Willie Mitchell

William Mitchell (born April 23, 1977) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He is known primarily as a physical defensive defenceman. He has a sister named Chantal. while his mother is a Croatian-born immigrant who retired as a terminal service agent for B.C. Ferries. Mitchell's grandfather, Les Mitchell, played amateur senior hockey and once earned a tryout with the New York Rangers during the Original Six-era.

Mitchell was born and raised in Port McNeill, British Columbia, a small logging town on Vancouver Island.

Beginning in 1997–98, Mitchell began two seasons of college hockey with Clarkson University Golden Knights of the ECAC. In his freshman year, he recorded 26 points over 34 games, fourth among league defencemen, and was named co-Rookie of the Year with Clarkson teammate Erik Cole. He also earned ECAC All-Rookie and ECAC Second All-Star honours. Clarkson advanced to the ECAC Tournament Final against Princeton University, but lost 5–4 in double overtime. The following season, Mitchell led all Golden Knights defencemen in scoring with 29 points (10 goals and 19 assists) and a +13 rating in 34 games. He finished the season with a league player of the week recognition on March 1, 1999. As Clarkson met Princeton in the 1999 ECAC Semi-final, Mitchell scored the game winning goal with a slap shot from centre ice with three seconds remaining in regulation. Clarkson went on to defeat St. Lawrence University 3–2 in the final to capture the ECAC championship. The injury required three pins to set the finger in place. Although sidelined, the Devils signed him to a rookie contract in September 1999. After recovering, he was assigned to the River Rats. Mitchell received a call-up late in the season and made his NHL debut on March 27, 2000, in a 5–2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. but was a regular healthy scratch. After appearing in 11 games, he was returned to the AHL on November 22, 2000. He registered his first NHL point, an assist, during his initial stint. he was traded to the Minnesota Wild on March 4, 2001, in exchange for defenceman Sean O'Donnell.

Minnesota Wild and Dallas Stars (2001–06) Following the trade, Mitchell became a full-time NHLer, playing in 17 games with the Wild to finish the season. He completed his rookie NHL season with a goal and 10 assists over 33 games between the Devils and Wild. In his first full season with the Wild in 2001–02, he recorded three goals and 13 points in 68 games, while earning $550,000 from his initial rookie contract with the Devils. Mitchell ranked third on the team in average ice time with 21:25 minutes per game. The following season, he improved to a third-ranked plus-13 on the team after going –16 the previous season. He went on to help the club make a run in the 2003 playoffs to the semi-finals, leading the team with a +5 rating in 18 post-season games. After defeating the Avalanche and Vancouver Canucks in the first two rounds, the Wild were eliminated in four games by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the semi-finals.

In the off-season, he was re-signed to a one-year contract by the Wild on August 11, 2003. He recorded 14 points over 70 games in 2003–04, while leading the Wild with a +12 rating and ranking second in average ice time at 22:35 minutes per game. Minnesota failed to qualify for the playoffs.

On June 30, 2004, the Wild tendered Mitchell a qualifying offer, but he later filed for arbitration on July 7. However, due to the NHL lockout, Mitchell was inactive in 2004–05. With NHL play set to resume for 2005–06, he re-signed with the Wild to another one-year, $1 million In December 2005, he was named team captain as part of the Wild's monthly rotating captaincy (he was then succeeded by Brian Rolston in February 2006).

At the 2005–06 NHL trade deadline, Mitchell was traded away to the Dallas Stars as a rental player in exchange for defencemen Martin Škoula and Shawn Belle on March 9, 2006. Mitchell closed the season playing 16 games and one playoff round with Dallas before becoming an unrestricted free agent in the off-season. Canucks General Manager Dave Nonis had previously attempted to acquire him at the previous season's trade deadline before he was sent to Dallas. His acquisition as a free agent followed the signings of goaltender Roberto Luongo and head coach Alain Vigneault, which reflected an effort from Nonis to develop a defence-first system.

Early in the 2006–07 season, Mitchell suffered a concussion on October 23 and missed nine games. He helped the team to the second round of the 2007 playoffs, where they were defeated by the Anaheim Ducks in five games.

During his second season with Vancouver, he missed ten games with a fractured vertebra. The injury was sustained on December 31, 2007, in a loss to the Calgary Flames, while trying to dodge a check. However, Mitchell continued to play with the injury for nine games afterwards. He recorded two goals and 12 points, while leading the team with 108 blocked shots and 1,646:20 minutes in total ice time.

With the departure of long-time Canucks captain Markus Näslund to free agency in the 2008 off-season, Mitchell was considered a leading candidate for captaincy. The Canucks instead appointed team MVP Roberto Luongo as the first goaltender to be a captain since 1947–48 on September 30, 2008.

During the subsequent 2008–09 season, Mitchell recorded career-highs with three goals, 20 assists, 23 points and a team-best +29 rating, earning his second consecutive Babe Pratt Trophy. He added two assists and led all Canucks in average ice time at 24:12 minutes per game in the post-season. He helped the Canucks advance to the second round, where they were eliminated by the Chicago Blackhawks in six games.

Early on in the 2009–10 season, Mitchell delivered an open-ice hit that concussed Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews in the two teams' first game against each other since the 2009 playoffs. Mitchell had just exited the penalty box when he caught Toews with his head down receiving a pass in the neutral zone; the hit was deemed legal as Mitchell checked Toews with his shoulder. Toews was sidelined for six games as a result. Later on in the season, Mitchell suffered a concussion himself, receiving a hit from opposing forward Evgeni Malkin, causing his head to hit the end boards, during a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on January 16. He was sidelined for the remainder of the season with post-concussion syndrome, Not speaking to the media until after the Canucks were eliminated in the playoffs, he expressed criticism towards both Malkin for the hit resulting in his concussion and to NHL Senior Vice President Colin Campbell for not taking any disciplinary action. He denounced Campbell for being "inconsistent...hand[ing] down suspensions and fines on result [instead of the nature of a hit]," as Mitchell's injury was not immediately apparent following the game.

Mitchell's four-year deal with the Canucks expired on July 1, 2010, and he became an unrestricted free agent. Mitchell was still involved in negotiations with Vancouver to re-sign, but concerns over his head injury, as well as the new defensive acquisitions of Keith Ballard and Dan Hamhuis in the off-season factored against the possibility of remaining with the Canucks.

Los Angeles Kings (2010–2014)

On August 25, 2010, Mitchell signed a two-year deal worth $3.5 million per season with the Los Angeles Kings. He had interest from several other teams, including the Washington Capitals and San Jose Sharks. The Canucks were also offering a one-year contract between $1.8 and $2 million, but were not willing to match the Kings' deal. Nearly a month into the campaign, he notched his first goal as a King, scoring short handed against the Dallas Stars in a 5–2 victory on October 28, 2010. In November 2010, he sustained a wrist injury during a game against the Nashville Predators, On October 6, 2014, Mitchell was named the eighth captain in Florida Panthers history.

On February 3, 2015, Mitchell was placed on injury reserve for a little more than a month, until a game against the New York Islanders in March.

Mitchell missed the final 42 games of the 2015–16 NHL season largely over concern what another brain injury would mean to his long-term health.

International play Mitchell has made one international appearance for Canada in his career. After the Minnesota Wild failed to qualify for the 2004 playoffs, he was named to the national team for the 2004 World Championships in the Czech Republic. He was joined on the squad by Wild teammate Nick Schultz in the first group of players chosen by General Manager Jim Nill on April 5, 2004. Appearing in nine games, Mitchell helped Canada to a gold medal, defeating Sweden 5–3 in the final.

Playing style Mitchell plays in the style of a stay-at-home defenceman. While with the Vancouver Canucks, he established himself as their top shutdown defenceman, being matched up against opposing teams' best players and spending significant time on the penalty kill. He had usually formed a defensive pairing on the Canucks with the often offensive-minded Kevin Bieksa.

In order to defend effectively, Mitchell opts to use a longer-than-usual hockey stick. Prior to a game against the Calgary Flames on February 17, 2009, opposing head coach Mike Keenan accused Mitchell of playing with an illegal hockey stick. Mitchell responded by asserting he used the league maximum length at 63 inches.

Mitchell is also known for his leadership qualities, serving as an alternate captain on the Canucks. They reside in the Yaletown neighbourhood in downtown Vancouver, During the 2015–16 NHL season, Panthers rookie Aaron Ekblad lived with Mitchell and his wife.

Mitchell is an active philanthropist around the Port McNeill community. In 2004, he hosted the first Willie Mitchell Classic, a celebrity golf tournament to raise scholarship funds for high school students around his hometown. He has also regularly donated game-used equipment to fundraise for his former minor hockey team, the North Island Eagles.

In 2014, Mitchell was a VIP guest, sitting at the blue team's chef's table in Hell's Kitchen.

Mitchell and his wife Megan welcomed their first child, a son named Paxton, on May 4, 2017, and a second son named Hayden in December 2020.

On September 14, 2022, the Tofino Resort and Marina, co-owned by Mitchell, announced the cancellation of their Race for the Blue fishing tournament and temporary closure of the 1909 Kitchen and Bar as a result of allegations of inappropriate behavior by members of staff.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1993–94 Notre Dame Midget Hounds SMHL 31 4 11 15 81 — — — — — 1994–95 Kelowna Spartans BCHL 42 3 8 11 71 — — — — — 1995–96 Melfort Mustangs SJHL 19 2 6 8 0 14 0 2 2 12 1996–97 Melfort Mustangs SJHL 64 14 42 56 227 4 0 1 1 23 1997–98 Clarkson University ECAC 34 9 17 26 105 — — — — — 1998–99 Clarkson University ECAC 34 10 19 29 40 — — — — — 1998–99 Albany River Rats AHL 6 1 3 4 29 — — — — — 1999–00 Albany River Rats AHL 63 5 14 19 71 5 1 2 3 4 1999–00 New Jersey Devils NHL 2 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 2000–01 Albany River Rats AHL 41 3 13 16 94 — — — — — 2000–01 New Jersey Devils NHL 16 0 2 2 29 — — — — — 2000–01 Minnesota Wild NHL 17 1 7 8 11 — — — — — 2001–02 Minnesota Wild NHL 68 3 10 13 68 — — — — — 2002–03 Minnesota Wild NHL 69 2 12 14 84 18 1 3 4 14 2003–04 Minnesota Wild NHL 70 1 13 14 83 — — — — — 2005–06 Minnesota Wild NHL 64 2 6 8 87 — — — — — 2005–06 Dallas Stars NHL 16 0 2 2 26 5 0 0 0 2 2006–07 Vancouver Canucks NHL 62 1 10 11 45 12 0 1 1 12 2007–08 Vancouver Canucks NHL 72 2 10 12 81 — — — — — 2008–09 Vancouver Canucks NHL 82 3 20 23 59 10 0 2 2 22 2009–10 Vancouver Canucks NHL 48 4 8 12 48 — — — — — 2010–11 Los Angeles Kings NHL 57 5 5 10 21 6 1 1 2 4 2011–12 Los Angeles Kings NHL 76 5 19 24 44 20 1 2 3 16 2013–14 Los Angeles Kings NHL 76 1 11 12 58 18 1 3 4 20 2014–15 Florida Panthers NHL 66 3 5 8 25 — — — — — 2015–16 Florida Panthers NHL 46 1 6 7 18 — — — — — NHL totals 907 34 146 180 787 89 4 12 16 90

International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2004 Canada WC 9 0 0 0 0 Senior totals 9 0 0 0 0

Awards SJHL Award Year(s) Top Defenceman 1997 First All-Star Team 1997

College Award Year(s) All-ECAC Hockey Rookie Team 1997–98 All-ECAC Hockey Second Team 1997–98 ECAC Hockey All-Tournament Team 1998 ECAC Player of the Week March 1, 1999 AHCA East Second-Team All-American 1998–99 All-ECAC Hockey First Team 1998–99 ECAC Hockey All-Tournament Team 1999 ECAC Playoff MVP 1999 ECAC championship (Clarkson University) 1999

NHL Award Year(s) Stanley Cup champion 20122014

Vancouver Canucks Award Year(s) Babe Pratt Trophy (best defenceman) 2008 2009