After acquiring Keaton Ellerby, General Manager Dean Lombardi was quoted by the L.A. Times on how Willie Mitchell’s injury recalibrated the team’s immediate defensive plans.
Yesterday, Head Coach Darryl Sutter offered a response on Mitchell when asked for an update following practice.
At 11:16 pm last night, Mitchell used Twitter to post his own brief remark.
Thxs everyone for the get well wishes. Doing everything and anything I can to get back in the lineup to help my @lakings teammates. #miss-it
— Willie Mitchell (@Willie_Mitch33) February 14, 2013
Come on Big Willie, WE NEED YOU!!
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#I’llpassthatalong
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Jon and staff,
Not sure why my comments are always going to awaiting moderation now? I have been commenting on here for years and have broken no rules. I may have changed my email address.
King Cobra
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Is this concussion or leg?
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On this Valentine’s Day, I wish for Willie and his Knee to get back together.
Maybe flowers would help?
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mask0425x Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 9:23 am
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com),
Nope, but a good salmon sandwich would do (just make sure that it is not some crappy farm raised artificially colored fish.
If that does not help, we need to summon that local tribe’s shaman from his home town.
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puck73 Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 9:26 am
@mask0425x, Love this post.
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rogiesbackup Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 11:08 am
@mask0425x, hehe
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Let's do it again Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 11:27 am
@mask0425x, wasn’t that the craziest thing ever.
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Best entertainment of the morning??? Go back and read the late exchanges between our bloggers who dont sleep. !!!! Happy Valentine Day to all…Cant wait for tonight’s late night posts !!!
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DesertKing Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 9:40 am
@Neil,
shhhhhhhhhh……. its sleeping……..
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fsd1 Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 10:09 am
@DesertKing, lmao
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neil Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 10:20 am
@fsd1, Its like listening to late night radio….interesting characters come out!!!!
LVKINGS88 Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 10:47 am
@DesertKing, I see what you did there.
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kissmyblarneystones Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 12:59 pm
@DesertKing,
LMMFAO!!!!……’Shhhh, it’s sleeping!’
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Thank you mitch, even if its not true thank you for saying something atleast, jesus
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Lake Forest Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 9:16 am
@pr0cess, come on, what has Mitchell done for you to doubt him. He’s been nothing but a solid rock for us and has put 100% into earning that cup. Don’t lose faith on the guy who is 36 with a bad knee.
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pr0cess Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 9:21 am
@Lake Forest, It was the late surgry on his knee that the team didnt know about, and then the lack of info on why he wasnt skating after we thought he was at the point to start… Could be that i was spoiled with having the hammer and his reports but to be fair the new guy is doing ok.
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DLB Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 11:07 am
@pr0cess, Who says the team didn’t know about the surgery? It’s different from not telling the general public.
NOW IMPRESSED Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 9:49 am
@Lake Forest, Is it a bad knee or a concussion? Doctors say the knee is fine. Would just like Mitchell to clarify since we are paying for his salary.
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Lake Forest Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 10:53 am
@NOW IMPRESSED, what does it matter the injury? He’s still out, is it just to answer your curiosity?
As with my question, its probably not a high priority to tell us or divulge that information to other teams.
Duncanz Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 12:18 pm
@NOW IMPRESSED, Whenever I hear this argument I always think, yes but by the same token he’s paid for our entertainment – and physically it aint cheap what these guys have had to pay!
HockeyNerd Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 12:29 pm
@NOW IMPRESSED, Ummmm no we don’t. I GUARANTEE you those checks say “LA Kings” and not “LA King fans”. If you don’t think he’s being 100% honest your only recourse is not to buy a ticket. YOU cannot withhold his salary because YOU do not pay it.
phil sykes Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 2:42 pm
@Lake Forest, hes not 36 yet ……….. i dont believe ….havent looked it up though ,,,,, but i still think hes 35 for a few more months
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I. for one, believe Willie. This guy has high expectations of himself. He is always the last one off the ice at TSC, and he enjoys mentoring guys like Slava. I think the biggest thing with him is, he wants to make sure that he is totally healed so he can live up to the high standards he has at applying his tecnique of shadowing guys, using the pokecheck, killing penalties, clearing the front of the net, and maybe most importantly…that he is 100% ready so he can use his underrated speed to accomplish all those things.
Thanks for re-signing here last year Willie, and thanx for being a consumate Pro.
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goldielocks Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 9:28 am
@puck73,
After seeing his reaction when Joe Thornton scored that series winning goal, I was pretty convinced he’s not gonna resign. So I was really surprised when he did and very thankful for his loyalty to the team. It was well deserved for him to receive the cup right after the captain.
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Kopi Bryant Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 10:17 am
@goldielocks, I was devastated after that loss and for Willie to sign back made me feel a sense of assurance that the organization was committed to winning and that there wasn’t a cancer in the locker room just for the simple fact that he wanted to win a cup and he could have probably went to a number of teams that needed a shutdown defender.
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luc20rules Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 9:23 pm
@goldielocks, He resigned with the team just before the trade deadline/Carter trade last season not in the summer of 2011. I think DL just wanted to make sure he had Mitchell squared away for 2 more years before committing the money for Carter in the trade. Which actually makes it an even greater commitment by Willie considering we were on the outside of the playoffs looking in late Feb 2012.
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Jackj43 Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 9:30 am
@puck73, +1
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DesertKing Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 9:41 am
@puck73,
100% agree
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Kopi Bryant Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 10:22 am
@puck73, That’s right always last off in practice and always last off during pre-game warmups.
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DesertKing Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 11:52 am
@Kopi Bryant,
Along with Kopi and Brown.
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Kopi Bryant Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 12:33 pm
@DesertKing, Always noticed Kopi and him were the last 2 but in sure Brown is in there also.
jet Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 11:12 am
@puck73, to add to your thoughts, he not only stayed after practice, but he brought others into the pack of stayers. He is one of the guys that loves his time on the ice even if it is practice. My thoughts would be more along the lines of he tried to come back to early and the knee rejected that notion. Big Willie is one guy you do not have to worry about dong everything he can to make it back.
Also, I cannot tell you how many time a doctor has told me to let’s give it a couple of months of rest and see how that goes. Good doctors try to avoid surgery if they can.
Also, last year’s team lacked a phase C player and big willie stepped into that role that was so necessary to our success.
We believe in you big willie.
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LA_1968 Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 11:43 am
@puck73, I have no reason to not believe him. Couple that with “doing everything I can”, I don’t see a concussion behind this.
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KC23 Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 1:28 pm
@puck73, Amen. It was Mitchell and Mitchell alone who dragged me back from my depression about the Kings last year. In what I felt was our darkest hour he went and sign two years of his life back into what seemed a lost cause last year. I was sure the Kings were not going to make the playoffs up until I read about his re-signing. It gave me hope when their was none to be found at the time.
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I dont know what to think here. The only thing thats apparent is this may be a relationship thats going bad. i’ve heard several comments from Sutter indicating Willie has been cleared and what sounds like frustration that he isnt “pushing through” his recovery. is there an issue with how it was reported, treated or handled by Mitchell or the organization. Who knows. It could be nothing more than doctors insisting he’s ok but the knee just doesnt feel right to him yet…if it even is the knee. Mitchells a great player…seems like a good stand-up guy and I hope this gets worked out soon.
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mask0425x Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 9:55 am
@Phillip, wow , truly hope you are wrong on this! Would hate to see a sequel to Andy Murray vs. Jason Allison
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Phillip Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 10:35 am
@mask0425x, I hope that doesnt happen either. Mitchell is no Jason Allison. Allison was a flat out head case(no pun intended). Even Bob Miller has commented on how odd Allison was. But there is something going on and neither side seems happy.
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pr0cess Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 11:09 am
@mask0425x, Alison was a drunk fyi and a real peice of work, and i knew this cause of my friend who worked at staples as a merch manager.
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mask0425x Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 11:47 am
@pr0cess,
Surprise for a Canadian farm boy, eh?
Regardless, our PP sure could use that line nowadays. Kings PP has never been that good since.
pr0cess Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 12:01 pm
@mask0425x, ya it could bud..
KC23 Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 1:36 pm
@Phillip, DS is a pretty complicated guy. It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if DS talked about what he was going to say to Mitchell before it was said. DS might of been lighting a fire under others and not have anything really to do about DS Vs Mitchell. The fact that DL also made some timely comments around the same time makes me wonder.
I judge on results and DS and DL are both all about results. I’m pretty much all in with DS and DL. I trust em both. Neither one of them is going to do something as stupid as call out Mitchell in front of the world risking that relationship. I just don’t buy it.
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CBS Sports –
The Devils placed Dainius Zubrus on the IR and recalled Andrei Loktionov.
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Happy Lappy Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 10:26 am
@BluLiner, Time to put up or shut up Lotki. Wish him well.
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cup4kings Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 10:28 am
@BluLiner,
Then went out and traded for Poni. I thought that was funny. I wonder how long it will be before Loktionov requests another trade or goes back to Russia to play.
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goldielocks Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 10:34 am
@BluLiner,
Haha … it was like 2 days ago that happened. Lokti has been already sent back to AHL.
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harty Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 11:04 am
@goldielocks, one last time……he is not an NHL player, good skill but really so did Justin Azevedo and he’s in Switzerland now…..he realized as good as his talent is as a centre he is too small……
I’ve stood next to Lotki several times……….he’s tooooooo small.
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puck73 Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 11:16 am
@harty, You may very well be right about that. Also, good point on Azevedo.
Armchairkingsfan Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 11:44 am
@harty,
My only issue with the Acevedo comparison and stating he is too small is Marty St. Luis, et al. It’s about these small players being able to find their niche. Some can and.it seems manuy cannoust, though i don’t think many of us do not have the proper numbers to back this up just “history”. I think these small skilled guys need to be given a chance to show they can survive, some figure it out at the AHL level, and some fight through before being sifted out of the NHL.
LA_1968 Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 11:49 am
@harty, Lokti would seem average height if he played on the Montreal Caadiens.
Russ Dynda Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 2:02 pm
@harty, I’m sure they told that to Martin St. Louis and Andy McDonald, among others.
LA_1968 Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 11:46 am
@BluLiner, He needs a deal like Mike Richards with two massive wingers with some jump in their step. Not Poni though.
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KC23 Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 1:37 pm
@BluLiner, Wonder what the Vegas odds are on who will get the most frequent flyer miles, Campbell or Loktionov?
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Mitchell…I trust !!!!
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Willie Mitchell has shown the highest level of integrity since well before signing with the LAK. For those with short memories or nothing better to do than go around looking for faults on anyone else, WM kept himself out of the free agency circus after he had a concussion while playing for Vancouver that cost him 8 months of playing time and a miserable personal period trying to recover.
He did not want to sign with anyone until he was sure he was 100% healthy. When he finally did, he signed with us because DL was the only one did not try to low ball him and the only one who’d take a chance on him for more than a single contract year. He signed a 2 yr contract for the same money he was making with the Vancupless Cannots. He got an extension last summer for two more years at the same money.
WM has been a rock for our Kings. This man deserves support from everyone while he recovers from yet another injury. And I’ll take on anyone who tries to smear his reputation with unfounded speculations that he is ‘milking his contract’ and other idiocies like that.
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puck73 Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 11:06 am
@Gustavo, Very well stated…Rack this guy!
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DesertKing Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 11:55 am
@Gustavo,
But wasn’t he a…dare I say it….. a “Canuck”?
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Gustavo Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 12:35 pm
@DesertKing,
When have you or anyone else seen players like Mitchell or Bieksa act like a typical Canuck? “Never” is the right answer.
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tornado12 Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 11:57 am
@Gustavo, Post of the Day honors for this one!
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bbb7 Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 12:01 pm
@Gustavo, The team’s record with and without Mitchell speaks volumes and he has always been the consummate professional, so he gets the benefit of the doubt, ALWAYS.
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kissmyblarneystones Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 1:18 pm
@Gustavo,
If everything is on the up and up with Willie, Then why do we not know what his ailment is?because last thing I remember hearing about his condition was that he was good to go.
Outside of that I agree with what you said!
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Gustavo Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 1:41 pm
@kissmyblarneystones,
Knee had surgery.
Kneew swells up when he skates.
What more explanation does anyone need. THAT has been reported multiple times, as well.
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kissmyblarneystones Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 2:29 pm
@Gustavo,
It might have been reported on this blog by bloggers. Last ‘official’ word I heard is that he was good to go.
Nykingfan Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 9:16 pm
@Gustavo,
It’s not about Mitchell, it’s about the kings.
His sitting out doesn’t help the kings and that’s all I really give a sh** about.
The last official statement released by the kings was he hasn’t suffered a setback, so if that’s the case, get on the ice and help our team.
KC23 Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 1:39 pm
@Gustavo, +1
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Mitchell is the best thing that has happened to the Kings in a very long time. While DD made all the media splash, Willie just went out and played like a champion night in and night out. No one knows his body like he does, so DS, shut up and coach the players like Penner (who’s commitment and guts CAN be questioned daily). Sorry, DS, but I don’t see Mitchell as a coward when playing with pain.
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harty Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 11:01 am
@Happy Lappy, here, here……
there is enough to worry about getting production or decent effort from a cast of others before you have commentary around Willie Mitchell……
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If the Kings can keep playing like they have the past few games, they can weather this storm of injuries to their defense. Get Martinez back in a week, and hopefully Willie can start feeling better about his knee to get back sooner rather than later. All in time for March and a giant home stand and an epic run heading into the playoffs. Glass is half full still. On the bright side, these young defenseman are getting valuable experience playing with the big club which only adds to our depth going forward.
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cup4kings Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 10:42 am
@cup4kings,
On a side note about Willie. Watching the Kings win the Cup at Staples obviously brought tears to my eyes, but when I saw Willie’s wife and kid jump into his arms during the celebration afterwards I couldn’t help to shed a few more ‘happy’ tears. Kind of welling up writing this actually and thinking about that night.
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LVKINGS88 Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 11:25 am
@cup4kings, You big softy you.
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Who’s going to the game tomorrow? going to be hanging with my ex-teamates in 217,I’ll be in row 5 seat one with my roadie Mitchell jersey.
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puck73 Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 11:13 am
@LVKINGS88, Nice! Alwayse check the Gretzky Statue area between 6:30 and 7:15 pm. Quite often, alot of guys from the site will congregate there.
If you wanna keep in touch with alot of the guys on thid site, you can email me at mikebrnstn@gmail.com and I will shoot you out texts where guys will be meeting, or insider watch parties or dinner events.
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LVKINGS88 Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 11:23 am
@puck73, Sweet, Puck,one of the things my buddies and I always do,is during intermissions we walk around the concourse, of course we drink beer but we also eye the lovely ladies. ‘I’ll put you in my contacts,I haven’t seen anybody since the suite night against the Lanche.
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xeropoint Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 11:39 am
@LVKINGS88, I got lucky enough to score some tickets through work, on the GLASS! Woot!
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DesertKing Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 11:56 am
@xeropoint,
Hate you
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LVKINGS88 Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 12:18 pm
@DesertKing, Same here, smiley face.
KC23 Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 1:42 pm
@LVKINGS88, I’ll be up in my season seats in 322 row 7. My jersey is 23 with COOK on the name plate. I usually walk by the Gretzky statue to see if there is the usual collection of bloggers slumming before the game.
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GO MAN GO!
WM you are missed and I wish you well soon!
I don’t know where this drama is coming from tho
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No question that Quickie is affected by the absences of both our best “D” dMen.
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WM gets as much room as he wants from me, he solidified our D. and gave us smart toughness, him and Green gave us the style we needed to wear teams down in the playoffs, but this to me sounds like something that will have Willie out at least until just before playoff time, whether we are in them or not
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puck73 Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 11:15 am
@Ravens, Its possible. Hopefully not.
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I really don’t understand some of the paranoia here about Mitchell. Concussion…..really? It’s his KNEE people! Some really like to ignore what they’re reading or make things up that are NOT being said. Don’t read between the lines folks. It’s his knee. I had the same exact surgery 15 months ago and my knee still pops, stiffens up, swells, and retains fluid, and I’m not a 36 year old professional athlete. So be patient and let the guy heal.
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puck73 Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 12:00 pm
@Shotongoal, You say you dont understand it? I do. Just like their are people who thought it was ok that Dorner muredered 4 people because it brought attention to corruption in the police department.
unfortunately, I understand it all too well.
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HockeyNerd Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 12:26 pm
@puck73, Agreed, but I thought (past tense) at least us bloggers were better than that.
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It’s a shame that a warrior like Willie Mitchell has been reduced to tweeting.
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puck73 Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 12:01 pm
@jess, Weird, isnt it?
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I am disgusted by all these posts upstairs that are insuating Mitchell is not being honest. The guy has never given less than 100% effort since we got him, he is one of the best defensive defenseman in the league and a primary reason we have up so few goals last season and NOW everyone seemingly forgets all that all if a sudden?
1. The doctor “cleared him” to skate and practice. HE NEVER SAID THE KNEE WAS FINE. THAT IS A DIFFERENT THING.
2. Mitchell does not “owe us fans” anything. NOTHING.
3. If an injury is day to day, that’s what it is. THAT MEANS HE DOESN’T KNOW WHEN HE WILL BE UP TO PLAYING.
4. If there is no news about the injury it is because there is no new about the injury. See #4.
5. DS has nothing against Mitchell and didn’t say anything that indicates he does.
6. If the team doesn’t know when Mitchell will be up to playing, it has no news to release. See 3 and 4.
7. Mitchell wants to play and is doing what he can to make that happen.
Lets give it a rest people. And quit asking for “status” and “honesty”. WE”RE GETTING ALL THE INFORMATION WE’RE GONNA GET. DEAL WITH IT.
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jess Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 1:36 pm
@HockeyNerd,
No refill on meds?
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HockeyNerd Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 2:20 pm
@jess, Even after watching “The Matrix” several times we nerds get the blue and red mixed up….
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luc20rules Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 1:47 pm
@HockeyNerd, +1
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Gustavo Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 1:52 pm
@HockeyNerd,
Das right!
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luc20rules Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 1:59 pm
@HockeyNerd, Also remember some Quack, I mean Ducktor told RG3 that as long as he wore a knee brace he would be protected from further injury and an MRI showed no structural damage.
With what Mitchell means to this team, I just can’t see rushing him back until he feels there is enough strength in his knee. Its not the playoffs right now, and even if it was its the players choice he is the only one that knows what he can really do injured.
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Shotongoal Reply:
February 14th, 2013 at 2:02 pm
@luc20rules, totally different types of knee injuries.
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Get well Willie we are all behind you, and thanks to you and the Kings we are reigning Stanley Cup Champions.
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