Boston Bruins President Cam Neely spoke Monday about the team's decision to part ways with defenseman Mitchell Miller, and said he is "extremely upset that we have made a lot of people unhappy."
“I take pride in the Bruins organization and what we stand for and we failed there,” he added.
When asked why the team cut Miller, Neely said, "Well it was a combination of everything. Certainly our fan base being upset, and rightfully so. And for me it was, it was not worth putting the organization through this any longer."
Neely also admitted he "misread" expected backlash.
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Neely was blunt while talking to reporters and called the situation his biggest regret “by far” as a Bruins executive. He said the team "could've dug deeper" before offering a contract to Miller, who was convicted in 2016 for bullying a Black classmate with developmental disabilities in middle school.
"We didn't have enough information," he said.
Boston signed Miller to an entry-level contract on Friday, leading to sweeping criticism from Bruins players, including captain Patrice Bergeron, as well as the team's fanbase.
When asked if statements from current Bruins players played a role in the team cutting Miller, Neely replied, “There was a lot of factors in this decision, and that was one of them.”
Neely said he and general manager Don Sweeney spoke with the club on Saturday. The offer to Miller was rescinded late Sunday, with Neely saying in a statement the Bruins thought Miller's conduct was an isolated incident and that the team reversed course based on new information -- particularly that the team hadn't spoken to victim Isaiah Meyer-Crothers or his family.
"The fact we didn't talk to the family was concerning to me," Neely said.
Neely did meet with Miller, as well as his agent and his mom prior to signing him, but said Monday that he shouldn't have assumed the vetting process also included a meeting with Meyer-Crothers' family.
Asked why that didn't happen, Neely replied: "It's a great question. Something I need to find out.''
”We dropped the ball,” Neely added, “and I’m here to apologize for that.”
He said there's more work to do when asked about any potential penalties for people involved in the vetting process.
Neely reiterated that in his meeting with Miller he felt he was remorseful and worthy of an opportunity to play in the NHL.
"From everything I’ve heard, he was working on himself, working in programs to better himself. I was under the impression it was a 14-year-old kid that made a really bad decision and did some horrible things,'' Neely said. "He's 20 years old now. So I was under the impression that in the last six years he's done a lot of work on himself. ... I do believe in second chances but maybe some don't deserve it. I’m not saying it in particular in this situation, but I do believe in second chances.”
Miller pleaded guilty at age 14 to one count of assault and one count of violation of the Ohio Safe Schools Act. He and another teenager were accused of making Meyer-Crothers eat a candy push pop after wiping it in a bathroom urinal, and surveillance video showed them kicking and punching him.
The mother of Isaiah Meyer-Crothers spoke to NBC10 Boston on Friday, calling Miller "a monster," saying he racially bullied her adopted son, who is developmentally disabled, for years.
Neely used his statement Sunday night to apologize to Isaiah and his family, saying, he was sorry if the signing made them and other victims feel "unseen and unheard."
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said Saturday that Miller is not eligible for the league at this point and revealed the Bruins did not consult with the NHL before signing him.
However, Neely said Monday the Bruins did speak with NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly about signing Miller last Wednesday, but it appears word may not have reached Bettman.
"There's a lot of people that are let down today," Neely said. "I'm disappointed that we're in this position. We shouldn't be in this position. So, we could've done a better job. We should've done a better job."
Neely apologized again to the Meyer-Crothers' family on Monday and said he planned to reach out to them.
"It's something they shouldn't have to continue to go through,'' he said.
Neely wouldn't comment Monday on any possible financial implications of cutting ties with Miller, and said he did not directly talk to Miller about the decision to cut him.
