I feel bad for Willie Mitchell

[CaptHowdy00]

Florida Panthers set record for fewest fans at a game, and the photos are sad | For The Win

The guy goes from a Cup winner that sells out every game to a team that sets a record for the fewest fans in attendance. In the pictures it looks like a minor league game.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Good god, those pictures are awful.

I don't feel bad for Mitchell, he got a much better deal than he would have gotten here - he knew full well what he was getting into.

This is likely his last contract at age 37 and the Kings were not going to pay him the $4.25 million he got from Florida.

Wish the guy well, and he was a soldier and solid here overall but he chased the money on this deal - with that comes the surrounding circumstances as well.

 

[smackdown380]

Good god, those pictures are awful.

I don't feel bad for Mitchell, he got a much better deal than he would have gotten here - he knew full well what he was getting into.

This is likely his last contract at age 37 and the Kings were not going to pay him the $4.25 million he got from Florida.

Wish the guy well, and he was a soldier and solid here overall but he chased the money on this deal - with that comes the surrounding circumstances as well.

Absolutely agree, he got what he wanted in terms of money, along with that comes the lack of winning and fans.

 

[DevilishWon]

Good god, those pictures are awful.

I don't feel bad for Mitchell, he got a much better deal than he would have gotten here - he knew full well what he was getting into.

This is likely his last contract at age 37 and the Kings were not going to pay him the $4.25 million he got from Florida.

Wish the guy well, and he was a soldier and solid here overall but he chased the money on this deal - with that comes the surrounding circumstances as well.

Exactly, this contract is his retirement, hard to fault him.

Interesting note, Ken Daneyko doing the Devils broadcast Sunday night mentioned he was Willie's 1st D partner with the Devils back in pre-historic times. Dano did say what a great pick up Willie was for Florida as a mentor/role model to all the young players.

 

[CaptHowdy00]

Panthers president says empty seats 'not acceptable' - Cross Checks Blog - ESPN

In this article it's mentioned that in the past they filled the house by giving tickets away. The new owners have nixed the practice and now have to attract fans by actually winning.

 

[oxnardkingsfan]

We had bigger crowds at the Forum during the pre-Gretzky days than those pictures show.

Ox

 

[ChiefsDdgersLakersKings24]

He's won his Stanley Cups, now time for him to get paid and live in a nice part of Florida. Hard to feel sorry for him honestly. He probably loves it.

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

He's won his Stanley Cups, now time for him to get paid and live in a nice part of Florida. Hard to feel sorry for him honestly. He probably loves it.

Cups cash captaincy

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Exactly, this contract is his retirement, hard to fault him.

Not only that but Florida is a much more tax friendly state than CA is. That $4.25 million will net him more income than the $3.5 million did that he got for 4 years here, CA is the second highest taxed state next to HI.

Interesting note, Ken Daneyko doing the Devils broadcast Sunday night mentioned he was Willie's 1st D partner with the Devils back in pre-historic times. Dano did say what a great pick up Willie was for Florida as a mentor/role model to all the young players.

I remember seeing Mitchell in a Devils uniform, I believe he wore #8? Ken Daneyko...there's a blast from the past.

Mitchell was a solid shut down defender in his prime, I think he will be a solid addition to the Panthers' young kids. One thing I will always remember about Rob Blake, as much as I dislike him, is how many players who came in through the Kings' system said one thing about him: he was the consummate professional on and off the ice.

That means dedication to your body, job, nutrition, etc. and these kids who come in probably have no idea what they are in for, good for these veterans for showing them the way.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Panthers president says empty seats 'not acceptable' - Cross Checks Blog - ESPN

In this article it's mentioned that in the past they filled the house by giving tickets away. The new owners have nixed the practice and now have to attract fans by actually winning.

What a concept. Shocker.

Florida has toiled long enough, just like some other franchises. I think after 20 years it's safe to say hockey will never thrive there, they should just fold the franchise and have a dispersal draft or move them to a more viable city.

Like Atlanta.

=)~~

 

[oxnardkingsfan]

What a concept. Shocker.

Florida has toiled long enough, just like some other franchises. I think after 20 years it's safe to say hockey will never thrive there, they should just fold the franchise and have a dispersal draft or move them to a more viable city.

Like Atlanta.

=)~~

Or maybe a second team in the Phoenix area. Couldn't that work as well as Atlanta?

Ox

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Or maybe a second team in the Phoenix area. Couldn't that work as well as Atlanta?

Ox

My personal choice is Arpelar, OK - population 272. Should be no problem filling that building every night.

 

[DoobeeDoobeeDoo]

Panthers should just move into the Atlantic Ocean IMO.

 

[PuckinUgly57]

Panthers should just move into the Atlantic Ocean IMO.

And even then the fish wouldn't show up to Panther games.