Willie Mitchell Not Re-signing with Kings: "No Room"

Jun 26, 2014 • 3:22 pm

We all kind of had to expect it to happen, but today it became official. The writing was on the wall for Willie Mitchell and the Kings just can't afford to keep him on board.

Can confirm that Kings won't be re-signing Willie Mitchell: "Unfortunately, no room." Was a huge part of that team.
— Craig Custance (@CraigCustance) June 26, 2014

That's right, No. 33, who was a huge part to two King cup runs and was always a media and fan friendly fellow, will be moving on from his days in black and silver.

After two major pieces were locked up in the last 48 hours, the Kings felt the cap squeeze when it came to the 37-year old Mitchell. Apparently though he still feels he has some life left in his skating legs.

Willie Mitchell wants to play 2 more years, and he's earned the right to more $ than Kings can afford in that span.
— Rich Hammond (@Rich_Hammond) June 26, 2014

Mitchell, who suited up 209 regular season games and 44 playoff games for the LA Kings, was making $3.5MM a season in his latest contract with the Kings. With the success he has had with the team and the pretty consistent play he has provided I doubt he would have taken any less than $3MM a year. This is of course speculation. Especially when you factor in that Mitchell clearly wants to play another two years.

It just didn't make sense for the Kings who have 10 combined restricted and unrestricted free agents coming up after next season. It has been talked about ad nauseam by now, but that includes several young players ala Toffoli, Pearson, and Muzzin who will be in line for significant raises.

In the short term outlook the Kings also have Brayden McNabb who seems poised and ready to step into the NHL yet again and is also losing his waiver exemption status at the start of the 2014-15 season. If the Kings do not allow a roster spot to be available to the 23-year old McNabb at the start of the year (or if he doesn't earn it in camp) he would have to clear waivers in order to be assigned. After dealing both Deslauriers and Fasching to the Sabres to get the big 6'4 defenseman I doubt Lombardi wants to lose him to a waiver claim.

Back to Mitchell, you have to tip your hat to the grizzled vet. He was given a second chance in LA after spending several seasons dealing with injuries and inconsistencies. He's had a long and successful career which spanned two seasons with the Devils, five with the Wild, a short rental with Dallas, four with the Canucks, and finally three with the Los Angeles Kings. The latter is where Mitchell found his first hardware, but it was with his hometown Vancouver Canucks in the mid to late-00's where Mitchell really turned a lot of heads with his cool and collected brand of defensive hockey. Drafted in the 8th round of 1996 NHL Entry draft, Mitchell barely saw the NHL until he was already 25. The man has definitely made the best out of his twilight years that's for sure. You could argue he had lost a step this year as compared to years prior, but he is still a capable NHL defenseman even at the age of 37.

Good for him as well for wanting to continue to play for another few years. Unfortunately, it's business, and the Kings cannot factor him in. Would he be a better option than Regehr? Or Greene? That's a debate well worth having I'd say. However it is what it is, and I'd say Mitchell deserves a round of applause for services rendered.

Think Vancouver is interested in getting him back to finish out his career? That would seem rather poetic wouldn't it? Or what about Minnesota?

ICYMI: #mnwild reaches out to several pending free agents, including Matt Niskanen, Thomas Vanek and Willie Mitchell http://t.co/Vo7iDb57ld
— Michael Russo (@Russostrib) June 26, 2014

Maybe retirement isn't out of the question either if no one bites in the free agent market?

Whatever happens, LA fans can remember Mitchell as a wily veteran who threw some big hits, played some fine defense, and was part of two solid championship runs.

Oh, he also did some pretty cool things with his cup day that's for sure...