RD Mitchell Miller - Tri-City Storm, USHL (2020, 111th, ARI, rights renounced)

[rt]

When you abuse a disabled kid for years I think you lose the right to say "I don't want to talk about that anymore" when trying to show you have changed. Sorry, it doesn't work that way.

It feels like his rep was shielding him from himself. Can't give a bad answer if you don't answer, but that comes off horribly in this situation.

It does work that way. If you’re responsible for a 17 year old who’s made tremendous personal progress, coming from about as low as one can get, to something approaching a model young man, not only should you protect him from having to relive this 100+ times in his draft year, you MUST. Even if it turns some teams off and he has to fall an extra round or two. Even then.

I will say that there’s at least as good a chance that it was what you suggested in your second paragraph. It’s very possible he’s still a complete dipshit and they had to hide him as much as possible.

 

[serp]

There’s no gamble for those organizations. Their “mission” is to put the best product on the ice regardless of whether they are of strong character or not.

Sports is part of the entertainment business. Winning games is not the only important part of the how to run an organisation. Certain transgressions as absolutely unacceptable to the point where the product on the ice/field whatever just does not matter anymore.

 

[Static]

It does work that way. If you’re responsible for a 17 year old who’s made tremendous personal progress, coming from about as low as one can get, to something approaching a model young man, not only should you protect him from having to relive this 100+ times in his draft year, you MUST. Even if it turns some teams off and he has to fall an extra round or two. Even then.

I will say that there’s at least as good a chance that it was what you suggested in your second paragraph. It’s very possible he’s still a complete dipshit and they had to hide him as much as possible.

It really doesn't, and it's part of the consequences for committing a horrible act. He doesn't get to just run and hide while also claiming he has changed. Part of changing is owning up to it, as often as is needed, because the onus is on him now, not us.

This is especially true for a public figure, which is part of being an NHL player. He has every right to deny answering questions, but he can't claim to be rehabilitated while asking us to just take his word for it in a written statement, that just isn't how it works.

 

[NeverBeNormal]

I hope anyone breaking out the old "people change, he was 14, he shouldn't have to pay his whole life" realize that by giving this guy a chance at a multi million dollar career, you're only emboldening more young hockey players to act any way they want because the ramifications aren't enough of a deterrent.

Young minorities, be it a racial or sexual situation, can see these circumstances and probably think "yep, same old stuff". If we want to weed this attitude out of hockey then the people who perpetrate it have to be punished severely if others are to see that it's a serious issue in the hockey community that needs to change.

 

[SomeDude]

Who knew Mitchell Miller was such a Buchnevich fan?

 

[NotLeddy]

Seriously, how was he the first pick the Coyotes made this draft

You shouldn't take a player with this much controversy with your first draft pick when you don't have many selections to begin with. Probably would've been available with their 5th round pick given what he did, despite his talent

The Coyotes should've seen if they could've gotten an extra 4th or 3rd from someone if they were intent on drafting Mitchell imo

 

[Mobiandi]

I hope anyone breaking out the old "people change, he was 14, he shouldn't have to pay his whole life" realize that by giving this guy a chance at a multi million dollar career, you're only emboldening more young hockey players to act any way they want because the ramifications aren't enough of a deterrent.

Exactly

 

[Static]

I hope anyone breaking out the old "people change, he was 14, he shouldn't have to pay his whole life" realize that by giving this guy a chance at a multi million dollar career, you're only emboldening more young hockey players to act any way they want because the ramifications aren't enough of a deterrent.

Young minorities, be it a racial or sexual situation, can see these circumstances and probably think "yep, same old stuff". If we want to weed this attitude out of hockey then the people who perpetrate it have to be punished severely if others are to see that it's a serious issue in the hockey community that needs to change.

Well, yeah. That poor kid watching his tormentor get drafted has to be a nightmare. Miller's repercussions for what he did amount to what? Falling a couple rounds in the draft? It's sad.

 

[Billy Kvcmu]

The one thing I believe that Pavel might be right in this thread is his resolve that most people don't know what Miller is today. He could currently be a bully and racist. He could also currently be someone who looks in the mirror and says "I can't believe I was that guy."

I am 51. When I look at the things I did when I was 15 to 25, it plays like a movie. When I watch it, I find it hard to believe it actually happened. I also know that my resolve to be a good person came in my early 20s when I decided to no longer be a piece of shit. The difference between Miller and myself is that there is no record of the things I said, the things I did.

I have no position on who Miller is today. I don't know him. As someone that was bullied in school, I think his actions were despicable, moreso than the average bully since it was a long standing series of actions.

I do think that we have to allow for people to change. I don't know enough about Miller to know if he deserves that chance, but when I think of people in sport that have done some awful things and then move on to be better people, it is a very long list. (Vick, Woods, Ray Lewis, A-Rod, Phelps, Heatley, MacTavish just off the top of my head)

I would think for a minute that at worst, everyone who wants to bury the kid, should think about those who change for the better. Those who support the kid should think that because of his long standing terrible behaviour there is also a chance he is still a bully and racist. I think that time will tell.

Society has changed in a good way
If Miller did this back in the 80s
This thing probably don’t even gets mention in the interview

 

[Tunapants]

I hope anyone breaking out the old "people change, he was 14, he shouldn't have to pay his whole life" realize that by giving this guy a chance at a multi million dollar career, you're only emboldening more young hockey players to act any way they want because the ramifications aren't enough of a deterrent.

Young minorities, be it a racial or sexual situation, can see these circumstances and probably think "yep, same old stuff". If we want to weed this attitude out of hockey then the people who perpetrate it have to be punished severely if others are to see that it's a serious issue in the hockey community that needs to change.

Youre right, he should probably just end his own life because something he did when he was 14.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

I think Miller's really in a no win situation here. There has been a considerable amount of time since the incident so any attempt at an apology would come across as self-serving and disingenuous (which it likely would be anyway). The fact that he hasn't reached out to the victim or his family and has refused to discuss it beyond a few select circumstances likely means he's just trying to make it go away. Not saying that's the best approach but consider the facts: He has been able to play in a top tier junior league, is going to a top tier hockey school, and was drafted by a NHL team that appears to be supporting him. This is the equivalent of putting your head down and avoiding any additional controversy. The blow back from feeding it would be more severe than what he is currently experiencing.

 

[JPeeper]

I hope anyone breaking out the old "people change, he was 14, he shouldn't have to pay his whole life" realize that by giving this guy a chance at a multi million dollar career, you're only emboldening more young hockey players to act any way they want because the ramifications aren't enough of a deterrent.

Literally no consequences.

Not even an overaged ATO/PTO, straight drafted.

Dude writes a letter to every NHL team apologizing (so he can get drafted), doesn't even apologize to the kid he bullied. f*** this kid and f*** the Coyotes.

 

[NeverBeNormal]

Youre right, he should probably just end his own life because something he did when he was 14.

I'll consider my point missed.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Youre right, he should probably just end his own life because something he did when he was 14.

You really need to check yourself and anyone else that tries to use him being 14 years old as an excuse for what he did. He deserves a second chance if he shows genuine remorse for his action and growth as a person along with dealing with the repercussions of his actions. If his disgusting actions as a teenager cost him a certain career path? That is just the way it goes. He is not entitled to being a professional hockey player and nobody has even suggested he should "end his life" but anyone that even gets close to insinuating that him being 14 matters at all in the severity of what happened is off their damn rocker.

 

[rt]

It really doesn't, and it's part of the consequences for committing a horrible act. He doesn't get to just run and hide while also claiming he has changed. Part of changing is owning up to it, as often as is needed, because the onus is on him now, not us.

This is especially true for a public figure, which is part of being an NHL player. He has every right to deny answering questions, but he can't claim to be rehabilitated while asking us to just take his word for it in a written statement, that just isn't how it works.

I wouldn’t disagree with a word of this if we were talking about adults. But we aren’t. It is wrong to demand that an 18 year old define himself by the mistakes he made as a 14 year old. It’s not wrong to demand a 28 years define himself by the mistakes he made as a 24 year old. There is a difference and it’s a very real one. It’s why we have a defined categorization of adult versus juvenile in our laws. There is a real difference between adults and children. And it’s an extraordinarily important distinction. And there is absolutely a double standard and thank God for that double standard.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

You really need to check yourself and anyone else that tries to use him being 14 years old as an excuse for what he did. He deserves a second chance if he shows genuine remorse for his action and growth as a person along with dealing with the repercussions of his actions. If his disgusting actions as a teenager cost him a certain career path? That is just the way it goes. He is not entitled to being a professional hockey player and nobody has even suggested he should "end his life" but anyone that even gets close to insinuating that him being 14 matters at all in the severity of what happened is off their damn rocker.

I'm not sure this is reasonable either. His age at the time the incident took place should definitely be considered.

 

[serp]

I think Miller's really in a no win situation here. There has been a considerable amount of time since the incident so any attempt at an apology would come across as self-serving and disingenuous (which it likely would be anyway). The fact that he hasn't reached out to the victim or his family and has refused to discuss it beyond a few select circumstances likely means he's just trying to make it go away. Not saying that's the best approach but consider the facts: He has been able to play in a top tier junior league, is going to a top tier hockey school, and was drafted by a NHL team that appears to be supporting him. This is the equivalent of putting your head down and avoiding any additional controversy. The blow back from feeding it would be more severe than what he is currently experiencing.

Well if he actually wants to have a shot at a successful pro-career just keeping his mouth shut and hoping this just goes away will clearly not work. Maybe it would've worked decades ago but not in the age of social media.

 

[Power Man]

I hope anyone breaking out the old "people change, he was 14, he shouldn't have to pay his whole life" realize that by giving this guy a chance at a multi million dollar career, you're only emboldening more young hockey players to act any way they want because the ramifications aren't enough of a deterrent.

Young minorities, be it a racial or sexual situation, can see these circumstances and probably think "yep, same old stuff". If we want to weed this attitude out of hockey then the people who perpetrate it have to be punished severely if others are to see that it's a serious issue in the hockey community that needs to change.

I 200% agree

Not excusing his disgusting behavior, but if he was properly raised by his parents....
I wouldn't be surprised if his parents were massive racist

 

[JPeeper]

For people thinking this shithead deserves a second chance, read the articles.

"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.

The Coyotes sent The Republic a copy of the letter that Miller claimed to have given to the victim and his family. The family said on Friday they never received the letter."

He also sent every NHL team a letter apologizing in hopes of getting drafted, has never actually apologized to the victim he bullied. He most certainly does not deserve a second chance, this guy has no remorse. You might see an apology now that this story has broke, but if you think it's genuine, you're only kidding yourself.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

Well if he actually wants to have a shot at a successful pro-career just keeping his mouth shut and hoping this just goes away will clearly not work. Maybe it would've worked decades ago but not in the age of social media.

I disagree. Eventually, this will go away. I'm not saying that's right but you see it everyday in sports.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

I wouldn’t disagree with a word of this if we were talking about adults. But we aren’t. It is wrong to demand that an 18 year old define himself by the mistakes he made as a 14 year old. It’s not wrong to demand a 28 years define himself by the mistakes he made as a 24 year old. There is a difference and it’s a very real one. It’s why we have a defined categorization of adult versus juvenile in our laws. There is a real difference between adults and children. And it’s an extraordinarily important distinction. And there is absolutely a double standard and thank God for that double standard.

No. If he did this as an adult he would be in jail. The going easy part is expecting him to own it and carry it with him until he has proven he has grown from it. He is already very clearly feeling the difference between juvenile and adult. He committed a crime that would put him in jail as an adult. Him being 14 does not mean he gets to just cover his ears at any criticism of the disgusting behavior from his past if he doesn't feel like putting in any work to change that view of him. I have said it before, if he didn't want this to follow him around he should have been an accountant.

 

[Static]

I wouldn’t disagree with a word of this if we were talking about adults. But we aren’t. It is wrong to demand that an 18 year old define himself by the mistakes he made as a 14 year old. It’s not wrong to demand a 28 years define himself by the mistakes he made as a 24 year old. There is a difference and it’s a very real one. It’s why we have a defined categorization of adult versus juvenile in our laws. There is a real difference between adults and children. And it’s an extraordinarily important distinction. And there is absolutely a double standard and thank God for that double standard.

Part of maturing and becoming an adult is taking responsibility for one's actions. At 18 I would hope he would recognize that, and if not, the entire "rehabilitation" angle is a sham. He's not 14 anymore.

 

[serp]

I'm not sure this is reasonable either. His age at the time the incident took place should definitely be considered.

There are action that age doesn't justify anything. Not to mention he was 14 not like 5 or something. A 14 year old should have some idea whats ok and what is clearly psychotic behaviour. Aparently there's video evidence of the incident and from the reports its incredibly damning.

 

[Pardus]

Scum.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

I'm not sure this is reasonable either. His age at the time the incident took place should definitely be considered.

I mean it obviously was. He committed a crime that would send a grown adult to prison. He had to apologize and he couldn't even manage to personally apologize to the victim. He is choosing a public profession, if this follows him around until he proves it shouldn't? Well tough shit for him.