Ad blocker detected: Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors. Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker on our website.
Playing against the other teams most dangerous players!
Since your comments I have been watching Mitchell with an extra degree of attention and all I see is a guy who is incredibly soild in his fundamentals and who recognizes his outlets (and limitations).
Great team guy and a great defensive defenseman. Incredible stickwork and solid body positioning.
A now a +1 to boot.
"We Will Rise Again"
- Fan's sign from the final game of the 05/06 season
Mitchell is unquestionably a solid role player for the Canucks. I think he has played well every game I have seen. He has been a stand out player in most games I have watched. Not one to disappear for a game or two like many. I like his aggressiveness at playing D.
I think one of his biggest contributions has been tutoring BXA. Man, that kid had an awesome game last night. It's pretty rare that you are able to put a guy that played most of the year in the AHL last season against the other teams' best lines...
I like to compare Willie on D to Luongo in goal, not in how spectacular he is, but how much confidence he gives the guys he plays with. Everyone knows "If I make this extra rush or chase deep, I've got Mitchell back there..."
I agree fully. Like so many defensive specialists, under-appreciated by many fans, but greatly appreciated by fellow players and coaches. Good point about the tutoring of BXA. It took me many years to appreciate players like Mitchell, like most I enjoy scoring/ offense more, but man he is great to watch if you can appreciate good solid D.
Looking at the Canucks since xmas, I'd say we've far more "Bang" for the buck, with 3 defensive pairs each bringing something to the table. I'd say with Luongo and AV's systems, we're by far the best defensive team in the league.
Mitchel has been a cornerstone, and I'm glad to see Willie's Numbers have improved to better reflect what he's contributed.
Mitchell is not only worth the money, he was probably a bit of a bargain compared to what most UFA defensemen were going for. He was also exactly the type of defenseman this team needed.
If the NHL were on the ball...they would invent a stat to show how valuable Mitchell is like a Time On Ice / Goals Against or Time On Ice / Against #1 Line..... Or like the NFL does with its quaterback rating system. I'm no mathaholic (Obvious) but if Americans were in love with hockey there would be tons more interesting & valuable stats....like Mitchell's rating against left shooting centermen on Saturday nights.... I love stats !!
A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject.
-- Winston Churchill
