Gary Bettman comments on controversial Bruins signing

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman: Controversial Bruins signing not eligible for NHL, might never be

By Adam Gretz | Last updated 11/5/22

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said on Saturday that Mitchell Miller, the recent controversial signing of the Boston Bruins, is not eligible to play in the NHL, and he might never be.

It was another public blow for the Bruins, who have been widely criticized, both from within the organization and outside of it, after signing the 20-year-old defenseman on Friday.

On Saturday, Bettman was asked for his thoughts on the signing.

Along with pointing out that the Bruins never consulted him or the league prior to signing Miller, he added that Miller may never be eligible to play in the NHL. He will need to be cleared by the league before he can ever play a game in in the NHL.

His full comments can be read here.

Here are #NHL commish Gary Bettman's full comments on the #NHLBruins signing of USHL defenseman Mitchell Miller: pic.twitter.com/Xp6ryQcpos
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) November 5, 2022

Miller, originally a draft pick by the Arizona Coyotes in 2020 before they renounced the pick, was convicted of a heinous bullying incident that targeted a disabled Black classmate named Isaiah Meyer-Crothers. Along with racial slurs, Miller made the student lick a lollipop that had been rubbed inside of a urinal.

When Miller was drafted, the Meyer-Crothers family spoke out and said that it was not a one-time incident and that Miller did not apologize or show any remorse.

The Bruins said on Friday that Miller had reached out to Meyer-Crothers, but that the team did not make an effort to speak with them. Meyer-Crothers' mother told NHL insider Guy Flaming that an apology attempt was made on social media and that Miller said it had "nothing to do with hockey."

Along with the public criticism, Bruins players do not seem happy with the decision either.

Team captain Patrice Bergeron told Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman it goes against the culture they have tried to build as a team and an organization, while veteran forward Nick Foligno said it was very hard swallow.

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