Senators' Anton Forsberg Stretchered off After Suffering Injury vs. Oilers
Feb 11, 2023
OTTAWA, ON - FEBRUARY 11: Ottawa Senators Goalie Anton Forsberg (31) prepares to make a save during third period National Hockey League action between the Edmonton Oilers and Ottawa Senators on February 11, 2023, at Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON, Canada. (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Ottawa Senators goaltender Anton Forsberg was stretched off the ice during the third period of Saturday's 6-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers at Canadian Tire Centre with an apparent leg injury.
Forsberg exited the game with 5:23 remaining in the third period after Senators defenseman Travis Hamonic pushed Oilers forward Zach Hyman onto the goaltender's right leg. A trainer immediately came out before he was taken off the ice.
Senators coach D.J. Smith told reporters after the game that there was no update on the veteran netminder.
"He's been great for us all year," Senators captain Brady Tkachuk said after the loss. "No update, but I hope it's not as severe as it looks."
Forsberg signed a three-year, $8.25 million contract with the Senators in March 2021. He entered Saturday's game with an 11-10-2 record, 3.13 goals-against average and .905 save percentage.
If the 30-year-old is sidelined, the Senators will turn to 22-year-old rookie Mads Sogaard in goal as Cam Talbot is also sidelined with a lower-body injury. He replaced Forsberg on Saturday and stopped all three shots he faced.
Prior to Saturday's game, Sogaard had appeared in two games for the Senators this season, going 1-1-0 with a 3.07 goals-against average and .889 save percentage.
Before signing with the Senators, Forsberg played for the Columbus Blue Jackets, Chicago Blackhawks and Carolina Hurricanes, mainly as a backup. He appeared in 46 games for Ottawa last season, going 22-17-4 with a .917 save percentage an 2.82 goals-against average.
The Senators are currently seventh in the Atlantic Division with a 24-24-3 record and have slim chances to make the postseason.
Matthew Tkachuk Talks NHL All-Star MVP, Fashion Style and More in B/R Interview
Feb 9, 2023
Atlantic Division's Matthew Tkachuk, of the Florida Panthers (19) plays in the NHL All Star game,Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
From the frigid temperatures in Calgary to the gorgeous Florida sunshine, Matthew Tkachuk is becoming a household name in the NHL.
The 25-year-old winger is in his first season with the Florida Panthers after coming over in a blockbuster trade in July that sent Jonathan Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar, Cole Schwindt and a conditional 2025 first-round pick to the Calgary Flames, and it's safe to say he's loving his new home.
"It's been amazing. I have loved every single minute of being here in Florida," Tkachuk told Bleacher Report of his move down South. "It's been the best thing that's happened to me. I really enjoyed my time in Calgary as well, but I just think at this stage this is exactly where I wanted to be and it's everything I've wanted it to be and more. I never would have expected myself to feel as comfortable as I am now or love it as much as I do."
Tkachuk added: "I have people visiting me all the time. The fans have been amazing. My teammates have been the best. Trainers and everybody at the rink. It's just been such a great environment and so enjoyable for me. I've loved every minute of it."
Through Florida's first 49 games of the 2022-23 season, Tkachuk notched 25 goals and 41 assists for 66 points to earn himself a spot in the 2023 NHL All-Star Game, which the Panthers hosted at FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Florida.
Tkachuk went on to be named the 2023 All-Star Game MVP after tallying four goals and three assists in two games to lead the Atlantic Division to the All-Star Game crown. With his performance, he hopes to inspire the next generation.
"I just think for the next generation, I always look at those All-Star Games, the events and the skills like you still want to win it, you still want to be competitive," Tkachuk said. "So go into everything, every event, every sport you play growing up and do everything you can to win."
One of the biggest aspects of the NHL's All-Star Weekend is the ability for players to show off their style. During the regular season and playoffs, players are required to wear jackets, ties and pants to all games unless granted permission to do otherwise by the coach or general manager.
But for All-Star Weekend, anything goes, and Tkachuk teamed up with Sherwood fashion director Kesha McLeod to develop the perfect red carpet look. While the clothes are true to Tkachuk's typical style, McLeod worked with him to bring a little South Florida flair to his outfits for the event.
"She is amazing. I thought she was super cool and trendy and definitely have never worked with somebody like that before," Tkachuk said of working with McLeod and Sherwood. "I've never worked with anybody before, but just to get her point of view on stuff and different stuff like that, especially down in Florida and just in general."
Tkachuk added that McLeod and Sherwood embodied his "bold and outgoing" style for All-Star Weekend, bringing in both aspects of himself as a hockey player and as a "unique" person. While McLeod had numerous outfits for Tkachuk to try on, there was one specific look that he liked the most.
"I actually liked the denim because it brought me back to when I was in Calgary when I wore a lot of that," Tkachuk said. "So, I think I still have a little bit of that in me, like the all-jean look and the jean jacket especially. I wore that all the time in Calgary, so I thought that was pretty funny."
However, the all-jean look has become somewhat of a thing of the past for Tkachuk since his move to Florida. With his home base now located in what is known as the Sunshine State, Tkachuk said his wardrobe has changed to include more shorts and button-down shirts, which was also a look he wanted to bring to All-Star Weekend.
This past weekend was Tkachuk's second appearance in an NHL All-Star Game. He also appeared in the 2020 version of the event at Enterprise Center in his home city of St. Louis, notching two goals and four assists in two games for the Pacific Division.
"I'm from St. Louis, so being a guy who played in Calgary and going there it wasn't your typical weekend as a road player. I had a lot of events and stuff I had to do. So, I just realized how busy it was." Tkachuk said when asked what he learned from his first All-Star Game. "... The All-Star stuff was unbelievable, but the stuff that came with it was very busy.
"This year being the host team it was very similar, so I knew what to expect going into it that it wasn't going to be much of a relaxing break. … It was more of a hectic weekend, but I loved it and everybody that came with me had a great time. I wanted to make sure I put on a good game for them as well."
One of those people who attended the event with Tkachuk was his father, former NHL winger and five-time All-Star Keith Tkachuk, who suited up for the Atlanta Thrashers/Winnipeg Jets organization, the then-Phoenix Coyotes and the St. Louis Blues over his 18-year career from 1991-2010.
After notching a hat trick in the Atlantic Division's opening game against the Metropolitan Division, a 10-6 victory, the ESPN camera crew caught Tkachuk's father excitedly high-fiving everyone in the family's suite.
Matty Tkachuk gets the ASG hat trick while his dad Keith gets HYPED 😤 https://t.co/bLYkQL2oVt
Tkachuk's father, of course, has given him some advice over the years, but for the All-Star Game, he told Tkachuk and his brother, Ottawa Senators forward Brady Tkachuk, to just have fun with the event.
"When it's about approaching the normal game, it's always compete and be a good teammate, those are the ones I think he said ever since I was a young kid," Tkachuk said. "But when it comes to the All-Star Game, it's just get lots of pictures, and I made sure I did a lot of that. My brother and I took pictures with some of our favorite players growing up that we've had previous pictures with like [Alex] Ovechkin and [Sidney] Crosby, so those were cool moments."
Brady and Matthew Tkachuk + Sidney Crosby in 2007, then again in 2023. 🥹
What a journey for the Tkachuk brothers! #NHLAllStar
This year's All-Star Game was the first time Tkachuk and his brother were able to play alongside each other after years of being competitors, and while they proved to be a great duo, Tkachuk doesn't see the two playing for the same NHL franchise anytime soon.
"I don't know if we'll ever play together for the same NHL team, but hopefully we start getting some international events back and we both can play well enough to be on a U.S. team together. I think that would be super fun."
When asked what made the two click despite not having played together prior to the All-Star Game, Tkachuk said he and his brother have "always talked about playing together."
"I think that's what led to us making some good plays for each other and scoring some goals early, but I think we were a little tired towards the end of the game and our chemistry wore off a bit, so I think we're better off competing against each other for right now," Tkachuk said.
He added: "I don't even know if it's specific skill sets that made us click, I just think the fact that we've been talking about it for so long and wanting to do well is what led us to some success. And we had Barky [Aleksander Barkov] on our line, which makes it a lot easier for us."
The Tkachuk siblings also participated in the NHL All-Star Skills Competition, taking part in both the Splash Shot and Breakaway Challenge events.
The Breakaway Challenge allows players to show off their individual creativity, and Tkachuk did not disappoint, with assists from his brother, Barkov, his Panthers teammate, NHL goaltender Roberto Luongo and Miami Dolphins defensive end Christian Wilkins.
Matthew Tkachuk got some help from his brother Brady and some friends for his beach-themed breakaway 🏖 https://t.co/4PTBoMSwH0
Tkachuk's idea for the event stemmed from his desire to show off Florida in the best way possible.
"It was all just like 'How do I show off Florida, and how do I make it really Florida-ish?' I wanted a bucket hat involved. That was like the first thing I wanted. I wanted a button down. I didn't really know about the other props. I was just going to come down in the bucket hat and a button down and just do that, but then at the last second I wanted to get another sports team involved and that's where Christian Wilkins came in," Tkachuk said.
"And obviously I wanted Barky and Brady to do whatever they could just to be out there with it. I actually thought, looking back, it worked out perfect. I didn't think I was going to throw on the goggles because I really couldn't see in them, but then I threw them on and I was like, 'What the hell, it's not going to be perfect,' but it ended up working out, so it was cool."
With the All-Star festivities now complete, Tkachuk and the Panthers have already returned to regular-season action, taking down the Tampa Bay Lightning 7-1 on Monday night. Tkachuk notched five points in that win—two goals and three assists.
Florida currently sits fifth in a difficult Atlantic Division with a 25-22-6 record—three points out of the Eastern Conference's second wild-card spot—and Tkachuk is hoping to take some of what he learned from the All-Star Game to help his team improve during the second half of the season in hopes of making the playoffs.
"You look at some of these players that I was around for a few days and how much success they've had team-wise in the championships, and it just drives you to want to be in that category with them," Tkachuk said when asked if he could take anything from All-Star Weekend to help the Panthers for the final stretch.
"So, I think it just makes you more focused on the last push to make the playoffs and ultimately try to do some damage because all these guys that I've looked up to have. So, if you want to be one of those guys one day, you gotta start making some noise in the playoffs. I just think that learning from those guys and getting some rest is all going to translate and help me."
Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews to Miss at Least 3 Weeks with Knee Injury
Jan 27, 2023
TORONTO, ON - MAY 31: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs warms up prior to play against the Montreal Canadiens in Game Seven of the First Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 31, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews will miss a minimum of three weeks after suffering a knee sprain during Wednesday's 3-2 overtime win against the New York Rangers, the team announced Friday.
Correspondingly, the NHL announced Matthews will be replaced in next week's NHL All-Star Game by Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov.
While Matthews missed time at the start of last season because of wrist surgery, he has otherwise been fairly durable, appearing in 454 games since his debut in 2016.
When healthy, the 25-year-old is one of the Maple Leafs' most important playmakers, having won the 2021-22 Hart Memorial Trophy as the MVP and the Maurice Richard Trophy as the league's top goal scorer twice.
Matthews finished last season with 106 points on 60 goals and 46 assists and has followed up with 25 goals and 53 points to date this season.
If there's a silver lining for the Maple Leafs, it's that Matthews will have the luxury of using next week's All-Star break to rest up before the Maple Leafs renew their push toward the playoffs in mid-February.
Toronto occupies second place in the Atlantic Division with 68 points, 12 points behind the Boston Bruins.
To say things are grim for the Vancouver Canucks these days would be doing a great disservice to facts. The Canucks have been dysfunctional all season long and...
Bruins Balanced Fun and Respect with Vintage Red Sox Outfits
Sara Civian
Jan 5, 2023
BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 02: Boston Bruins winger Nick Foligno (17) before the 2023 NHL Winter Classic between the Boston bruins and the Pittsburgh Penguins on January 2, 2023, at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Hanging around Fenway Park the week of the 2023 Winter Classic, I realized the small but vocal contingency of NHL fans who hate on outdoor games are completely missing the point.
This isn't supposed to be the most technically sound 60 minutes of hockey you've ever watched in your life. There might be some questionable officiating due to human error. And spoiler alert, it could even be a little bit chilly at an outdoor venue in January!
The 39,000-plus sea of black and yellow—Bruins and Penguins fans alike—in attendance Monday seemed pretty content with it all. They crossed hearing "Sweet Caroline" at Fenway off their bucket lists, laughed along to Bruins anthem singer Todd Angilly's hockey version of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game," and got to soak in the nostalgic vibes the NHL nailed in curating.
It was impressive to see it all come together, from minute details like muted, old-school color schemes and fonts, to the big things like the ceremonial "first puck pitch" between Bobby Orr and Jason Varitek.
You have hundreds of other opportunities to watch high-quality hockey throughout the regular season. When else do you get to watch David Pastrnak look at a statue of himself made of pasta?
The Winter Classic rocks, and leaning into whatever fun opportunities life throws your way rocks even harder. The Bruins understood the assignment with their vintage Red Sox outfits.
Captain Patrice Bergeron said that the Bruins had planned this for a year since the announcement that the event would be at Fenway. The uniforms were custom-fitted to each player, with details down to stirrup socks for all.
"We started brainstorming, a few guys mentioned the baseball idea, [specifically the] old vintage early 1900s Red Sox outfit," Bergeron said. "We came up with the 1935 [version]. We're pretty happy with the result."
The mitts some players actually used in a warm-up game of catch were these Golden Era Gloves, sewn using true-to-time period circa 1937 characteristics.
These are the small gloves legends like Joe DiMaggio and Lou Gehrig wore in their day and, in my opinion, added such a unique touch to complete the look.
"I joked that those were the jerseys they wore when [David] Krejci and [Patrice Bergeron] Bergy started playing," Bruins forward Nick Foligno said. "Listen, this is a storied building, and we wanted to make sure that as much fun as we were having, we also paid respect to the guys that have come before us in this place and made it what it is.
"It was really cool to put that on and experience what those guys went through walking through those halls. It was really fun, and to dress up like that made it even more enjoyable."
Goalie Linus Ullmark told us postgame that his baseball knowledge prior to the event was "zero," but he took great pride in his new role as catcher.
He put his feet up on the podium, revealing a pair of vintage cleats straight from the 1950s he was pumped to have found. He was also wearing an old-school catcher's helmet as he greeted the media.
"I thought it was a cool idea, and I like to dress up for these special occasions as well," said Ullmark, who regularly appears in Bleacher Report's NHL Style Rankings. "I was lucky enough to find a pair of cleats from the '50s. Watch out, they're probably dangerous. But it was a lot of fun when it came together, we had a vague idea of what it was going to be like, but yesterday when we actually got it in front of us, it was mind-blowing. I loved every second of it."
You could tell Bruins players were just as into the Winter Classic as the fans, and the genuine respect they had for the venue mixed with some ridiculous fun is what the Winter Classic is all about.
While I've enjoyed the more creative Winter Classic outfits teams have worn the past few years, I thought it was appropriate to keep it classy and pay homage to some Red Sox greats in one of the most iconic sports venues ever.
The Bruins get an A-plus and a style rankings stamp of approval for execution with their 2023 Winter Classic outfits.
Bruins Hyped as 'Freight Train' After Winning 2023 NHL Winter Classic over Penguins
Jan 2, 2023
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 02: Jake DeBrusk #74 of the Boston Bruins celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the third period in the 2023 Discover NHL Winter Classic at Fenway Park on January 02, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Coming off a rare loss on New Year's Eve, the Boston Bruins got back to their winning ways with a thrilling 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2023 Winter Classic at Fenway Park on Monday.
After being shut out for the first two periods, Jake DeBrusk brought the Bruins back to life. He scored both of their goals, including the game-winner with 2:24 left to play.
Bruins finish off strong after a sloppy start and comeback to beat the Pens 2-1 at Fenway. Both goals by Big Game Jake. Still haven't lost in regulation at "home," and yes, Fenway would technically count as home. Great atmosphere.
— Sara 'pepcid ac lover' Civian (@SaraCivian) January 2, 2023
Evgeni Malkin had a chance to tie the score in the final seconds, but his shot crossed the goal line after the buzzer sounded.
DeBrusk's heroics on Monday were the latest highlight for a former top prospect finally carving out his niche. The 26-year-old was the No. 14 overall pick in the 2015 draft by the Bruins and made his NHL debut two years later.
After a promising rookie campaign with 43 points and a plus-13 overall rating in 70 games, DeBrusk tallied a plus-eight rating in the next four seasons combined. He's up to 30 points (16 goals, 14 assists) in 36 games after his two-goal showing against the Penguins.
Jake DeBrusk the latest example of why smart teams don't trade young players when they struggle.
Jake DeBrusk got lit up with friendly fire seconds before. He got back up, stood right in front of the net again, and makes it count to tie it up on the power play for the Bruins. Just love his game
— Sara 'pepcid ac lover' Civian (@SaraCivian) January 2, 2023
I asked Jake DeBrusk about Pastrnak's sticks yesterday. I asked him why he didn't bust out something similar. "Been pretty good with these current sticks, don't really wanna mess with it too much."
The Bruins entered the Winter Classic coming off their first lull of the season, at least by their standards. They lost two of their previous three games, though neither defeat came in regulation.
In a high-profile matchup against a marquee opponent, the Bruins were able to overcome a slow start and showcase many of the things that have made them so dominant through the first two months of the regular season.
On the other side of things, the Penguins are reeling right now. They have lost five straight and six of their last seven games dating back to Dec. 18. This downturn came immediately following a seven-game winning streak.
The Penguins will look to get back on track on Thursday against the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena. The Bruins open up a three-game Western Conference road trip on Thursday against the Los Angeles Kings.
Pat Maroon Donates $2K to Charity in Jack Edwards' Name After Broadcaster's Comments
Nov 30, 2022
TAMPA, FL - NOVEMBER 17: Pat Maroon #14 of the Tampa Bay Lightning skates against the Calgary Flames during the second period at Amalie Arena on November 17, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mark LoMoglio/NHLI via Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Lightning winger Pat Maroon is donating $2,000 to a Tampa-based mental health and substance use nonprofit organization in the name of Jack Edwards after the NESN broadcaster made critical comments about Maroon's weight during a broadcast Tuesday.
"Listed at 238 pounds...that was day one of training camp," Edwards said of Maroon during the Lightning's game against the Boston Bruins. "I've got a feeling he's had a few more pizzas between then and now. ... Inadvertent fasting for Pat Maroon is like four hours without a meal."
Edwards has been calling Bruins games for NESN since 2005. While his work has largely been well-received, his tenure has seen some controversy.
In 2013, Edwards apologized for comparing then-Pittsburgh Penguins forward Matt Cooke to Sirhan Sirhan, who assassinated Robert F. Kennedy in 1968. In 2019, he said it was "bad hockey karma" when then-Dallas Stars defenseman Roman Polak was stretchered off the ice with an injury.
Edwards has not addressed his comments about Maroon, and NESN is also yet to make a statement.
Börje Salming Dies at Age 71; NHL Legend Inducted into Hall of Fame in 1996
Nov 24, 2022
TORONTO, CANADA - NOVEMBER 12: Former Toronto Maple Leaf Borje Salming is honored during a pregame ceremony prior to the game between the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Scotiabank Arena on November 11, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Salming, joined with his wife Pia (L) and daughter Bianca (R), was diagnosed with ALS earlier this year. at the Scotiabank Arena on November 12, 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Hockey Hall of Famer and Toronto Maple Leafs legend Börje Salming has died at the age of 71.
Maple Leafs president and alternate governor Brendan Shanahan issued a statement about Salming:
Statement from Maple Leafs President and Alternate Governor Brendan Shanahan on the passing of Börje Salming: pic.twitter.com/zguKOyVLmM
"The Toronto Maple Leafs mourn the loss of Börje Salming. Börje was a pioneer of the game and an icon with an unbreakable spirit and unquestioned toughness. He helped open the door for Europeans in the NHL and defined himself through his play on the ice and through his contributions to the community.
"Börje joined the Maple Leafs 50 years ago and will forever be a part of our hockey family. We extend our deepest condolences to his wife, Pia, his children Theresa, Anders, Rasmus, Bianca, Lisa and Sara and brother Stieg."
Salming announced in August he had been diagnosed with ALS. He didn't specify when the diagnosis was made.
A 17-year NHL veteran, Salming spent the first 16 years of his career in Toronto. He went undrafted before signing with the Maple Leafs as a free agent in May 1973 and made his debut during the 1973-74 season.
Salming was named to All-Star squads in six consecutive seasons from 1974 to 1980. He finished in the top five of Norris Trophy voting in each of his first seven seasons, including two top-two finishes in 1976-77 and 1979-80.
The Detroit Red Wings signed Salming as a free agent after the 1988-89 season. He spent one season with them before retiring at the age of 39.
Salming is Toronto's all-time leader among defensemen in points (768), goals (148), assists (620) and ranks second in games played (1,099). He was the first Swedish player to be enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame when he was inducted in 1996.
Ah, American Thanksgiving. It's a standard time to assess where NHL team's are at--
Bruins to Hire Firm to Review Player Vetting Process After Mitchell Miller's Signing
Nov 15, 2022
MONTREAL, QC - MARCH 21: View of a Boston Bruins logo on a jersey worn by a member of the team at warm-up before the Boston Bruins versus the Montreal Canadiens game on March 21, 2022 at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Boston Bruins announced Tuesday that they have hired an independent firm to review the team's player-vetting process following the signing of Mitchell Miller.
The Bruins said in a statement:
"The Boston Bruins strive every day to live our values and meet the high standards our associates, fans and community have come to expect. This includes treating everyone inside and outside our organization with dignity and respect. We recently fell short of our high standards and disappointed both ourselves and many in our community. Moving forward, we are committed to ensuring that our values are reflected in everything we do as an organization, including our process for vetting future players.
"As part of this commitment, the Boston Bruins have retained an experienced and respected team of professionals, led by former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch of the law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, to conduct an independent review of our player-vetting process. This will help us ensure that our process going forward reflects our core values. The Bruins organization will fully cooperate with the independent review team and will publicly disclose the results of the review upon its completion."
The Bruins signed Miller to an entry-level contract earlier this month with the intention of assigning him to the team's American Hockey League affiliate Providence Bruins. The decision was met with immense criticism and backlash, and the organization announced a few days later that they had decided to part ways with him.
The Arizona Coyotes selected Miller in the 2020 NHL draft, but his draft rights were relinquished less than one month after he was picked following a story published by Craig Harris and José M. Romero of the Arizona Republic that revealed harrowing details of Miller's past.
In 2016, Miller was convicted in Ohio juvenile court of bullying and assaulting a Black, developmentally disabled classmate, Isaiah Meyer-Crothers.
The Arizona Republic story detailed how Miller would direct racial slurs toward Meyer-Crothers and physically assault him while the two were in middle school. Miller also wiped a lollipop in a bathroom urinal and tricked Meyer-Crothers into eating it.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said the Bruins did not consult the league before signing Miller, who he said is "not eligible at this point to come into the NHL."
Bruins president Cam Neely said in a statement announcing the team would be parting with Miller:
"The decision to sign this young man was made after careful consideration of the facts as we were aware of them: that at 14 years old he made a poor decision that led to a juvenile conviction. We understood this to be an isolated incident and that he had taken meaningful action to reform and was committed to ongoing personal development. Based on that understanding we offered him a contract.
"Based on new information, we believe it is the best decision at this time to rescind the opportunity for Mitchell Miller to represent the Boston Bruins. We hope that he continues to work with professionals and programs to further his education and personal growth."
Neely added that the Bruins would be "reevaluating" their "internal processes for vetting individuals who wish to earn the privilege of playing."
A number of Bruins players admitted before Miller's release that they did not agree with the signing of Miller, including team captain Patrice Bergeron and veteran forward Nick Foligno.
Bergeron said, per Nick Goss of NBC Sports Boston:
"I was asked by Don (Bruins GM Don Sweeney) close to a week ago for my opinion. I had my concerns. I shared my opinion. In a way, I was not necessarily agreeing with it. To be honest with you, the culture that we’ve built here goes against that type of behavior. We’re a team that’s built something about character, character people and individuals. What he did, obviously, is unacceptable and we don’t stand by that.
"For me, I know for myself, anyways, in this locker room, we’re all about inclusion, diversity, respect. Those are key words and core values that we have. We expect guys to wear this jersey to be high-character people with integrity and respect. That’s how they should be acting."
🎥 #NHLBruins captain Patrice Bergeron addresses the media ahead of tonight's game against the Maple Leafs in Toronto: pic.twitter.com/Jinxb0Y9U5
The Bruins have posted their best start in franchise history at 14-2-0. However, the signing of Miller cast a dark cloud over the organization, and the player still hasn't been officially released.
According to The Athletic's Fluto Shinzawa, the Bruins can't terminate Miller's contract "without facing a grievance that the NHLPA would be likely to pursue." Shinzawa noted a number of steps the organization could take to officially rid itself of Miller include buying out his contract at the end of the 2022-23 season or negotiating a settlement.
