Bruins Players Thrust into Difficult Position by Management and Are Not Impressed by Recent Developments
The Boston Bruins' signing of Mitchell Miller has caused a huge whirlwind in and around the NHL, and placed centerfold in the discussion has been the Bruins' players. The players are the face of the organization, and they have been tasked with answering questions about the signing, which just isn't fair to them. The players didn't ask for it, they were not wholly on board with the decision (with what little consideration they are given), but still they must answer for it.
Patrice Bergeron, as captain, bore the brunt of the questioning and was pretty explicit with his personal opinion. The leader of this Bruins team, Bergeron maintains that without serious growth, Miller would not be accepted in the Bruins locker room.
"My standpoint is it's a hockey operations decision...hopefully there is some growth and change, if it's the same 14-year old that would be walking into this locker room, he wouldn't be accepted and wanted and welcomed, to be honest with you."
Those are huge words from Bergeron. Especially publicly.
Bergeron was not alone, however, as fellow veterans Nick Foligno and Brad Marchand also spoke about the decision, and their comments echoed what was said by the Bruins' captain.
"I'm not going to lie to you. I don't think any guy was too happy because of how proud we are to say this is a group that cares a lot about ourselves, how we carry ourselves and how we treat people. So that was, for a lot of guys, especially the ones that have been here, a tough pill to swallow. In the same light, I don't think the organization's ever not looking out for the best interests of us. But I think we have a lot of concerns. This kid will have to answer for those and will have to prove to everybody and himself, especially if he wants to get in this room, that he's a changed man. We hope he works toward that."
Brad Marchand with regards to Miller and how the team's decision to sign him affects their group going forward:
"If the kid's going to be part of this room, we have a standard that we hold our teammates to, to be in this room. If we don't feel like he's there, then he will not be here. That's like with anybody. If there's a guy that comes in and he's not fitting in, he's gone. We've shown that year after year. I understand where it all comes from. But again, if he ever makes it here, it'll be because he's shown that he has learned and come the distance he's needed to...He's got a long, long road ahead of him."
The Bruins are the number one team in the NHL this season with a record of 10-1-0. Amidst the team's torrid start, they now are faced with an uncomfortable situation. In addition to focusing on their play, they now need to stand before camera's and microphones, all but condemning a situation that probably shouldn't have happened in the first place.
It is an unfair position, regardless of how cushy athletes might have it the rest of the time. Bruins management should have done more due diligence, and now they've alienated themselves from even their own players. Not a great look, no matter how you cut it.
Source material:
| POLL | ||
NOVEMBRE 5 | 315 ANSWERS Bruins Players Thrust into Difficult Position by Management and Are Not Impressed by Recent Developments Should the Bruins release Miller or work with him to better himself? | ||
| Release him | 142 | 45.1 % |
| Keep him | 70 | 22.2 % |
| Indifferent | 47 | 14.9 % |
| See Results | 56 | 17.8 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
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