Bruins sign Mitchell Miller to an ELC - now "parting ways"

Gash Prex

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I have a hard time chucking a person's life away at the age of 14 but I'd have to be 100% convinced that since that time:

1) He accepted responsibility for conduct without qualifiers
2) He did anything in his power to try to make up/atone for those actions
3) He actually changed
 

Ed Hillel

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You have no concerns about signing anyone with character issues as long as the criminal justice system is cool with it? I’m not asking for him to be put in jail, but I also don’t want guys like this to represent the team I root for.
No, I’m asking why Don Sweeney should speak to the victim. If this guy was hired by 7/11, would the 7/11 manager call the victim and tell them? Why is that Don Sweeney’s role?

As to your question, I’m ok with hiring the guy who fucked up badly at 14 if he served his time and has been ok since then, yes.
 

kenneycb

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According to the family, he was "wrong" repeatedly from the ages of approximately 7 years old to 14, until he was finally caught on a security camera torturing the developmentally challenged victim and was forced to admit to his actions.

By all accounts, the kid was a psycho. It's not like he was just giving wet willies or something, he was torturing the poor kid.

Hopefully he's not still a psycho. I hate this.
That’s as much an indictment on the parents as it is the kid.
 

RG33

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This sucks. I wish the Bruins didn’t sign him. There are lines for me in the “did stupid stuff as a kid”. This is WAY over that line.

It made me think of Mark Wahlberg and the free pass he has gotten despite being a horrific human being in his teens. Fuck him and fuck this kid and his shitty family that raised an asshole racist bully.
 

JCizzle

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I have a hard time chucking a person's life away at the age of 14 but I'd have to be 100% convinced that since that time:

1) He accepted responsibility for conduct without qualifiers
2) He did anything in his power to try to make up/atone for those actions
3) He actually changed
I mean, he was given the chance to apologize and accept responsibility as an adult and refused to do so until it became clear he wouldn’t get to the NHL as a result. He had the same opportunity his non-NHL classmates did.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitchell_Miller_(ice_hockey)
The bullying incidents resurfaced after The Arizona Republic published an in-depth report on Miller on October 26, 2020.[15] The Republic exposé also revealed that Miller would frequently use the words "n” and "BROWNIE" to refer to Meyer-Crothers and often told him to "go pick their cotton".[16] The Coyotes initially defended Miller, citing their desire to "be a part of the solution in a real way" and to help Miller grow from this incident and eventually become a leader against bullying and racism.[16][11] Although Coyotes general manager Bill Armstrong did not draft Miller, he expressed the team's desire to provide Miller with a second chance.[16]
According to the Republic, Miller apologized to the then thirty-one NHL teams, but never to Meyer-Crothers or to his family.[16] In a letter addressed to the Coyotes, Meyer-Crothers' mother, Joni, found Armstrong's comments demeaning to her son, stating that while Miller's classmate apologized to Meyer-Crothers, Miller himself was unwilling to show contrition. A juvenile court magistrate in Ohio concluded that Miller had absolutely no remorse for his actions against Meyer-Crothers and was merely upset that his reputation would be damaged by the situation. As a result of the exposé, the Coyotes received widespread criticism for drafting Miller.[17]This ultimately led to the Coyotes renouncing their draft rights to Miller and cutting all ties with him.[10][11][18] Miller was subsequently dropped from the University of North Dakota hockey team on the direct orders of the university president Andrew Armacost. Miller was still however in good standing academically, and was allowed to continue attending classes at the university.[12]
 

Salem's Lot

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I’m torn as well. I don’t want a Tony DeAngelo type guy on this team, but I also have don’t want to condemn someone for something that happened when they were in junior high, which lets face it, a lot of us were targets of bullying, as well as saying and doing regrettable things to other kids.

Just for context, about 5 years ago, a guy that I grew up with contacted me out of the blue on Facebook. Now this kid didn’t do anything near what happened in this case to me, it still sucked for me to go to school and walk around my neighborhood in general between the 5th & 7th grade (he was a year ahead of me). So naturally when I saw his name come up on messenger, I’m saying to myself “what the f does this guy want”. Long story short he sends this long apology for everything that happened when we were kids.

After thinking about it for a few minutes, I responded with; “no worries, I never judge a man for things that they did as a boy. I hope people feel the same about me.”

I’m going to stick to that line of thinking in this case. However the first sniff of anything from this kid and he should be gone.
 

Smiling Joe Hesketh

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I don't understand this. There's no upside. Mitchell is supremely damaged goods. If he's good, then the Bruins show that they'll welcome the most terrible people just to win a few hockey games. If he busts, then the Bruins cost themselves a lot of good PR for nothing gained.

I know people can change but Mitchell can change while driving a big rig or something. Not as a member of the Bruins organization.
 

Bozo Texino

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I’m torn as well. I don’t want a Tony DeAngelo type guy on this team, but I also have don’t want to condemn someone for something that happened when they were in junior high, which lets face it, a lot of us were targets of bullying, as well as saying and doing regrettable things to other kids.

Just for context, about 5 years ago, a guy that I grew up with contacted me out of the blue on Facebook. Now this kid didn’t do anything near what happened in this case to me, it still sucked for me to go to school and walk around my neighborhood in general between the 5th & 7th grade (he was a year ahead of me). So naturally when I saw his name come up on messenger, I’m saying to myself “what the f does this guy want”. Long story short he sends this long apology for everything that happened when we were kids.

After thinking about it for a few minutes, I responded with; “no worries, I never judge a man for things that they did as a boy. I hope people feel the same about me.”

I’m going to stick to that line of thinking in this case. However the first sniff of anything from this kid and he should be gone.
That doesn't appear to be the case with Miller, though. The person who bullied you apologized to you because it sounded like he knew he was wrong. According to the statements made by his mother, the victim has yet to receive any direct apology from Miller. The only apology that's been given was court-ordered.
 

Jungleland

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Why is Sweeney giving such bad quotes? Did Neely strongarm him into this?
Yeah, his quotes on this are almost bizarre, or at least read that way. Outside of my personal feelings on the signing (ie this is gross and a shame), from a team building perspective the amount of "this might be a mistake" and "players questioned it" I'm reading doesn't inspire a ton of confidence in Sweeney the GM.
 

joe dokes

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Good question. The team needs to all get singing along with Mitch or not in at all.
Trying to follow the bouncing puck here.
Why is Sweeney giving such bad quotes? Did Neely strongarm him into this?
That's where I was going. Is there some personal connection with him or the Jacobses? Sweeney isn't dumb. He would have to know there would be questions; and if this is his deal, I think he'd have better (if not entirely satisfactory) answers.
 

Haunted

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I don't understand this. There's no upside. Mitchell is supremely damaged goods. If he's good, then the Bruins show that they'll welcome the most terrible people just to win a few hockey games. If he busts, then the Bruins cost themselves a lot of good PR for nothing gained.

I know people can change but Mitchell can change while driving a big rig or something. Not as a member of the Bruins organization.
He can change on some other team as well.

I don't like this at all, especially upon more reflection. Like you say, there's no real upside.
 

cshea

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Essentially, the Bruins have a bad farm system and have traded a lot of draft picks. They need to augment the farm system somehow and bring talent in. One way to do that easily is through UDFA's. From a talent perspective Miller is more talented than the typcial UDFA. It only costs a contract. That's basically the root of the decision. Then they weigh his talent and upside against the PR hit. Apparently, talent won. That really seems to be all that went in to the decision making process.
 

wiffleballhero

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The more I read about this the less I want him on the Bruins.

Second chances are great. This is a golden boy who appears to have been given second chances since first grade forward.
 

TSC

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That doesn't appear to be the case with Miller, though. The person who bullied you apologized to you because it sounded like he knew he was wrong. According to the statements made by his mother, the victim has yet to receive any direct apology from Miller. The only apology that's been given was court-ordered.
the mother admits that Miller tried to reach out via social media to apologize. It sounds almost identical to Salems Lot situation.

Key difference is that Salems Lot was willing to accept the apology. The Victims family does not appear to be willing to do so (not that anyone should blame them for that).

View: https://twitter.com/tps_guy/status/1588581348725649408?s=46&t=BHkjSP4yvZ8kcJP1ByrG1g
 

Ed Hillel

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I don't understand this. There's no upside. Mitchell is supremely damaged goods. If he's good, then the Bruins show that they'll welcome the most terrible people just to win a few hockey games. If he busts, then the Bruins cost themselves a lot of good PR for nothing gained.

I know people can change but Mitchell can change while driving a big rig or something. Not as a member of the Bruins organization.
The upside is winning more hockey games. Tyreke Hill is a face of the NFL, announcers gush about him every week. In the end, I doubt many Chiefs fans want to give their Superbowl back.

Also, let’s be honest, these guys were all the best athletes in their schools. If we really knew the worst things they all did at that age, how many would make us feel happy signing them?
 

John Marzano Olympic Hero

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The more I read about this the less I want him on the Bruins.

Second chances are great. This is a golden boy who appears to have been given second chances since first grade forward.
I agree. Playing in the NHL isn't a right. No one is suggesting that Miller gets deported to an island for what he did as a 14-year-old. If he wants to be a stock broker or sell insurance or pump gas, he can do whatever he wants with his life. But truly reprehensible actions have consequences and one of them is that you might not get to be a professional athlete. Sorry, but those should be the rules.

I don't want him anywhere near the hockey team that I root for. I'm disappointed that the Bruins signed him.
 

Bozo Texino

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pedro1918

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I agree. Playing in the NHL isn't a right. No one is suggesting that Miller gets deported to an island for what he did as a 14-year-old. If he wants to be a stock broker or sell insurance or pump gas, he can do whatever he wants with his life. But truly reprehensible actions have consequences and one of them is that you might not get to be a professional athlete. Sorry, but those should be the rules.
I don't understand this. What if he was a brilliant heart surgeon? Should he not be able to work at Mass General? What if he was a clarinet player? Should he be able to play with the BSO? What if he doesn't really like hockey, wants desperately to be an architect, but he knows that hockey is the best way to make a living? Should he be allowed to play hockey but not be an architect?

I don't understand the rankings of professions. Why is "driving a big rig" acceptable but a third pairing defenseman unacceptable?

The kid was an asshole. I'm not sure he is still an asshole. Maybe he is, maybe he isn't. I just hope he is on a short lease.
 

Cotillion

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I don't understand this. What if he was a brilliant heart surgeon? Should he not be able to work at Mass General? What if he was a clarinet player? Should he be able to play with the BSO? What if he doesn't really like hockey, wants desperately to be an architect, but he knows that hockey is the best way to make a living? Should he be allowed to play hockey but not be an architect?

I don't understand the rankings of professions. Why is "driving a big rig" acceptable but a third pairing defenseman unacceptable?

The kid was an asshole. I'm not sure he is still an asshole. Maybe he is, maybe he isn't. I just hope he is on a short lease.
He wasn't an asshole. He traumatized a kid. It wasn't a one time thing. And he has only ever seemed to show "remorse" about it when he's needed to do it to keep his career going. Like it's a box to be checked.
 

MyDaughterLovesTomGordon

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I don't follow the Bruins all that closely - mostly root for them in the abstract and watch when there's no other sports on - but this makes ZERO sense to me. Who's making you make this signing? Just move on and let someone else take the chance. I can see saying, "we've talked to him and the victim's family and we're confident he's made his amends," or something, but "well, it was worth a flyer, I guess" is very strange to me.
 

RedOctober3829

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Gammon_Clark

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I don’t like it. My reasoning is what others have already said - the contrition is not there or what little there is does not seem genuine.
Also, I respectfully disagree with TSC. I believe I heard what you were saying, and there is room in the margins for that in my opinion, but this kid was way over any right or wrong line that can be explained away with age or “boys will be boys”, couple that with the lack of remorse and I’m in the fuck this kid camp.
 

joe dokes

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I don't understand this. What if he was a brilliant heart surgeon? Should he not be able to work at Mass General? What if he was a clarinet player? Should he be able to play with the BSO? What if he doesn't really like hockey, wants desperately to be an architect, but he knows that hockey is the best way to make a living? Should he be allowed to play hockey but not be an architect?

I don't understand the rankings of professions. Why is "driving a big rig" acceptable but a third pairing defenseman unacceptable?

The kid was an asshole. I'm not sure he is still an asshole. Maybe he is, maybe he isn't. I just hope he is on a short lease.
I was trying to find a way to say something like this. If the Bruins or other NHL teams dont want him, so be it. But "playing in the NHL" is not such an exalted profession that "bad people" (for lack of a better word) should be excluded from playing in it, but are free to do other "less exalted" jobs.
 

Jed Zeppelin

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Don’t love this at all. He was a kid, but a lot of rotten kids become rotten adults. If he hasn’t, good for him, but it doesn’t feel right. Not on the level of the grown ass men who beat up women but still don’t like it.

And I say that fully acknowledging that there are way more shitheads in sports than we know about, it’s not just the Hunt/Rice/Mixon types who get caught on tape.
 

pedro1918

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He wasn't an asshole. He traumatized a kid. It wasn't a one time thing. And he has only ever seemed to show "remorse" about it when he's needed to do it to keep his career going. Like it's a box to be checked.
I think kids who traumatized kids are as assholes. I said he might still be an asshole. Use whatever word you want.
 

Smiling Joe Hesketh

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I don't understand this. What if he was a brilliant heart surgeon? Should he not be able to work at Mass General? What if he was a clarinet player? Should he be able to play with the BSO? What if he doesn't really like hockey, wants desperately to be an architect, but he knows that hockey is the best way to make a living? Should he be allowed to play hockey but not be an architect?

I don't understand the rankings of professions. Why is "driving a big rig" acceptable but a third pairing defenseman unacceptable?

The kid was an asshole. I'm not sure he is still an asshole. Maybe he is, maybe he isn't. I just hope he is on a short lease.
Because playing professional sports and representing a city or region is a privilege which comes with, or should come with, special requirements. It's a forward facing job (unlike driving a big rig) and it doesn't necessarily provide a greater good (unlike a heart surgeon) except by providing entertainment. It's also essentially a hero role; how admired are Patrice Bergeron or Zdeno Chara, for example?

We all know that professional sports aren't perfect and that talent trumps nearly everything (see Hill, Tyreek) but at the same time it's more than fair to demand that our local teams do not give chances to unrepentant vile assholes. I wouldn't want Tyreek on the Patriots either.

Just my .02.
 

joe dokes

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They think he's a good player.

Edit: Sweeney didn't actually say that but that's what it boils down too. They wouldn't have signed him if they didn't think he could play.
Of course. But is that really what he told the players?
 

bsj

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I dont understand why you embrace this PR nightmare when you are 10-1 and things are going well. Not that I ever would be a fan of the signing, but not especially. Not a fan at all.
 

RIFan

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My 21 year old son is apoplectic over this. He sees absolutely no reason for a second chance and cannot understand why the Bruins would do this.

I guess age does bring some nuance to how you view these things. I most likely would have viewed it the same way as him at that age. I just have a really hard time feeling that a 14 YO is enough of an emotionally finished product to not be able to become a better person. One of the main arguments he presented is he hasn't made a public apology. My feeling is public apologies are theatre anyway. The hard work is behind the scenes. I'm reserving most of my judgement until there is some understanding of what level of personal rehabilitation he has done, which is also something we may never know. There was also the aspect of poisoning the locker room with someone with poor character. It's naive to think there aren't going to be a lot more than one other player with some heinous behavior in their teens that they got away with and never was exposed. I'd probably be more shocked if no other players approached that level of behavior than if several had exceeded it.

The flip side is as a business decision this sucks. I don't know if he is worth the hit they are going to take.
 

John Marzano Olympic Hero

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I don't understand this. What if he was a brilliant heart surgeon? Should he not be able to work at Mass General? What if he was a clarinet player? Should he be able to play with the BSO? What if he doesn't really like hockey, wants desperately to be an architect, but he knows that hockey is the best way to make a living? Should he be allowed to play hockey but not be an architect?

I don't understand the rankings of professions. Why is "driving a big rig" acceptable but a third pairing defenseman unacceptable?

The kid was an asshole. I'm not sure he is still an asshole. Maybe he is, maybe he isn't. I just hope he is on a short lease.
I think that your asshole meter needs to be checked. He repeatedly called a Black student with special needs, the N-word and tricked him eating a lollipop that he marinated in a urinal. That's some sociopathic bullshit and maybe you're right, maybe unless he undergoes intense therapy and psychoanalysis, maybe he shouldn't be allowed back into polite society. I don't know if I'm willing to go that far, but I'd wager it's a lot better than "boys are boys"!

I never said that driving a big rig is acceptable, I don't care what he does, but in a profession that most people would give their eye teeth to play one game for; a profession where he has the opportunity to make millions of dollars, a public (this is the key word, BTW) profession where his actions can be seen by millions of impressionable kids who might take away, "Shit if all I need is a booming slapshot, then I can pretty much do whatever I want" then yeah,I'm okay with him sitting this one out.
 

cshea

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I dont understand why you embrace this PR nightmare when you are 10-1 and things are going well. Not that I ever would be a fan of the signing, but not especially. Not a fan at all.
I don't think the current record plays into it. Other than the PR bomb on the lockeroom he's going to have no impact on the 22/23 Bruins. The timing of the signing is more because of Miller's situation. Miller was not playing anywhere. He had his scholarship to UND rescinded and played last season in the USHL which is a junior league. He's too old for that league this year. It sounds like the Bruins were not the only NHL team vying for his services. If they wanted to sign him, it was probably now or never.
 

kenneycb

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My 21 year old son is apoplectic over this. He sees absolutely no reason for a second chance and cannot understand why the Bruins would do this.

I guess age does bring some nuance to how you view these things. I most likely would have viewed it the same way as him at that age. I just have a really hard time feeling that a 14 YO is enough of an emotionally finished product to not be able to become a better person. One of the main arguments he presented is he hasn't made a public apology. My feeling is public apologies are theatre anyway. The hard work is behind the scenes. I'm reserving most of my judgement until there is some understanding of what level of personal rehabilitation he has done, which is also something we may never know. There was also the aspect of poisoning the locker room with someone with poor character. It's naive to think there aren't going to be a lot more than one other player with some heinous behavior in their teens that they got away with and never was exposed. I'd probably be more shocked if no other players approached that level of behavior than if several had exceeded it.

The flip side is as a business decision this sucks. I don't know if he is worth the hit they are going to take.
What hit are they realistically going to take? If he does nothing and gets released he’ll be forgotten about. If he is good then most fans will be very forgiving since winning trumps all. The amount of people that stop supporting the Bruins altogether will be low and the impact to their ability to attract players will be zero.
 

j44thor

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I think the signing sucks and am confused with the "back in my day I bullied kids too" crowd giving him a pass. You do realize this kid wasn't born when most of you were 14YO. The world has changed a lot since then. I was bullied as a kid but back then that was kids being kids. This shit hasn't been acceptable for decades to the level it was when most of us were around that age.

I would have hated this signing no matter what but especially now in what appears to be a generational season where the team has gelled like no team in at least a decade. Why would you take the 1% chance of inviting any sort of controversy. This is the case where the downside seems to be significantly lower than the upside and Sweeney more or less has acknowledged that.
 

ColdSoxPack

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I don't understand this. There's no upside. Mitchell is supremely damaged goods. If he's good, then the Bruins show that they'll welcome the most terrible people just to win a few hockey games. If he busts, then the Bruins cost themselves a lot of good PR for nothing gained.

I know people can change but Mitchell can change while driving a big rig or something. Not as a member of the Bruins organization.
This is where I land. No upside indeed. Maybe a 12 year old doesn't know better but I thought maybe Sweeney did. Thx Don for this distraction to what has been a great season so far.
 

jsinger121

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It’s amazing that many of you think he is going to have an impact on this season when he is going to spend it in Providence developing and not anywhere near the big club. This has zero impact on the 2022-2023 Boston Bruins.
 

TSC

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I think the signing sucks and am confused with the "back in my day I bullied kids too" crowd giving him a pass. You do realize this kid wasn't born when most of you were 14YO. The world has changed a lot since then. I was bullied as a kid but back then that was kids being kids. This shit hasn't been acceptable for decades to the level it was when most of us were around that age.

I would have hated this signing no matter what but especially now in what appears to be a generational season where the team has gelled like no team in at least a decade. Why would you take the 1% chance of inviting any sort of controversy. This is the case where the downside seems to be significantly lower than the upside and Sweeney more or less has acknowledged that.
My dude. Bullying is way worse now, especially with social media, than it ever was when we were kids. When we were kids it was limited to our classroom, or grade if we were unlucky.

Kids now are GLOBALLY bullyingeach other into suicide.
 

Myt1

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I think the signing sucks and am confused with the "back in my day I bullied kids too" crowd giving him a pass. You do realize this kid wasn't born when most of you were 14YO. The world has changed a lot since then. I was bullied as a kid but back then that was kids being kids. This shit hasn't been acceptable for decades to the level it was when most of us were around that age.
This is not really responsive to their argument.

Moral relativism isn’t their issue. Their issue is that we know that, generally speaking, 12-14 year olds are far less mentally capable of conforming their behavior to societal norms than adults are. That fact doesn’t become less true because he’s substantially younger than the people who are posting here are.

Mind you, I don’t know that I agree with their ultimate conclusion as to the signing itself (at first glance, it seems that the guy hasn’t done much as an adult to make me think he’s changed or taken responsibility out of anything other than professional convenience). But it’s important to recognize both their argument as well as the science re: human mental and emotional development for what they really are.
 

Shaky Walton

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I expected the Bs to be this year what they have been over the past several years: A team that would probably make the playoffs and then probably get eliminated in one of the first few rounds. The lack of depth past the first few lines would, again, do them in.

My take is that Montgomery has done more than we all expected to improve their play. And that there are other reasons for the Bs' early success this year. But the Coach seemed like one of them, and I thought "good on Sweeney (for a change)."

And now he does something like this, and confirms that he probably just got lucky on the Montgomery hire. Not that the two things are related. But we now have another reason to have a dim view of the GM and his judgment, and that of Cam Neely, to boot.

Why would a team flying as high as the Bruins take on a potential cancer, PR disaster and locker room divider like this? Did they really not know that the victim's family felt that the apology was not sincere?

Yikes.
 

Toe Nash

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Without calling anyone out, I think it is interesting how intangibles get mentioned here. "if any organization has the history and leadership to fix a kid like this, it's the Bruins. "

But, that doesn't really jibe with the idea that they just signed him because he's good at hockey. "Then they weigh his talent and upside against the PR hit. Apparently, talent won."

As we have discussed forever on this forum, the guys aren't numbers in a spreadsheet. Isn't there a locker room impact that you might want to consider when signing someone who seems to be at best an unremorseful asshole? How do the leaders on the team feel about this -- the ones who have done charity work for groups like Best Buddies? Maybe they will do that before calling him up, but it seems like you'd want to full support of the main guys before doing something like this.
 

Myt1

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My dude. Bullying is way worse now, especially with social media, than it ever was when we were kids. When we were kids it was limited to our classroom, or grade if we were unlucky.

Kids now are GLOBALLY bullyingeach other into suicide.
It’s better in some ways and worse in others. Social media’s scope and ubiquity are qualitatively different. But the degree to which physical bullying is condoned today by certain institutions is also qualitatively different.

And, as a guy who grew up big and slow, bullying absolutely was not limited to our classroom or grade when we were younger. The number of kids destined for 5’6 who will pick on a tall, soft kid four years younger than them is legion.
 

TSC

SoSH's Doug Neidermeyer
SoSH Member
Oct 25, 2007
12,280
Between here and everywhere.
It’s better in some ways and worse in others. Social media’s scope and ubiquity are qualitatively different. But the degree to which physical bullying is condoned today by certain institutions is also qualitatively different.

And, as a guy who grew up big and slow, bullying absolutely was not limited to our classroom or grade when we were younger. The number of kids destined for 5’6 who will pick on a tall, soft kid four years younger than them is legion.
Jeeze, you were even better at getting bullied than I was as a kid.

Is there nothing you can't do?