Mitchell

[Telos]

http://www.jewelsfromthecrown.com/2013/4/25/4267018/dean-lombardi-on-browns-suspension

Lombardi on Mitchell:

Kings fans are always on the alert for more news on Willie Mitchell, since we've gotten only snippets of info on his medical status since the surgery. Lombardi explains the problems this meniscus injury could not only cause to Mitchell's career, but his life down the road:

"This was basically just a meniscus, which are a dime a dozen now in sports. […] Part of it is the way he’s a little bit knock-kneed, and the stress that puts on the knee combined with wear and tear, and then the meniscus, and it don’t look good.

He tried – twice, it reached a mark where he could push it, and every time he pushed it there were serious problems."

When asked if the injury was career threatening, Lombardi replied:

"It’s possible. It’s always a tough decision for athletes. You know you got Kobe Bryant who was playing bone on bone, but…this could be serious repercussions in his normal life down the road. So that’s the hard thing for a player. Could he push, maybe, and play through the swelling for a year or two? Yeah. But that said, he might have to go the rest of his life walking with a limp. And that’s a very difficult call for an athlete."

 

[cyclones22]

I listened to that interview yesterday. It's really interesting that Dean came out and said what he did in regards to it being potentially career threatening. I think I read somewhere that Mitchell's agent thinks he can still come back, but I wonder if Dean saying what he did bothers Mitchell at all, even if it's the truth.

 

[Reclamation Project]

He's done.

 

[Model62]

Doesn't sound good. But what the hell do I know?

Make the decision that's right for you and your family, W. Mitchell.

 

[Shellz]

Makes me sad. Such a good player and he can't enjoy that.

 

[Mats26]

I think he is done, but how do we replace him? Can he be put on LTIR next year? We can't afford to carry a 3.5 million cap space for a non roster player next year. What I would give for a healthly Mitchel right about now

 

[Captain Mittens*]

I think he is done, but how do we replace him? Can he be put on LTIR next year?

He can indeed

 

[MsMeow]

I love when DL is on Hockey Central at Noon. He's very candid even though he's also guarded and he has a terrific sense of humour. I only heard a bit about Mitchell and really hope he can come back from this injury.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

All the more reason to re-sign Scuderi and lock up Regehr during the off-season. Mitchell's uncertainty can't be something the Kings wait on entering next season. If they get him back, it's a bonus, but sadly it appears that they have to move on as if he's no longer with the team.

 

[Johnny Utah]

Exactly. Any player that misses over a year is probably done. Not even Crosby missed that long with his concussion problems.

 

[SLang]

"It’s possible. It’s always a tough decision for athletes. You know you got Kobe Bryant who was playing bone on bone, but…this could be serious repercussions in his normal life down the road. So that’s the hard thing for a player. Could he push, maybe, and play through the swelling for a year or two? Yeah. But that said, he might have to go the rest of his life walking with a limp. And that’s a very difficult call for an athlete."

Ahhhhaa hahahahah. That's hilarious, Dean.

Let's see, play through the pain for millions of dollars a year and end up with a limp "for the rest of his life"?

Are you freakin' kidding me? Or maybe he'd end up needing a routine knee replacement like hundreds of thousands of other people out there? 99.999999% of which don't stand to make anywhere near the kind of cash Mitchell makes?

You guys buying this BS?

 

[tsanuri]

Ahhhhaa hahahahah. That's hilarious, Dean.

Let's see, play through the pain for millions of dollars a year and end up with a limp "for the rest of his life"?

Are you freakin' kidding me? Or maybe he'd end up needing a routine knee replacement like hundreds of thousands of other people out there? 99.999999% of which don't stand to make anywhere near the kind of cash Mitchell makes?

You guys buying this BS?

Sorry but they are human beings as well and it shouldn't matter what they do or how much they make. Having to go through life with a potential permanent disability is not something to be taken lightly.
And where most knee replacements go well there are also many that don't. Not to mention that most knees will need to be replaced in about 15 years. So he would be looking on average needing 2-3 of them done. And contrary to how most doctors act there is nothing routine of having to put someone under. There can be many complications and depending on the person they can be worse. And people heal faster at a younger age vs older for the most part so he might be just fine with the first one but how will they handle the second one?

 

[SLang]

Sorry but they are human beings as well and it shouldn't matter what they do or how much they make. Having to go through life with a potential permanent disability is not something to be taken lightly.
And where most knee replacements go well there are also many that don't. Not to mention that most knees will need to be replaced in about 15 years. So he would be looking on average needing 2-3 of them done. And contrary to how most doctors act there is nothing routine of having to put someone under. There can be many complications and depending on the person they can be worse. And people heal faster at a younger age vs older for the most part so he might be just fine with the first one but how will they handle the second one?

Knee replacement aside I would limp the rest of my life, later in life, for a couple million bucks and so would nearly everyone in this forum.

 

[tsanuri]

Knee replacement aside I would limp the rest of my life, later in life, for a couple million bucks and so would nearly everyone in this forum.

I just happen to not be one of them. But maybe my experience has taught be that. Since I gave up both my knees just trying to get a scholarship when I was in high school. And looking back I would never do it again or for that matter ask anyone to do what I did. Professional athlete or not.

 

[The Butcher]

Knee replacement aside I would limp the rest of my life, later in life, for a couple million bucks and so would nearly everyone in this forum.

Depends on how old.

I'm an avid snowboarder and plan on being involved in snow sports well into my senior years. Not to mention I love hiking, hockey, softball, running distances, mountain biking, etc. If someone offered a couple million tomorrow but I would wouldn't be able to do the one thing I love more than anything else in this world I would respectfully decline. What good is money if you are unable to do the activities in life you love most?

 

[YP44]

Knee replacement aside I would limp the rest of my life, later in life, for a couple million bucks and so would nearly everyone in this forum.

Thing is though he already has his ring and his millions stacked away...so why. If it were you or I absolutely i would take the million and deal with the limp. If I already had a million, I probably wouldn't.
As a fan I only want him to come back if he can contribute. If not I want him to retire or just take the LTIR cap space.

 

[tsanuri]

Thing is though he already has his ring and his millions stacked away...so why. If it were you or I absolutely i would take the million and deal with the limp. If I already had a million, I probably wouldn't.
As a fan I only want him to come back if he can contribute. If not I want him to retire or just take the LTIR cap space.

We don't want him to retire. Hope he can come back but with his over 35 contract we are stuck with the bill and the cap hit unless he goes on LTIR. Him retiring before the end of next season is the worst thing he can do for the team.

 

[YP44]

We don't want him to retire. Hope he can come back but with his over 35 contract we are stuck with the bill and the cap hit unless he goes on LTIR. Him retiring before the end of next season is the worst thing he can do for the team.

I doubt he will as he doesn't get paidf if retires as well right? If he goes on LTIR he still gets paid and we get cap relief..win/win.

 

[Johnny Utah]

Thought teams get paid some kind of insurance if a player misses extend amount of time...

 

[MsMeow]

I doubt he will as he doesn't get paidf if retires as well right? If he goes on LTIR he still gets paid and we get cap relief..win/win.

If he's cleared he has to play or retire, otherwise you're looking at cap circumvention if you put a healthy player on LTIR.

 

[HYORI 1963]

Knee replacement aside I would limp the rest of my life, later in life, for a couple million bucks and so would nearly everyone in this forum.

A couple of million doesn't have the same kind of impact in his life as it may in yours and the posters in this forum.

I truly wish Willie the very best in his career and life. I will respect any decision he comes to.

 

[KingsCorona]

Knee replacement aside I would limp the rest of my life, later in life, for a couple million bucks and so would nearly everyone in this forum.

That's because the marginal utility of a couple million dollars is much more for us than it is for Mitchell, who already has a lot of money.

 

[Puck U]

Thought teams get paid some kind of insurance if a player misses extend amount of time...

That was usually something reserved for a Teams TOP 3 (or whatever #) Highest paid players or something like that ...

back in the 2000's the Kings got Insurance coverage for Allison and Palffy, not sure if it included Deadmarsh or not ?

BUT teams DO NOT, nor can they afford to have Insurance coverage like that for every player, so with Today's team you'd be talking about DOUGHTY ($7 Mil), KOPITAR ($6.8 Mil) and QUICK ($5.8 Mil) ... Mitchell ($3.5 Mil) wouldn't be covered.

 

[kingsfan]

If he's cleared he has to play or retire, otherwise you're looking at cap circumvention if you put a healthy player on LTIR.

Then you don't 'clear' him. Some injuries are pretty easy to not clear, like knee and back. Willie doesn't feel safe to play, so he won't declare himself cleared, and it's pretty hard for the medical team to say he is if he's claiming discomfort.