A sad day for me. I was clinging to a faint hope that the Canucks and Willie Mitchell could get something done but in the end it was not enough cap space for Mike Gillis, apparently not worth the risk, and the Los Angeles Kings won the bidding war and decided to take the gamble. Mitchell didn't just play stellar defensive hockey. He was also a huge physical presence who played a considerable amount of minutes. He was a leader on the Canucks team. He was active in the community. He is going to be a huge addition for Los Angeles if he truly is over the post concussion symptoms.
Four memorable years of having Willie Mitchell in our lineup. I'll sport my Mitchell home jersey with pride and remain a big fan of his. Without further to do...a video montage... a funeral of sorts...damn it.
WILLIE'S LONG STICK IN MOCKERY OF MIKE KEENAN
MITCHELL, RAYMOND AND O'BRIEN GET INTO IT AT PRACTICE
Not the first time Willie got into it with a teammate in practice, right Kesler?
MITCHELL KILLS TOEWS
MITCHELL VISITS CANUCKS PLACE
WILLIE SAVES THE DAY: GAME 4 VS STARS. Lou is going to miss this guy.
GUTS, MAN. GUTS
MITCHELL VS IGINLA. (Nice shot by Iggy at the end)
Not the first time they danced.
WILLIE'S FINAL GOAL AS A CANUCK
MITCHELL TALKS ABOUT LINDEN'S LEADERSHIP
SWEET BACKHANDER BY WILLIE IN PHILLY
THE MITCHELL-LUONGO POINT RACE
MITCHELL INC
Good luck in Los Angeles, Mitchell. Thank you for everything.