When Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins slammed Willie Mitchell into the boards from behind January 16th 2010 at the Garage in Vancouver - the hit was questionable - who would have guessed that Mitchell's next game in the Canucks home rink would be opening night of the 2010-2011 season.
And that he'd be suiting up for the opposition Los Angeles Kings.
His concussion that night left him out for the remainder of the regular season and playoffs and he became an unrestricted free agent July 1. He's recently gotten the green light to work out again and while Vancouver was in the running the Kings offered him a two year deal at essentially the same money he made pre-concussion and Mitchell took it.
Mitchell Takes the Money and Runs to Los Angeles to Join Young Kings Team
Reports say he'll be getting $3.5 million per season to skate with the likes of Drew Doughty, Dustin Brown, Anze Kopitar and Wayne Simmonds. The talent of the young L..A. Kings is not lost on the veteran blueliner from Port McNeill up the end of Vancouver Island and he said he looks forward to the change.
"I got the feeling they felt I'd be a really good fit," the 33-year-old told the Vancouver Sun after the deal was announced Wednesday, August 25 2010. "And for me personally it was a chance to obviously be part of a young and up and coming team that has a lot of good things going."
Mitchell and Drew Doughty Would Make Great Defense Pairing for Kings
Kings assistant general manager Ron Hextall said that there is a strong chance that Mitchell will be the shut-down guy paired with blue chip youngster - and Team Canada gold medal winner - Doughty. "I do envision him being with Drew Doughty," Hextall said on the team's website.
"In the end it's the coach's decision, but that's kind of where we see him playing against the Getzlafs and the top centres and top lines on other teams. He is the perfect fit for our hockey club. We needed size on the back end, we needed a shutdown guy on the back end."
The Kings, who also added winger free agent Alexi Ponikarovsky this off-season, had not made the playoffs since 2002 until last season when they finished sixth in their conference with 101 points, only two behind the Canucks. The Canucks beat the Kings in six games in the first round of the playoffs.
Vancouver Canucks Likely Won't Miss Mitchell with Dan Hamhuis and Keith Ballard
The Canucks defense looked suspect in the playoffs last year without Willie Mitchell but that is not so likely to be the case this season. Vancouver added Dan Hamhuis and Keith Ballard this off-season, among others, and look poised to be stronger than last year's third place conference finish.
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