Willie's coming back Friday

[Bluesince62]

Kings? Mitchell says he?s playing Friday ?for sure? | ProHockeyTalk

In most cases, preseason NHL contests are only a big deal for the guys who’ve never sniffed the big time. Los Angeles Kings defenseman Willie Mitchell has 719 regular season games under his belt, but if he can indeed play in Friday’s exhibition against Colorado like he told LA Kings Insider, it would be a huge step for him.

The 36-year-old blueliner missed all of the 2013 season with a knee injury that drove his employers to question him and prompted others to wonder if his fantastic (yet injury-riddled) career was coming to an end.

That’s still a question for some, yet playing tomorrow would represent a significant leap for the often-superb defenseman.

He noted to LA Kings Insider that the elevation in Denver could make for an extra challenge, yet it’s one he’s glad to embrace.

“I’m playing for sure, so I’m looking forward to it. I’m not looking forward to the thin air, but…after the road I traveled, I’d take that any day of the week,” Mitchell said. “I’m excited. Really excited to go. Just excited to get in game action. Gameday’s fun. Darryl talks about it. It’s true. You put in the work in practice so you can have fun in the games. I’m just going to enjoy it and keep working on my timing, working on everything.”

Considering all the people who wrote him off, the Kings could get a substantial bonus in their lineup if Mitchell can approach his form from 2011-12, when he helped Los Angeles win a Stanley Cup.

 

[smackdown380]

Big boost to the blue line

 

[Stunner_At_Staples_Kings]

Good news. I am really curious to see what an entire season of not playing has done to him.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Sounds like he still has some game, he looked phenomenal as a 35 year old winning a Stanley Cup. Hopefully things go as planned and there are no setbacks - visions of Allison and Deadmarsh are going through my head so I won't fully be convinced until I see him out there.

That absolutely sucked for me as a fan at FF back in 2003-04 when I talked to Andy Murray personally about those two, he gave me this smirk and asked "what do you think will happen?" and I said I don't know, you're the coach, and he said "they will be in the Season Opener" with a smile. I was so stoked I proceeded to get even more drunk than I was.

Fast forward two weeks and their careers were essentially over. At least as Kings, since Allison played one more season after the lockout for TO I believe.

 

[blk4x499]

Good news. I am really curious to see what an entire season of not playing has done to him.

I've been recovering from two knee surgeries this year and I'm getting close going back to work. I'll tell ya, it's a long road of rehabbing.

 

[blk4x499]

One more note, I had two different procedures done. One was a repair where the procedure anchored down my tare and the othe other was a trim. The knee where the repair and anchor was used takes forever to heel, Vs. triming the miniscus. I was walking 4 days after the triming procedure and on crutches for 6 weeks on the repaired knee. This is just an FYI for you all of how there can be different procedures and healing times involved.

My knee, which the repair was done is still week and two weeks after I had the second surgery, where the miniscus was trimmed, that knee was already stronger. It sucks