Bruins pull controversial move and sign former Coyotes draft pick Mitchell Miller

The Boston Bruins are getting help, and clearly, they don’t care what fans or pundits think about it.

On Friday morning, it was announced that the Bruins had signed former Arizona Coyotes draft pick Mitchell Miller to an entry-level contract.

In 2020, the Coyotes renounced the rights to Miller, who was their top draft pick that summer after news emerged he had assaulted, bullied and abused a Black classmate with a learning disability, Isaiah Meyer-Crothers. A day later, the University of North Dakota dropped Miller from its program. He did not play hockey during the 2020-21 season. Miller was charged with assault and a violation of the Ohio Safe Schools Act in February of 2016 after he and another student admitted to bullying Isaiah Meyer-Crothers, a Black classmate with a learning disability. Part of that bullying included wiping a piece of candy in a urinal and then tricking Meyer-Crothers into consuming it.

Miller, who was voted the USHL player of the year and defenseman of the year for the 2021-22 season by the league’s general managers, made a statement, reiterating how sorry he felt from his terrible judgement in the past and is looking for a new chance in Boston.

Last season in 2021-22, Miller was back the Tri-City Storm, and posted 39 goals and 83 points in 60 games.

There is a sense he will be great help for the Bruins, who are without defenseman Derek Forbort for several weeks. Boston is also waiting on the return of star blue liner Charlie McAvoy as he works back from a complex shoulder injury that required offseason surgery.

Obviously, the signing is getting people to react and a lot wondering what the heck the Bruins are doing.