Bruins’ Mitchell Miller ‘not eligible’ for NHL at this point, says Gary Bettman
Bettman: Bruins prospect Mitchell Miller ‘not eligible’ for NHL at this point originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The Boston Bruins didn’t speak to the NHL before signing controversial defenseman prospect Mitchell Miller on Friday, according to league commissioner Gary Bettman.
Bettman spoke with reporters Saturday and was asked about the Bruins signing Miller.
Miller in 2016 was convicted in juvenile court of bullying a Black classmate with developmental disabilities when he was 14 years old. Miller was drafted by the Arizona Coyotes in the fourth round of the 2020 NHL Draft, but they released him after more details of how Miller and a classmate bullied and mistreated another classmate, Isaiah Meyer-Crothers, came to light.
Sweeney sheds light on reasoning behind Bruins signing Mitchell Miller
The commissioner gave a strong reaction to the decision by the Bruins and noted that Miller isn’t even eligible to play in the NHL at this time.
“What I understand and have heard through the media, what he did as a 14-year-old is reprehensible, unacceptable,” Bettman said. “Before the Bruins made the decision to sign him, we were not consulted.
“I happened to talk to Cam Neely since the time that he was signed. He’s not coming 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 time. So the answer is: They were free to sign him to play somewhere else, that’s another league’s issue, but nobody should think, at this point, he is or may ever be NHL eligible. And the Bruins understand that now.”
So, not only did the Bruins sign Miller, which was a highly questionable move on its own, the team didn’t consult with the league beforehand. And if they signed Miller without knowing if he’s even eligible to ever play in the NHL, that’s even worse.
Miller reported to the AHL’s Providence Bruins on Friday.
It’s not known at this time whether the AHL will even allow Miller to play. And if the NHL says he can’t play in its league right now, it’s hard to envision the AHL making a different decision.
Reached out to the AHL. Per AHL, Miller’s status right now in that league is a fluid situation.
“Per our by-laws, any player under suspension to another league who seeks to play in the AHL would have the matter reviewed by the President to determine his eligibility.” https://t.co/kltA6ITY6T
— Sean Shapiro (@seanshapiro) November 5, 2022
So the Bruins signed a player who might never be eligible for the NHL or AHL. This is what incompetence looks like.
Source: Yahoo Sports
