NHL insider calls out the real man behind the Mitchell Miller signing.

The Boston Bruins really kicked a hornet's nest when they made the highly controversial decision to sign defenseman Mitchell Miller earlier this week, a decision that has since earned them seemingly nothing but negative publicity.

Many have been quick to point the finger at the members of the Boston Bruins front office over this decision, with team president Cam Neely and Bruins general manager Don Sweeney seemingly getting the brunt of the blame from fans and on social media. The reality though is that we have no real idea who made the final call on a decision of this magnitude, however one National Hockey League insider has already made up his mind about just who that man is.

In his most recent column for the New York Post, NHL insider Larry Brooks revealed his belief that this decision came right down from ownership. Brooks scorched the Bruins for a move he called "embarrassing" but spared both Neely and Sweeney from his wrath, pointing the finger instead at the ownership behind the Boston Bruins.

From Brooks:

But if you think the ultimate decision was made by general manager Don Sweeney or by Boston folk hero and team president Cam Neely, you are hopelessly naive. Surely the ultimate risk/reward verdict was rendered by whichever “Mr. Jacobs” — Jeremy or Charlie — is currently in charge of these ownership things.

Regardless of who had the final say, although Brooks' assessment here certainly seems reasonable, it is clear that the Bruins determined the short term hit in terms of public relations was worth the addition of Miller's talent to their roster. Jeremy Jacobs isn't exactly a beloved sports owner to begin with, so perhaps that made the decision to take a hit in terms of some negative publicity that much easier to make.