Preface to It Takes Time
Sometimes it just takes time. I’ll never forget the first time I saw Miles Mueller play. Suffice to say, I wasn’t that impressed. There was definitely talent there, but I thought he was lacking jam and intensity to his game. His skating was average at best. I’ve been wrong about players before and I’ll be wrong about players in the future, that’s the scouting game. As one NHL Pro Scout said, “You carry your mistakes with you, so you can learn from them.”
Projections aren’t perfect. Comparisons aren’t full proof, but we always rely on our instincts, my initial instincts were wrong on Miles Mueller.
Sometimes it just takes time for scouts to realize they were wrong, or their projections weren’t fully accurate, especially when it comes to limited viewings.
Sometimes it just takes time, all Miles Mueller needed was time to prove he belonged at the QMJHL level and beyond.
It Takes Time
Miles Mueller is preparing to play in his second IIHF World Junior Championship for Team Switzerland.
That’s a far cry from lacing them up in the always frigid but uniquely cozy confines of the Dr. C.H. Bonnycastle Memorial Arena on the Rothesay Netherwood School campus. Mueller honed his skills under the watchful eye of Director of Hockey Operations and Head Coach at RNS Jeff Lewis. RNS has an outstanding track record for producing great student athletes. Academics and athletics play an integral role in shaping the lives of many hockey players. Resiliency, drive and determination in the classroom undoubtedly translates to the ice. Mueller’s work ethic was the stuff of legend during his time at RNS.
“It’s always great to see guys like Miles get rewarded for their hard work and relentless pursuit of their goals,” said Lewis who also scouts for the Moncton Wildcats.
“While at RNS, Miles was always one of the most prepared, most fit, and hardest working guys we had. He was a very low maintenance player and always wanted to be coached and get better,” added Lewis.
Mueller did have some deficiencies to his overall game that needed some refinement, but Lewis knew the player and person before he landed at school and in a Wildcats jersey. “I watched Miles at the Andrews Hockey showcase in PEI in the summer of 2018 and 2019. He was committed to RNS for the 20-21 season. I had mentioned him to the Cats and they took a look at him and selected him in the 10th round in the 2020 draft.”
Sometimes all a late round pick needs is time. You could say the Wildcats hit a homerun with Mueller, who will be suiting up in his 153rd regular season QMJHL game when he returns from the World Juniors. Lewis was front and center for his growth, development and his subsequent journey to the QMJHL.
“Miles’ skating has come a long way since he first moved to Canada, but that is due to his work ethic and focus on improving it,” stressed Lewis.
“You could see his development trajectory was heading in right direction right from the start of his time here,” said Lewis.
Photo Credit Daniel St Louis
“He has a good skill set, but his compete level and hockey intelligence is probably what allowed him to take advantage of any opportunities when they were presented. Miles is a selfless player and prides himself on making the ‘right play’ or ‘hockey play’, that allowed him to play in different situations and earned his coaches trust during his time here and in Moncton.”
Perhaps the next thing Lewis said sums up Mueller best. “He’s a fantastic person, Miles always has a smile on his face and truly loves the process.”
It’s difficult for scouts to see the intangibles a player possesses from afar. Those intangibles make all the difference in the trajectory and progression of the player.
Mueller’s growth and development has been nothing short of remarkable due in large part to his character and unrelenting passion for the process and the game. In his first three seasons, Mueller has morphed from a bottom six energy forward to a top six scoring winger that plays the weakside on the second unit power play and a penalty killing specialist. “Miles’ work ethic and self-discipline are admirable. He showed exemplary self-discipline during summer training, which he completed with a private strength coach,” said Mathais Mueller, Miles’ father, who’s a Colonel in the infantry.
Mueller is quick to point out that his son got his discipline from his mother, who became the European Masters Weightlifting Champion in 2022. The value of hard work, sacrifice and determination was engrained in Miles Mueller DNA from a very young age.
“Miles was somewhat unlucky in that he was born at the end of the year and is also a late developer physically. He was therefore unable to fully utilize his abilities for a long time, as he simply lacked the strength,” said Mathias Mueller.
Mueller was highly sought after with a report indicating that up to six National League Hockey clubs made the now 19-year-old forward offers.
Photo Credit Daniel St Louis
“It was also a huge step for him make Team Switzerland at last year’s U20 World Championship as an underager and youngest player on the team.”
Mueller had an impressive showing and used that experience to continue to build on his skill set. Perseverance and persistence continues to drive Mueller’s journey in the game. “It was excellent for him to work his way up from the fourth line in Moncton, persistently working his way forward step by step, centimeter by centimeter,” said his father.
“He took every setback as an opportunity to improve. Adversity has made him better, and as Miles said in an interview a few years ago; I only get better when I play with even better players.”
“We are very proud of Miles.”
It took time for Miles Mueller to develop into the player and person he has become, but in hockey terms his progression and growth has happened at warp speed. From 6 goals in 65 games in his rookie season to 11 in 51 games last year, to 14 in 30 games this year and given his style of play and countless roles he has taken on during his tenure with the Cats this is truly outstanding.
There’s no question, Miles Mueller has flown under the radar, he diligently worked and clawed for every opportunity he has ever earned and has taken full advantage of every single one of them, which made last week’s announcement that much more special. From modest beginnings in the game in Biel-Bienne, Switzerland, to a small prep school in New Brunswick, to the QMJHL, to the International stage and now to the professional ranks of the game.
On December 14, Miles Mueller signed a three-year contract with the National League’s Ambri Piotta Hockey Club. The signing announcement might have caught some people off guard given his breakout season with the Wildcats and the prospect of him suiting up for his last ride in the QMJHL. There’s no question Mueller’s absent will leave a massive hole in the lineup for the Wildcats especially given his chemistry with Preston Lounsbury and Vincent Collard.
Photo Credit Daniel St Louis
Sometimes it just takes time, time to prove you belong, time to prove people right and prove people wrong. It’s time for Miles Mueller to prove himself at the pro level and that won’t take very much time at all.
FDS Sports Blog 
Very well said and extremely accurate. I truly believed that Miles would be who he is today. From the day I met him, I truly believed his passion for the game would elevate him to where he is today. Great analysis Craig.
LikeLike