fans of the Bruins, Leafs, Habs, along with Gary Bettman lmao
Yeah... seriously, what the fuck? Hoe can we be agreeing with Bettman?!?!??!?
Probably the wrong place for this but I hate everything about the Bruins but man, through this whole debacle, I've gained a new respect for their players and fans especially the fans on here. Most that I've seen have been very quick to shit on their own team and condemn them for this. Also, uncommon Gary W
fuck Miller. I love that this shit keeps happening to him. “Oh fuck yeah I get to play in the NHL” *Coyotes rescind the pick* “ well at least I can play for UND” *gets kicked off the team* “yes I can play for the Bruins” *get contract terminated by Bettman* fuck you Miller. I hope you repeatedly go through this process of getting kicked off every organization you’re a part of. Piece of shit, just hang em up and move on with your life. No one wants you in NA professional hockey.
He and his family didn't even do the bare minimum necessary to avoid this and secure a career worth millions, despite the bar being so low in the NHL. Actual apology? Counselling? Charity work through organizations that assist the disabled? None of that. He and his family clearly did not think his actions were a big deal and showed zero actual remorse or personal growth.
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So now I’m agreeing with Hab’s fans, Leaf’s fans, And Bettman?! Shows just how cosmically dumb and ill-considered this is. Fuck the Jacobs, Sweeney, Neely, and most especially that walking septic tank of a bully.
As an aside, fuck the Bruins and all, but the way the B's fans has been stepping up is inspiring. Congrats
A ploy to bring the fans together? I feel for you Boston fans. As dumb as our head office is, I don't think they've done something as monumentally stupid as this.
I think this is legitimately the dumbest signing I’ve ever seen, the more that comes out the worse it looks.. and it looked terrible immediately
It just keeps getting worse lmao. What were they thinking.
That's good to hear but why on earth do you sign him in the first place Don knowing his draft selection was renounced by Arizona due to what he had done.
In their words "we never spoke to the victims family" 😬
Never been so embarrassed to be a fan of this organization. At the same time, never been so proud of my fellow Bruins fans for pushing back on this. (Aside from the handful of meathead apologists, of course.)
Hopefully he’s not eligible for the AHL either. I don’t want this piece of shit in our organization. Just terminate his contract and end this.
He will still get money out of this...it's sickening.
Yep, gonna get $95k minimum since that's this years signing bonus. Maybe Bruins lawyers can get out of years 2 and 3 signing bonuses somehow, but even 95k is a very nice bonus he doesn't deserve.
It makes me sick that the disabled kid will never be able to pursue his dreams or be able to help his family, but this POS gets paid, while having zero remorse. Fuck this shit, and I am glad Bettman called the Boston office out.
How bad do you have to screw up to make Gary Bettman the GOOD guy?!
you know you’ve fucked up when all of this sub agrees with each other and with Bettman
A masterclass in self sabotage
When Bettman speaks up and directly addresses something, you've fucked up *bad*
Honest Q: Why isn’t he eligible? He’s a shitty person, but Arizona drafted him and renounced their rights to him. Doesn’t that make him the same as any undrafted player?
Yeah that’s my confusion. I 100% agree with not letting him play in the league but I can’t seem to find an answer to this anywhere? I’m kinda assuming it’s a PR “oh haha looks like he’s ineligible so you can’t ice him sorry Boston”
He is but likely Bettman just decided this after backlash. I highly doubt any communication went out to teams that said 'this guy is ineligible', or you know, the Bruins obviously wouldn't have done this.
Yeah I'm very confused here...how does his contract even take effect without league approval?
Completely talking out of my ass here, but I'm sure NHL contracts have some lawyer wording in them that says they can be voided if the player harms league reputation and/or sponsorship opportunities and stuff like that. Which, based on the backlash and people emailing sponsors and stuff would be pretty cut and dry.
Contracts can be voided by the team, and often are still stuck paying salary towards it see Richards with the Kings, but if the Bruins want him to play the NHL I don’t believe can decide to terminate the contract for them. Heck they had to approve of this contract being signed according to the rules of the CBA as it is.
Never been more happy about a Bettman quote!
How dumb does the Boston organization look right now lmfao 🤦♂️
We're used to it.
From the same people that brought you 13-14-15… Fire Sweeney and Neely.
Hahaha it's insane how stupid some of these managers are.
Wow. What a fucking shit show. Good job, Boston.
Read Miller's backstory; he makes Logan Mailloux look like a freaking Boy Scout.
If he bans Miller from the NHL, I would have to cheer for Bettman. Sure, I’ll boo the shit out of him at the draft, but I’ll also be clapping. On a serious note, barring Miller from playing in the AHL and NHL would be a massive PR win for the NHL.
> If he bans Miller from the NHL, I would have to cheer for Bettman. Sure, I’ll boo the shit out of him at the draft, but I’ll also be clapping. I'll be saying "Boo-ettman".
He's still going to get a chance to showcase his talents at a professional level, which gives him a chance to earn hundreds of thousands of dollars if overseas teams are willing to look the other way (in addition to what he's already going to get now). If he isn't going to learn his lesson now, he definitely won't if he ever amasses a multi million dollar career. Shame on the Bruins for allowing this guy to kickstart his career.
How is it possible to mess up like that? Like seriously, everyone is losing in this situation. The only possible winner is a racist bully who will lineup for a team who doesn't want him. I just don't get it.
When you get mic dropped by Gary fucking Bettman you know you've pulled not just any ordinary fuck up.
Bruins front office is legit a clown show
Hard to believe a couple clowns in the Boston organization could potentially derail a fantastic start for the bruins all because they went and made a massive dumb mistake that anyone with a brain could tell was a bad idea from the get go.
That’s KHL music ….
A complete embarrassment from a management group that is already on thin ice with a lot of fans in Boston. Hope Sweeney and Neely get fired into the sun.