Panthers sign Willie Mitchell to 2-year $8.5M contract

[Face Wash]

Wow!! $$$$$$$$

Click to read more...

 

[HYORI 1963]

In Dean I trust.

 

[takk]

Mentor those younglings Willie!

 

[Buddy The Elf]

Good for Willie... there was no way the Kings were going to pay that even if they could. But Florida has cap space so it makes sense. Talk about cashing in!

 

[Trolfoli]

Enjoy the palm trees and warm weather!!!! Wait?

 

[lumbergh]

Wow. Happy for Willie. Probably won't be seeing much of him now. Glad it wasn't Vancouver or Colorado.

 

[Reclamation Project]

If we traded Richards and Greene we could have afforded him! Useless Dean. Wake up man!

Someone will think I'm serious.

 

[KopitarFAN]

He got paid and left the west, good for him.

 

[DocWest]

lol, Florida. Enjoy the money, WM.

 

[Quattro]

lol - Willie doesn't seem like the type to phone it in but this just screams retirement contract

 

[HYORI 1963]

There's always a chance he gets traded at the deadline.

 

[NikF]

Florida has a good young team, although his contract will probably run out exactly by the time they start making some noise. Solid add for Florida and if Willie can still play after 2 years maybe he can take a reduced role with them even down the line.

 

[Reclamation Project]

Ekblad mentor.

 

[Buddy The Elf]

lol - Willie doesn't seem like the type to phone it in but this just screams retirement contract

He probably is satisfied with his two Cups and said "f it", going to the highest bidder.

 

[DryIslandBartender]

Florida has a good young team, although his contract will probably run out exactly by the time they start making some noise. Solid add for Florida and if Willie can still play after 2 years maybe he can take a reduced role with them even down the line.

The eastern conference is wide open, I think FL can make some noise this coming season.

The east is so bad...

 

[Chain]

Good for Willie. The Kings weren't going to give him a contract like that, nor should they have. I wish him all the best except on November 18th and February 25th. lol

 

[KingsFan7824]

lol - Willie doesn't seem like the type to phone it in but this just screams retirement contract

37, had a concussion that probably cost him some money in 2010, and missed the 2013 season with a knee injury. Could be lucky to still be playing. He's got the rings. Why not go for that money?

 

[BigBrown]

He better get a standing ovation when he returns.

 

[ADifferentTim]

lol, Florida. Enjoy the money, WM.

Florida has no personal income tax, by the way.

lol - Willie doesn't seem like the type to phone it in but this just screams retirement contract

Just reading that reminds me of South Florida's purported reputation as a retirement community.

There's always a chance he gets traded at the deadline.

As long as he stays out of the Western Conference altogether, I'm cool with it.

Enjoy the palm trees and warm weather!!!! Wait?

He's just gonna be driving distance to South Beach.



On the bright side, at least Willie didn't pull off a West Coast version of The Decision.

If we traded Richards and Greene we could have afforded him! Useless Dean. Wake up man!

Someone will think I'm serious.

If you're serious about it, then you're committing chemistry suicide.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Yeah, I love Willie, but we were never going to touch that price. Good for him, love the guy and will be cheering for him.

Ekblad mentor.

This, he'll be a terrific influence for every D-man on that roster. Think Scuderi and O'Donnell for Doughty. And they'll be competitive for sure this year, imo.

lol - Willie doesn't seem like the type to phone it in but this just screams retirement contract

Well, he's got two cups, nowhere to go but down, haha. But it probably makes it easier to stomach because everyone knows his dedication to the game.

 

[ibleedkings]

He probably is satisfied with his two Cups and said "f it", going to the highest bidder.

Can't blame the guy one bit.

 

[Asheru]

Yeah, I love Willie, but we were never going to touch that price. Good for him, love the guy and will be cheering for him.

Mitchell would likely have taken less to stay with the Kings. But I wish him the best.

 

[Jetteroheller]

Happy for Willie! Glad he got an awesome payday, and even happier its on the Panthers and not a western contender!

 

[KingsFanInRI]

Glad for WM Taking his talents and two Stanley Cup rings to South Beach. Forever a part of Kings lore. Thank you Willie.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Kind of expected Mitchell to go to a team where he can serve a leadership/mentor role while at the same time cashing out on the last two years of his NHL career, but I did not expect him to get as much as he did as a UFA.

Now imagine what Matt Greene would have received had he tested the market. Greene looks like a steal compared to what some of these UFA dmen received today. Absolute lunacy.