Willie Mitchell Coming to D.C.... For a Physical
by marks4java on Aug 16, 2010 11:09 PM EDT
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Sportsnet.ca is reporting that Willie Mitchell is on his way to D.C. within the next few days to workout and demonstrate his health to one of the few teams seeming to be an option for the Vancouver defenseman.
Sources tell Sportsnet that after working out with the Los Angeles Kings last week, Mitchell has apparently showcased his health to the San Jose Sharks and his club for the last four seasons, the Vancouver Canucks.
Mitchell is trying to make a comeback after suffering a season-ending concussion last January.
The workouts have reportedly gone well, and now the 33-year-old is expected to visit the Washington Capitals.
If this FanPost is written by someone other than one of the blog's editors, the opinions expressed in it do not necessarily reflect those of this blog or SB Nation.
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I’ll be the obvious one here and say perhaps this is the trade target.
Flash + Erksine for Mitchel would be awesome. #DreamyEyed
Bruce Boudreau when asked about Brooks Laich's return to the lineup, he said: "He just adds another dimension to our team. If it was puzzle, he just fits that thing. He completes us."
Brooks Laich completing everything from teams to tires and everything in between.
I feel like GMGM may be waiting for Mitchell’s decision, so he can proceed with the “other move” that’s pending before announcing Belanger. Will be interesting if nothing else.
This seems likely to me, but it does seem kind of shitty to ask Belanger to wait that long. If that’s the case, there’s no way Belanger’s deal would be contingent on anything (like making a trade) – he could find another taker for a cheap one year deal, I’m sure. It would have to mean Belanger and GMGM just have an agreement not to announce the deal for trade purposes (though at this point, what’s the point – everyone knows).
I think at this point, Belanger’s just happy to land with a good team for a higher salary than he got last year. The market for the mid-tier free agents (goons notwithstanding) is very, very soft.
'Cause the end of what it was is what it is right now...
How did they come up with that extra 10k?
Caps: We’ll offer you 1 year at the same rate.
EB’s Agent: Can’t do it, we need a bump.
Caps: Here’s 10k, before taxes and agent fees.
EB’s Agent: DONE!
Choking since 1985.
It was…and I meant that.
Although it would have been really funny if it was 10k.
Choking since 1985.
Maybe there’s a signing bonus involved.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
I guess it’s just odd that he needed that half percent raise. It would be like someone making 100k and telling their boss that they would like an extra five-hundo.
But then again, 100k is probably a pretty nice car, after taxes and agents…
Choking since 1985.
or new teeth
It's The Wait for Red October. Except rather than Sean Connery, Alex Baldwin, and Sam Neill, it's George McPhee, Bruce Boudreau, and Alex Ovechkin.
Not Tom Clancy, but Gary Bettman. Not the Soviet Kremlin, but. . .well. . . .yeah, the Soviet Kremlin
by kingzman264 on Aug 17, 2010 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions
On some level, the guy is going to have a higher cost of living in Arlington (or wherever he settles around here) compared to living in St. Paul, MN (where his family was living last season). I presume he’ll move the family here once he has his deal inked for this season.
I am a hockey fan first, and a Caps fan second.
by iwearstripes on Aug 17, 2010 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions
As long as the Caps come through with the agreement they have, then it should not be an issue. I don’t think there’s any worry on either side. After all, Belanger doesn’t get any of the $$ (Unless there’s a bonus) until October anyway…)
Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy
by MikeL-Pivonka on Aug 17, 2010 9:33 AM EDT up reply actions
If Mitchell is healthy, he’s the absolute perfect fit for the D. Basically like a Knuble for the blueline. I hope GMGM is willing to do what it takes to get the deal done if he likes what he sees health-wise, even to the point of a (short-term) overpayment.
Wow…its been eye opening to see the love Big Stick Willie engenders elsewhere.
Out here in beautiful BC, we are hoping he wants to stay at home…
But you can trade for Bieksa!!!
So we would get these guys and Bieksa?
Atta dinnin stick a who!
by Gould Old Days on Aug 17, 2010 9:13 AM EDT up reply actions
Or These Guys....
Washington Capitals 2009-10 = Quebec Nordiques 1994-95
--- D'ohboy
by MikeL-Pivonka on Aug 17, 2010 9:35 AM EDT up reply actions
Not sure if this is serious...
But I wouldn’t trade Alzner for Bieksa straight up. And I don’t know much about Hansen but I can’t imagine he’s a big enough upgrade on Flash to justify giving up Alzner.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Aug 17, 2010 9:30 AM EDT up reply actions
Seems like Hansen is a pretty big downgrade from Flash. 47 games, 9-6-15, 5 last season. In ’08’09, 55 games, 6-15-21, +5.
Never underrate the power of the hissy-cow.
Yeah, I saw the scoring stats, but I’m not too worried about a drop off in scoring if he brings other things to the table. I have no idea what his development curve or ice time is like or what else he brings beyond scoring, so I gave him the benefit of the doubt.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Aug 17, 2010 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Except Alzner is better than Bieksa, and Flash is better than Hansen.
Never underrate the power of the hissy-cow.
I believe Mr. Dan was having a bit of fun.
You perhaps knew me better as "Your Nation's Capital." Same great commentary, now with 100% more transparency!
Ding ding din…Emily is wise.
Alzner is NOT better than Bieksa though…he is a highly touted prospect at this point. To say he is better than a guy that averaged almost 40 points since getting a regular NHL shift…it makes no sense.
He has the potential to be better…and probably will, but he sure isn’t right now, or he would have been playing a regular shift on the defense last year.
Hansen does do things not reflected in the score sheet…he is s hard working young player that will probably break out this year.
Damn…OK..Brooks Laich for Bieksa straight up…
;-)
I’d agree that right now Alzner isn’t better. But there is a good chance that by the playoffs he is better, and more importantly a better fit for the Caps than Bieksa. Then you take contract status into consideration and there is no way I would trade Alzner for Bieksa.
Release the Mackan!
by Killer_Carlson on Aug 17, 2010 2:33 PM EDT up reply actions
I knew that actually, which is why I threw out the jokes at the top – right before his “offer”.
vancitydan, I would have to disagree about Bieksa and Alzner. Alzner has shown that he can be a solid dman, although getting a decent defensive partner will help a lot. Other than Carlson, he might be the most well-rounded Caps dman.
Never underrate the power of the hissy-cow.
To be fair, I’m rating Alzner based on what he has shown he can do, even though he doesn’t have much of a resume. I think this season will be when he shows that more fully.
Never underrate the power of the hissy-cow.
That is the big question, isn’t it timmy?
The potential versus the reality. That potential is pretty enticing.
I just want him because he is a good Western Canadian kid!!!
Alzner did quite well last year, when he was given a chance. He just hasn’t had as much time to prove himself as Bieksa. Still, if Bieksa was better than Alzner, I don’t think Vancouver would be shopping him. I wouldn’t mind having Bieksa though – he’s better than Erskine.
So….. how about that Flash and Erskine for Bieksa trade?
Never underrate the power of the hissy-cow.
XSensing a pattern here timmy…the guyds you don’t like are on the block?
Juice is generating enough interest around the league that we should get something good. We hope anyhow.
The thing with Bieksa is, he is much like Jovanovski that we had before. he signed for too much money too. Don’t discount a guy like Bieksa in a contract year with a desire to prove the critics wrong.
He has the talent to do it. two unlucky injuries that he had to come back from, and an occasional lapse ( high risk remember? Those players that win the game sometimes lose it too. He cost one game in the playoffs, and later in the series 2 goals and an assist in a great bounce back. )
I still like him, but our defense is too deep for a guy of his cost and skills to be a 3rd pairing. He can be a Top 4 on a lot of teams, and maybe a Top 2 on a couple.
If we lose out on Willie, who knows? Maybe he stays.
Erskine is currently 6D, and will be pushed down to 7D if another dman comes. Flash’s situation is a bit more complicated, with the whole “No 2C” issue going. It really comes down to Flash and Erskine both being expendable, and Flash having trade value. Other than needing one dman and needing a better option for 2C, the Caps are pretty much set.
I don’t know if Flash is actually on the trading block, because GMGM and BB seem to like him a lot more than most of the fans.
Never underrate the power of the hissy-cow.
We need people round the clock at kettler to monitor this situation.
I have a twitter.
"Victory is sweetest when you've known defeat"
I’m 100% healthy now, but.. I’m not sure I’m beat writer material! I barely know my way around the mall. Is there a place in there to get root beer floats?
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More appropriate as a FanShot…
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Mitchell would be a hugeee steal if we could sign him with a peformance bonus-laden contract AND he turns out to be healthy. If he isnt, we haven’t traded away any assets and we aren’t down that much money for the cap
It's The Wait for Red October. Except rather than Sean Connery, Alex Baldwin, and Sam Neill, it's George McPhee, Bruce Boudreau, and Alex Ovechkin.
Not Tom Clancy, but Gary Bettman. Not the Soviet Kremlin, but. . .well. . . .yeah, the Soviet Kremlin
I dunno, I just have a sneaking hunch in my heart of hearts that, as much as we’d like to have Mitchell….we’re just not going to be that lucky.
Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.
I think he’s using us as leverage. Not that it doesn’t happen in all sports, all the time.
Choking since 1985.
Oh, probably. If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the past two offseasons, it’s that the fans will seldom get the person they want.
Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.
And of course, sometimes getting “lucky” is prying away Nylander from the Oilers at the last second. :-)
So I try not to get too high or too low on these matters.
Choking since 1985.
by macvechkin on Aug 17, 2010 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
All else being equal, it depends on geography and where he wants to be. No team can offer him a better chance at a Cup than the Caps, IMO (I’m sure VAN and SJ fans might disagree), and the Caps can offer him more money if they are so inclined.
I’m optimistic. After Knuble’s signing, I think GMGM knows what he needs, and Mitchell is it. I think he’ll do what he needs to do to sign him, assuming the health concerns are dealt with.
However, there could be some benefit to sitting on that cap space an banking it. Some very attractive UFAs could be in play come February/March. B. Richards for sure. And has anyone considered that Chara’s days with the Bruins might be over after this season? Maybe not likely, but possible. And yeah, he has a NTC (whatevs).
Choking since 1985.
I have a hard time believing that the Bruins would let Chara go so easily. 6’8" defensemen don’t grow on trees. :)
Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.
Neither does salary cap space, which they seem to be perpetually short on….
Because now I can justify browsing and commenting during the work day with the argument that I am promoting my business.
by Sombrero Guy on Aug 17, 2010 10:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Well, neither of those teams have had any more luck in the playoffs than we have, really. I guess we’ll find out, Signing Mitchell won’t block Carlznerson and might just give Alzner a veteran to learn the art of shutdown defense from. I’d certainly like to see it with the caveat that macvechkin outlined, which is sometimes you think you’re getting the goods and you’re….not.
Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.
I have a question that maybe I could look up myself — did Mitchell ever play for Montreal? Because I had 106.7 on in the car and the news came on, and they described him as “former Habs defenseman”. I yelled “Canuck” at the radio, really loudly.
"It's always good to have vikings."
Proud member of the Oxford dictionary police.
The Devils AND Wild? Uh oh. Product-of-system flag just went up.
Winterion Game Studios
Visit us online at : http://winterion.com
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