Gary Bettman — Bruins signee Mitchell Miller ‘not eligible’

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman stated Saturday the Boston Bruins didn’t seek the advice of the league earlier than signing Mitchell Miller and that he would “must see a complete bunch of issues” going ahead.

Bettman’s feedback got here a day after the Bruins introduced they signed Miller, a prospect defenseman, to an entry-level contract. Miller was a fourth-round choose by the Arizona Coyotes in 2020 till his draft rights have been relinquished after a narrative was printed about how he and one other classmate have been convicted of assaulting and bullying a Black developmentally disabled classmate.

The report revealed how Miller, now 20, and one other center college classmate have been convicted in juvenile courtroom in 2016 for racially abusing and bullying Isaiah Meyer-Crothers. Within the report, Meyer-Crothers’ mother alleged Miller started abusing her son in second grade whereas utilizing repeated racial epithets.

Bettman stated what he had heard anecdotally and understood by way of media studies about what Miller did was “reprehensible, unacceptable.” He stated the Bruins didn’t seek the advice of the league however he has since spoken with staff president Cam Neely.

“He is not coming into the NHL, he isn’t eligible at this level to return into the NHL,” Bettman stated. “I am unable to let you know that he’ll ever be eligible to return into the NHL. If in truth sooner or later they suppose they need him to play within the NHL — and I am unsure they’re wherever near that time — we’ll should clear him and his eligibility and it will be based mostly on all the data that we get firsthand on the time.”

Bettman stated the Bruins have been free to signal Miller to play elsewhere, a reference to the actual fact Miller was despatched to play for the Bruins’ AHL affiliate, the Windfall Bruins. However then added that, “no one ought to suppose at this level he’s or could ever be NHL eligible and the Bruins perceive that now.”

Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron, ahead Nick Foligno and coach Jim Montgomery addressed the state of affairs with Miller following morning skate in Toronto forward of their sport in opposition to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

“The tradition we constructed right here goes in opposition to that kind of conduct,” Bergeron advised reporters. “We’re a staff constructed with character and character folks. What he did is unacceptable, and we do not stand by that. On this locker room, we’re all about inclusion, variety, respect. These are key phrases and core values that now we have.

“We count on guys to put on this jersey to be excessive character folks with integrity and respect. Hopefully there’s development and alter.”

Bergeron stated if Miller was the identical particular person he was a 14-year-old who bullied Meyer-Crothers that, “he wouldn’t be accepted and wished and welcomed.” He stated the Bruins’ tradition isn’t going to alter and the modifications, “are from the person himself.”

Foligno stated it was “a troublesome factor” for the staff to listen to after studying the Bruins had signed Miller.

“I am not going deceive you,” Foligno stated. “I do not suppose any man was too completely satisfied due to how proud we’re to say that it is a group that cares quite a bit about ourselves and the way we supply ourselves and the way we deal with folks.”

Montgomery, who’s in his first season with the staff, stated he doesn’t know Miller however added what he did was “a reprehensible act” and that it’s as much as Miller to indicate everybody that he’s doing the fitting issues going ahead.

ESPN’s Kristen Shilton contributed to this report