Willie Mitchell

[king_malice 17]

Apparently Mitchell has narrowed it down to Sharks,Caps,Wings and Canucks.

"The Port McNeill, B.C., native has narrowed it down to four teams including the Canucks; the other teams are believed to be the Red Wings, Sharks and Capitals."

Stuart-Rafalski

Lidstrom-Kronwall

Ericcson-Mitchell

or

Kindl-Mitchell

yes please

[cjm502 165]

I would really hate to have Ericsson or Kindl be rotting away in the press box. We need to give those 2 a chance to work the bottom pairing, and if that doesn't work than Janik or Meech can step up although I wouldn't be that bothered if Mitchell signed.

[Guest Crymson]

Given Mitchell's potential for concussion woes, I'd be surprised if Holland signed him.

Vancouver and Washington don't have the space for him. I expect him to show up with the Hawks, given that they lost Blake and weren't able to nab Hjalmarsson from the Hawks.

[Bring Back The Bruise Bros 1,029]

John Erskine has to be on his way out of Washington, especially if Mitchell signs there. As much as I'd like to see Mitchell here, I doubt it. I think he signs in Washington and the Caps trade John Erskine. He'd be a nice 6th defenseman. Too bad his contract is ridiculous.

[stevkrause 1,247]

Given Mitchell's potential for concussion woes, I'd be surprised if Holland signed him.

Vancouver and Washington don't have the space for him. I expect him to show up with the Sharks, given that they lost Blake and weren't able to nab Hjalmarsson from the Hawks.

I see him ending up on SJ as well

Edited your typo for you by the way

[newfy 695]

Has Mitchell ever won a cup? Maybe he sees the wings get Mikey and says "If I go there its almost a guaranteed cup" and decides to sign with us cheap.

Mitchell is a great defensive defenseman, he c an throw the body and has a bit of a mean streak. If the wings signed him I think we're the favourites this season

[Z and D for the C 712]

He made 3.5 million last season, I don't know why anyone would think he'll sign for less than 2m. He'd be great, but we can't afford him.

[stevkrause 1,247]

He made 3.5 million last season, I don't know why anyone would think he'll sign for less than 2m. He'd be great, but we can't afford him.

I would like him here on the cheap, but I agree... I don't see him taking that big of a discount, even with the injuries - with that said, if there was any way he could be had here at 1.5 or less, I'd be all for it and willing to move most of those depth players to make it happen...

(note - lines arbitrary) - This looks pretty damn good to me:

Henrik Zetterberg ($6.083m) / Pavel Datsyuk ($6.700m) / Tomas Holmstrom ($1.875m)

Jiri Hudler ($2.875m) / Valtteri Filppula ($3.000m) / Johan Franzen ($3.955m)

Todd Bertuzzi ($1.938m) / Mike Modano ($1.250m) / Daniel Cleary ($2.800m)

Justin Abdelkader ($0.850m) / Darren Helm ($0.800m) / Patrick Eaves ($0.750m)

Kris Draper ($1.583m) / Mattias Ritola ($0.517m)

Nicklas Lidstrom ($6.200m) / Niklas Kronwall ($3.000m)

Brad Stuart ($3.750m) / Brian Rafalski ($6.000m)

Jonathan Ericsson ($0.900m) / Willie Mitchell ($1.500m)

Jakub Kindl ($0.883m)

Jimmy Howard ($0.717m) / Chris Osgood ($1.417m)

ROSTER: 23; CAP:$59.4m; PAYROLL: $59.342m; CAP ROOM: $0.058m; BONUSES: $0.000m

Once again though - I don't see him being willing to take that big of a discount...

Edited August 3, 2010 by stevkrause

[Majsheppard 203]

YES PLEASE! Like a superior version of Lils, he is.

[Bring Back The Bruise Bros 1,029]

What did Shane Hnidy make last year? Personally, I'd take either, but Hnidy would be my first choice. The concussion issues concern me with Mitchell..

[Majsheppard 203]

Justin Abdelkader ($0.850m) / Darren Helm ($0.800m) / Patrick Eaves ($0.750m)

Kris Draper ($1.583m) / Mattias Ritola ($0.517m)

Nicklas Lidstrom ($6.200m) / Niklas Kronwall ($3.000m)

Brad Stuart ($3.750m) / Brian Rafalski ($6.000m)

Jonathan Ericsson ($0.900m) / Willie Mitchell ($1.500m)

Jakub Kindl ($0.883m)

Jimmy Howard ($0.717m) / Chris Osgood ($1.417m)

ROSTER: 23; CAP:$59.4m; PAYROLL: $59.342m; CAP ROOM: $0.058m; BONUSES: $0.000m

I would have to believe that someone in that mix would have to be placed onto waivers and moved to GR to make it work.

I also might suggest that Kindl might be the one getting the time over Ericsson. Just saying.

Once again though - I don't see him being willing to take that big of a discount...

EDIT: formatting.

Edited August 3, 2010 by Majsheppard

[stevkrause 1,247]

What did Shane Hnidy make last year? Personally, I'd take either, but Hnidy would be my first choice. The concussion issues concern me with Mitchell..

Hnidy would be a CHEAP option, less than 1 million and I'd be all for him too, but Hnidy would be a downgrade from Mitchell, even with the concussion issues, Hnidy has had some scary knee/leg injuries and a scary eye injury in his career as well... like I said, I'd take Mitchell only on the cheap (which is still highly unlikely) whereas, Hnidy is actually a VERY possible option...

[Guest mindfly]

Hnidy made 750k last season i believe so he's even more realistic he could get a small raise playing for detroit, too.

Edited August 3, 2010 by mindfly

[stevkrause 1,247]

your original post was formatted weird - so I'm replying to this part:

I would have to believe that someone in that mix would have to be placed onto waivers and moved to GR to make it work.

I also might suggest that Kindl might be the one getting the time over Ericsson. Just saying.

The only moves they would have to make to make that line-up work, would be moving Meech and Miller, either could be traded or waived/sent down and I'm pretty sure that is already somewhat in the plans regardless, just to keep a roster under 23...

Edited August 3, 2010 by stevkrause

[Bring Back The Bruise Bros 1,029]

Agreed. Even with his concussion problems, I still don't see him taking any less than 2 Mil. Hnidy is indeed a warrior. I think Kenny recognizes the need for some nastiness, its just a matter of who's available and what he can do under the cap. I don't see how San Jose is even being considered, they already have 7 defensemen:

Dan Boyle

Marc-Edouard Vlasic

Jason Demers

Niclas Wallin

Douglas Murray

Kent Huskins

Jay Leach

So if they are looking at Mitchell, either Huskins or Leach will be dealt.

[Majsheppard 203]

your original post was formatted weird - so I'm replying to this part:

The only moves they would have to make to make that line-up work, would be moving Meech and Miller, either could be traded or waived/sent down and I'm pretty sure that is already somewhat in the plans regardless, just to keep a roster under 23...

Dramatic pause sir. You were more interested right? haha.

No you are correct on that, but the speculation from the papers (freep.com) is that Ritola and Meech might be moved to get a vet defenseman.

[Buppy 1,720]

Agreed. Even with his concussion problems, I still don't see him taking any less than 2 Mil. Hnidy is indeed a warrior. I think Kenny recognizes the need for some nastiness, its just a matter of who's available and what he can do under the cap. I don't see how San Jose is even being considered, they already have 7 defensemen:

Dan Boyle

Marc-Edouard Vlasic

Jason Demers

Niclas Wallin

Douglas Murray

Kent Huskins

Jay Leach

So if they are looking at Mitchell, either Huskins or Leach will be dealt.

Leach is a borderline NHLer, Wallin, Murray, and Huskins are really 3rd-pair types, Demers looks decent but he's still basically a rookie. They need some help. That's why they went after Hjalmarsson. I wouldn't be too surprised if they try to upgrade Huskins and Leach. They don't have a ton of space, but they're a bit better off than we are.

[Majsheppard 203]

Oh and if you are talking lines, they feel like Bert will get the 2nd line over Hudler. Which is stupid. I also don't feel like he would be great on the third line. I suppose that would be the only place you put him, though I would rather Cleary, Abs, and Modano be together... On the forth line he would be the slow guy dragging down the speedy Eaves and Helm.

I assume they will eventually put him in the top two lines at the expense of Homer most likely, and then Homer would make up the time by always being on the top PP line. Or better would be to team Modano, Cleary, and Bert so they can both use their defensive prowess to make up Bert's turnovers and translate their power skills into goals.

Anyways about it the team looks better than it was, and while I feel Kindl should play... I feel having someone like Mitchell would do us the most good. A PK specialist that clogs lanes better than 95% of defensemen in the league and will block shots. He would also be a great role model for how Ericsson should play the game. Imagine his size if he learned how to use that stick to take away passes through the lanes and block shots? Feel like developing him more in that phsyical sacrifical way would be more benifit than trying to make him a finesse player. His turnovers would bad. I feel like Kindl is our future number three guy, so I would rather he play then sit on the bench though. Ericsson most likely will never play off the third paring. Mitchell could help us adjust the duo into a workable third line next year.

[Travis 576]

The idea of Willie Mitchell joining the Wings is a positive one to me, but something tells me that the reality of it would leave me disappointed.

[Broken 16 381]

I'd rather see Janik get his shot. He earned it last season. He's an unsung hero from last season. He came in, made very few mistakes and helped the Wings tremendously last season. If I were Holland, I would dress Janik as my sixth and see what he can do with a starting position. Save the money for the deadline.

[stevkrause 1,247]

Dramatic pause sir. You were more interested right? haha.

No you are correct on that, but the speculation from the papers (freep.com) is that Ritola and Meech might be moved to get a vet defenseman.

I'm not crazy about giving up on Ritola yet, but I'd be ok with that too, as long as what was coming back filled the need of a physical, stay at home guy (like Mark Stuart in Boston)

[newfy 695]

I'd rather see Janik get his shot. He earned it last season. He's an unsung hero from last season. He came in, made very few mistakes and helped the Wings tremendously last season. If I were Holland, I would dress Janik as my sixth and see what he can do with a starting position. Save the money for the deadline.

I love the style of game Janik plays and would love him to get his shot on this team. He hits, fights and seemed very solid in his call up. But giving a guy like him a chance instead of signing Mitchell would be dumb. Mitchell is a top 4 defenseman, who hits (he doesn;t really fight but oh well). Mitchell would be the exact person to solidify that bottom pairing and is good enough to cover for Ericcson.

I like the idea of Hnidy as well. He's a solid fighter that plays nasty and has been around the block. He knows how to play the game and would toughen this team up at the same time

[Broken 16 381]

I love the style of game Janik plays and would love him to get his shot on this team. He hits, fights and seemed very solid in his call up. But giving a guy like him a chance instead of signing Mitchell would be dumb. Mitchell is a top 4 defenseman, who hits (he doesn;t really fight but oh well). Mitchell would be the exact person to solidify that bottom pairing and is good enough to cover for Ericcson.

I like the idea of Hnidy as well. He's a solid fighter that plays nasty and has been around the block. He knows how to play the game and would toughen this team up at the same time

I started a thread on this subject, but I guess it just boils down to me wanting more picks and having a little more freedom at the trade deadline just in case.

[Z Winged Dangler 2,082]

I started a thread on this subject, but I guess it just boils down to me wanting more picks and having a little more freedom at the trade deadline just in case.

i always liked mitchell, but with his recent injury stints, i'd go with you on this one and play the picks. less of a gamble if it doesn't pan out.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

I'd love to see Willie here. He's got snarl and if you f*** around with him your dead.