Coyotes' 'top' (4th round) draft pick of 2020 was a convict four years ago for bullying.

[ruilin96]

I do believe in giving people 2nd chances, I do sincerely hope that this kid will take this opportunity and use it to help others. For example, he could admit to his mistake and use his publicity to try and help other victims of racism/bullying and make the effort to tell the world that he has changed.

 

And for those who said "he was just 14 at the time," for the same context, when EP was 13 he was fighting against racism and actively helping his friend who were facing deportation.

[Aladeen]

3 minutes ago, Zhukini said:

I would never want to see this kid in a Canucks sweater. This isn’t a matter of second chances. 

He had a second chance and that was when the other perpetrators broke down in tears apologizing to their victim and his family. Miller did not, there is no other chance after that point.  

[JeremyCuddles]

It's okay, he'll likely amount to nothing anyway. But with that said. All we can do is hope he outgrew that disgusting behaviour and became a man. The things he did are appalling. But if we don't give him a chance to prove he's not that guy anymore we are saying that no matter where you go in life you are defined by the worst things you ever did.

 

Also, I am very sad that this stuff happened to Isaiah Meyer-Crothers but I hope he doesn't stay living in the past. It can't be changed and all it'll do is make him sad. It's easy to say as someone that never went through what he did, but it's all we can do. Live, learn, move on as best we can. Don't let this kid's cruelty keep you in a dark place. 

[Coconuts]

14 minutes ago, Dazzle said:

I would be impressed if Mitchell defended this kid against such bullies. But instead, he was an active aggressor who has yet to apologize for his wrongdoings, despite being convicted.

I agree with Robert Long that "I don't know that we really want to live in a society that can't allow a 14 year old to learn from a mistake", but if he's truly made such little effort to own up to his wrongdoings with the individual he abused that's another matter. Perhaps he has grown and learned, given his age at the time I wouldn't be surprised, and he wouldn't be the first child or teenager to make horrible bullying decisions to the extent he apparently did. But learning is only a piece of it, it's one thing if the victim wants nothing to do with his former abuser but to not even make the effort? Obviously his being a minor changes things because of his own developmental level at the time, but that doesn't make such extensive bullying behaviour any less repulsive. I'd imagine most children understand that bullying is wrong on some level. 

 

It's a no-win story. It's a black mark on the Coyotes, his lack of apology is a black mark on Mitchell if true, and his victim has to live with the fact that his bully went on to be drafted by an NHL team along with any other lingering traumatic effects of such bullying. Mitchell can move on, potentially reconcile with his victim and apologize properly, and maybe go on to play pro hockey somewhere. Trauma is an extraordinarily complex thing, and his victim may never fully escape the trauma of his youth. 

Edited October 26, 2020 by Coconuts

[Bell]

Imagine this kid walking in a room with the class individuals we have here.  Captain would say the exit is that way sir.

[Makaramel MacKhiato]

Coyotes should keep his rights for 3 years, then send him back into the draft. 

[buddhahoodlum]

42 minutes ago, Monty said:

Well, one could say that being drafted by the Coyotes was his punishment.

Not funny. And this is really not a joking matter. 

[Dazzle]

21 minutes ago, buddhahoodlum said:

Not funny. And this is really not a joking matter. 

I agree. There are plenty of good people in the Coyotes organization, starting with Barrett Hayton.

 

This Miller pick is monumentally awful.

[Nail]

When I saw this news a few months back, I immediately put Miller on my Do Not Draft lists for the fantasy leagues I am involved in, and I hoped the Canucks would do the same in the NHL. No matter how you can defend it, its awful. Not only is it affecting Miller and the Coyotes, its affecting the teams he played on including his USHL team and North Dakota. Not a great look for UND eh? I think Miller is on a thin line because bullying really is unacceptable and targeting people with disabilities, in particular is so "not cool". It's juvenile and really will affect his perception from the public and gives the Coyotes a ton of backlash...so they have to find a way to put a stop to it now. Miller must send out his personal apology ASAP, and even then it won't be taken seriously by many. The fact that the Coyotes have been tweeting about Martin Hanzal's retirement today but not releasing some sort of statement regarding this issue is also somewhat concerning. Boy oh boy, the Coyotes just can't stay out of the news, for all the wrong reasons.

[Master Mind]

45 minutes ago, buddhahoodlum said:

Not funny. And this is really not a joking matter. 

To be fair, if someone was going to draft Miller, I'm glad it was the team with the bleakest future.

[Monty]

1 minute ago, Master Mind said:

To be fair, if someone was going to draft Miller, I'm glad it was the team with the bleakest future.

Future?

[Master Mind]

17 minutes ago, Monty said:

Future?

Until Bettman retires, can't help but think they keep the team there.

 

Even if they continuously make poor decisions and never turn a profit.

[Down by the River]

I like that "he" (undoubtedly his agent) wrote a letter to all 31 teams explaining that he had matured yet couldn't find the time to send one of those letters to the victim/his family. 

 

There is a big difference between getting caught up in trying to look cool in front of your peers, bullying a kid, and then feeling sick to your stomach, owning up your mistake, apologizing, and doing what you can to repair the harm done. 

 

But this wasn't an isolated incident. Nor was it your typical highschool bullying that is not okay but also not egregious; it was about as bad as you can get in terms of the vulnerability of the victim. Nor was it something that the individual seemed to want to make amends for. He had second chances. He blew it. And the letters he sent the NHL teams suggests he wants to move on instead of make it right. 

[JM_]

2 hours ago, Coconuts said:

It might seem like not doing this should be a bit of a no brainer, but children, teenagers, and adults with intellectual disabilities have historically experienced some of the worst treatment from society and individuals. Children with development disabilities often experience more severe and consistent bullying, and at older ages they're more easily taken advantage of. They're one of society's most vulnerable populations, which makes em an easier mark in the eyes of some people.

 

It's not nearly as uncommon a thing as many people would likely expect it to be. 

what happened to the kid in this story is horrible, there's nothing to defend in Millers behaviour. What bothers me is how fast we are now to throw him away for life for something he did as a child. We don't know if he's an abused kid himself, or just an asshole. Either way he's still a teen, and sometimes brain development takes time. Its hard not to look at Miller in disgust, but isn't he a kid that needs help too? I mean who does that without having something broken that needs fixing too? 

 

The concern for me is if we throw Miller away, he gets no help. What kind of parent is that guy going to be if that happens? there's a lot of things to take into considerations with stories like this, isnt there?

 

Edited October 26, 2020 by Robert Long

[Junkyard Dog]

48 minutes ago, Dazzle said:

I agree. There are plenty of good people in the Coyotes organization, starting with Barrett Hayton.

 

This Miller pick is monumentally awful.

Hayton should definitely be their next captain. 
 

Kids got a good head on his shoulders and is a top prospect. Polar opposite to what this Miller kid is. 

[Down by the River]

The saddest thing about bullying is when it happens to kids that are lower functioning. If you experience relatively normative development, you know who is a jerk and who to not trust. Kids with developmental delays can be so trusting and so innocent. Really breaks my heart when stuff like this happens as I've seen it too much with kids with FASD and really horrific outcomes. 

[King Heffy]

Picture this guy in a room with Brock Boeser, given what his sister had to deal with growing up.  Would have been shocked to find out he wasn't on our Do Not Draft list.

[Canuck Surfer]

3 hours ago, Robert Long said:

This is a no-win story. 

 

But I don't know that we really want to live in a society that can't allow a 14 year old to learn from a mistake.

To use a similar double negative >> I don't disagree!

 

It is also more than fair that Isaiah Meyer-Crothers has a right to tell his story.  I think it is awesome he stepped forward. I also suspect the attention will afford him a platform.  To get help?  Even opportunity in an environment where people understand his development needs.  Maybe even, likely, any depression, anxiety he deals with. Generous people surface just like the Mitch Millers do when no one is looking.  

 

 

It will either improve Mitch's learning curve. Help hold him to account for his behaviors and attitude.

 

Or not.  Maybe he will even be generous himself? 

 

His leash will be a lot shorter. That much is fair.

 

 

[EddieVedder]

2 hours ago, Bell said:

Imagine this kid walking in a room with the class individuals we have here.  Captain would say the exit is that way sir.

Theres no way the guys on this team would want to be around this kid.  Benning would have never drafted him knowing his history anyway.

 

 

[JM_]

3 minutes ago, Canuck Surfer said:

To use a similar double negative >> I don't disagree!

 

It is also more than fair that Isaiah Meyer-Crothers has a right to tell his story.  I think it is awesome he stepped forward. I also suspect the attention will afford him a platform.  To get help?  Even opportunity in an environment where people understand his development needs.  Maybe even, likely, any depression, anxiety he deals with. Generous people surface just like the Mitch Millers do when no one is looking.  

 

 

It will either improve Mitch's learning curve. Help hold him to account for his behaviors and attitude.

 

Or not.  Maybe he will even be generous himself? 

 

His leash will be a lot shorter. That much is fair.

 

 

for sure its good this kid told his story. In fact it might be the thing that helps Miller. 

 

My concern here is breaking the cycle of this kind of thing, Miller either picked it up somewhere or maybe he's a sociopath. But if he's just a kid with bad parents .e.g, I hope he gets what he needs to stop being an abuser.