by Monte StewartFiled under: Canucks, Kings, NHL Free Agency, NHL Injuries
While many other NHLers were relaxing in June, Willie Mitchell was completing "bag" skates in the morning and working out with a personal trainer in the afternoon.
His due diligence after suffering a severe concussion on January 16 in Pittsburgh was finally rewarded Wednesday as he signed a two-year contract with the Los Angeles Kings for a reported $3.5 million per season.
"I went down to L.A. and I really felt that they believed in me as a player," said Mitchell during a conference call. "That's where you want to be as a player -- somewhere that you believe they believe in you. I got the feeling that they thought it would be a really good fit. And for me personally, it was a chance to be with a young and up and coming team that has a lot of great things going."
He did not get the same respect from the Vancouver Canucks -- before or after he was crushed into the boards by Penguins star Evgeni Malkin. But after four seasons in a Vancouver uniform, Mitchell called his situation "unique" and chalked up his departure to "moving parts ... in all directions."
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