In praise of Willie Mitchell
(That's right, turtle you little bitch!)
Beantown Canuck had mentioned some stats about Willie Mitchell that I just wanted to share with you, as defensive defencemen don't always get the proper recognition.
BC-boy Mitchell has not missed a game all season.
He is a +31, which is 6th best in the NHL and 2nd best amongst defencemen. Only Boston's d-man Dennis Wideman has more (+32). Willie could actually surpass Wideman yet.
In the 76 games Mitchell has played this season he has only been a minus in a game 17 times. In the lousy month of January, big Willie was a minus player in 3 games out of 12. That's it.
His 3 goals and 22 points are easily a career high.
Mitchell averages about 25:00 played per game and is reliable enough that Alain Vigneault can put him up against any team's top line.
Who could forget the extended stick he used in practice to Mike Keenan?
Mitchell has 1 more year left on his contract. He is making $3.5 million and is worth every penny. No, he won't put up the points, which is what most people look at in the stats categories, but Mitchell (most of the time) quietly plays his uber-effective style of defence and is a goalie's best friend. I believe he is our unsung hero.
I have heard Wild fans on more than one occasion say that he is really missed in Minnesota. And that, along with the stats above are a testament to how great Mitchell really is and has become.
WILLIE TUBE
-Mitchell fights Iginla March 2007
-Mitchell fights Iginla in October 2008
-Mitchell saves the day in the playoffs against Dallas.
-Wanna see guts personified? Mitchell blocks a shot with his face and his leg on one shift.
0 recs |
14 comments
|
Comments
That image is friggin awesome, and so is Willie.
by Birrell on Apr 1, 2009 6:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nice! I saw that a few days ago. That image says it all doesn’t it?
by Sean Zandberg on Apr 1, 2009 5:42 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
That pic in the post is just plain beastage.
Yes I just made up that word, it seemed appropriate.
by Linix129 on Apr 1, 2009 8:08 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Is that his name now? We have to start writing these names down eventually…
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Apr 2, 2009 5:33 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
It’s definitely my favorite Mitchell moment!
by Sean Zandberg on Apr 1, 2009 8:30 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’d love it if it was Iginla. But I’ll take Phaneuf.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Apr 2, 2009 5:33 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
See the brown hands? It’s Iginla
by Sean Zandberg on Apr 2, 2009 9:25 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ah you’re right. It’s Iggy getting pummelled big Willie style
by Molson78 on Apr 2, 2009 2:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

by 























