Sleeping Dog
Fan Since ‘68
I'm sure the Pens will give him a 4 yr NMC contract. Oops, I forgot that Shero isn't there anymore. Nevermind.
Willie Mitchell
- Thread starter fsanford
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I'm sure the Pens will give him a 4 yr NMC contract. Oops, I forgot that Shero isn't there anymore. Nevermind.
deeshamrock
Registered User
RIch Hammond wrote a piece on how the Kings will most likely return intact, except for the Greene/Mitchell scenario
Greene is as good as gone, his speed and reactions aren't as good and Sutter seems to have lost confide3nce in him, and benched him down the stretch.
I Love WM but given his complications in that last knee injury and his age, I wonder if DL is willing to go more han 1 yr.
That said, if he chooses to let both go, and run with RR and McNabb at the 3rd pairing, that fees up 6 mill.
From Hammond's piece:
http://www.losangelesregister.com/articles/kings-600973-going-gaborik.html
Sounds like Greene wants more than the Kings feel is fair
The defense is trickier. Mitchell, 37, has a recent history of knee problems. Greene, 31, seemed to lose the trust of Coach Darryl Sutter this season. Both players made more than $3 million this season.
The Kings have had on-and-off contract talks with Greene, and they’re not going particularly well. The Kings value the leadership of Greene, an alternate captain, but wonder how much that is worth for a player who is essentially, at best, now a No. 6 defenseman.
Another Carter Snipe
Terminated User
I'd want him back for his intelligence on the PK alone.
Love him, and hope he comes back for at least one more year.
Love him, and hope he comes back for at least one more year.
MsMeow
Registered User
- Nov 4, 2005
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I think Greene is gone. Hopefully Willie accepts 1 year. He is building a house on Vancouver Island so retirement is looming, which isn't surprising because of his age, but I'd like to see him back for one more year.
Face Wash
Registered User
- Mar 17, 2002
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I don't know what will happen, but I don't think it's fair to say Sutter lost confidence with him. He could have played a healthy Robyn Regehr over him in THE most important series and he stayed with Greene. And we all know how much Sutter loves Regehr. Sutter is the reason Regehr is in L.A.
We'll see. If Greene thinks he can get more money or a longer deal somewhere else, he should try. He was integral on 2 Cup winners.
MsMeow
Registered User
- Nov 4, 2005
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He wasn't playing until Regehr got injured and then Sutter didn't want to change the lineup when things were meshing so well.
Face Wash
Registered User
- Mar 17, 2002
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- 16
No no... you can't have it both ways. You can't say he played a guy in the SC Finals he had lost confidence in but because things were going ok.... They were going ok in part because he was playing really well. He also could have played Schultz, who Sutter & Deano were glowing about after the last game was over but he didn't.
He played twice in the SJS series when Mitchell got hurt. Then played every game but one after that. Lost confidence? really? Not buying it, sorry.
Everyone on this board has been down on Greene for the longest time to the point that they're blinded to the fact that he's been great the last month...It's like they don't remember how important and consistent he was for this team before his back injury. I agree he'd lost a step but he looked rock solid in big time situations. He's going to get another good contract from someone and prove he can still play at a high level if it's not in LA.
i said it then and ill say it now, he was the 4th most important player of the 2012 run.
any chance he re signs for 1 year deal with a hometown discount ?
and there's no way Greene comes back. He's young enough and brings a skill (toughness) that MANY teams covet. He will easily get a 4 year contract from some team. Ive thought all along he's going back home to Minnesota because he's exactly what they need.
any chance he re signs for 1 year deal with a hometown discount ?
and there's no way Greene comes back. He's young enough and brings a skill (toughness) that MANY teams covet. He will easily get a 4 year contract from some team. Ive thought all along he's going back home to Minnesota because he's exactly what they need.
MsMeow
Registered User
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Ziggy Stardust
Master Debater
Salary cap issues aside, I don't think it would be a bad idea to have an alternating defense with Mitchell, Regehr and Greene getting some nights off to keep them fresh for a playoff run. Having the depth the Kings had on the blueline benefited them this year as opposed to the problems they ran into in 2013, and all three of those guys missed some games throughout the season and playoffs. Only one defenseman appeared in all 82 regular season games and all playoff games, and it was Voynov.
The Kings also used 7 defenseman throughout the regular season who appeared in 30+ games, Andrew Campbell 3 games during the season would make him the 8th dman who appeared in any games this season. During the playoffs, Jeff Schultz was that experienced #8 guy who saw 7 games. Four dmen (Doughty, Muzzin, Voynov, Martinez) played in all 26 playoff games.
With McNabb having to clear waivers to be sent down next season, it's a safe bet that he'll be either the #7 or #8 dman on the roster, depending on how many dmen Sutter decides to carry on the roster.
The Kings also used 7 defenseman throughout the regular season who appeared in 30+ games, Andrew Campbell 3 games during the season would make him the 8th dman who appeared in any games this season. During the playoffs, Jeff Schultz was that experienced #8 guy who saw 7 games. Four dmen (Doughty, Muzzin, Voynov, Martinez) played in all 26 playoff games.
With McNabb having to clear waivers to be sent down next season, it's a safe bet that he'll be either the #7 or #8 dman on the roster, depending on how many dmen Sutter decides to carry on the roster.
Twin
West Coast Hockey
I think he will keep going 2 more years. He definitely isn't playing like he's 37 and I'm sure he wants a run for a back to back cup run.
Edit: if he gets injured though...
Edit: if he gets injured though...
Last edited:
etherialone
dialed in your mom
I post on these boards or at least do for the time being and I have never been down on or said a bad thing about Greene with the exception of the obvious and that is that he is slowing down. I have never been down on MGreene at all really. He had a solid playoffs for us or as solid as a guy with his skillset can have. Warrior effort and a great guy in the locker room.
I believe he will sign elsewhere in the offseason but that is about it. Happy we have had him around for as long as we did and that he was able to give us his best while he was here. Out of he, Mitchell and Regehr I would take Willie due to his ability to skate and keep pace with the game but each of them have their strengths and weaknesses. They are our vet D and an important part of our teams successes. We have two kids who are ready to matriculate up to the big club and two of our vets are UFA's.
I think one of them will move along and one of our kids will step into his spot.
I believe he will sign elsewhere in the offseason but that is about it. Happy we have had him around for as long as we did and that he was able to give us his best while he was here. Out of he, Mitchell and Regehr I would take Willie due to his ability to skate and keep pace with the game but each of them have their strengths and weaknesses. They are our vet D and an important part of our teams successes. We have two kids who are ready to matriculate up to the big club and two of our vets are UFA's.
I think one of them will move along and one of our kids will step into his spot.
volcom92886
Registered User
I personally think they re-sign Mitchell to a cap friendly 1 year contract. He is still a decent d-man and can play both an offensive and defensive style where Greene can only play the latter. Signing him to a one year contract limits the risk as he can be traded to a team in need of a #3/#4 dman.
In regards to Mitchell holding the cup the longest, I dont remember where I saw or read about it, but he said during the first Stanley Cup win he was in shock when they won it. He said something along the lines of he didnt kiss the cup or raise it over his head while skating around the ice.
In regards to Mitchell holding the cup the longest, I dont remember where I saw or read about it, but he said during the first Stanley Cup win he was in shock when they won it. He said something along the lines of he didnt kiss the cup or raise it over his head while skating around the ice.
HYORI 1963
Grit & Character
Mitchell will retire, if he isn't re-signed by the kings imo.
As for Greene, as I have mentioned on several occasions, the guy needs to lose some weight. Maybe 15-20 lbs or so. The guy is almost as slow as Doug Murray. Also, if I were Greene, I'd work on skating. It's done wonders for Toffoli, evidently.
Either way, if we were to lose either or both players, the locker room's gonna be just that much emptier, as both of these guys are awesome character guys and leaders in the locker room.
As for Greene, as I have mentioned on several occasions, the guy needs to lose some weight. Maybe 15-20 lbs or so. The guy is almost as slow as Doug Murray. Also, if I were Greene, I'd work on skating. It's done wonders for Toffoli, evidently.
Either way, if we were to lose either or both players, the locker room's gonna be just that much emptier, as both of these guys are awesome character guys and leaders in the locker room.
tsanuri
Registered User
The one big benefit with Mitchell is if he is willing to sign a one year deal it can have bonuses in it. He is over 35 so that is allowed. That would allow us to give him a 1.5-2M cap hit with another 1.5-2M in bonuses that would allow us to defer those to the following year. So pay him and pay him well to stay just not all under the current cap year.
SettlementRichie10
Registered User
- May 6, 2012
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I think Mitchell retires and Greene resigns for a smaller cap hit for 2-3 years to solidify that 7th D spot.
I see Greene mentoring Mcnabb before he eventually is forced to retire for health reasons around age 34-35.
I see Greene mentoring Mcnabb before he eventually is forced to retire for health reasons around age 34-35.
lumbergh
It was an idea. I didn't say it was a good idea.
Agreed. There's nobody on the Kings that exudes joy or love of the game more than Willie Mitchell. He also led the Kings D in +/- during the playoffs.
That said, he's 37, and no longer the dominant force he was. My hunch is he retires on top this summer. If he signs, he signs for one more run.
cyclones22
Registered User
I'd love it if he re-signed for a year and mentored McNabb. Both being LD is a plus I would think.
rajuabju
The One & Only
Could he play another year? Yes.
Do I want him back with the Kings? Sorry but no, at least not as a player. I wouldnt mind if he signs up for some coaching position
I have a feeling he will retire.
Do I want him back with the Kings? Sorry but no, at least not as a player. I wouldnt mind if he signs up for some coaching position
I have a feeling he will retire.
Primakov!
Registered User
There was an interview where Sutter commented that he really struggled with the idea of not putting Regehr back into the lineup.
Sutter said his biggest concern was that he had to sit out for so long. So by missing almost a month's worth of games Regehr has not had touches with the puck or taken physical contact at full game speed so he chose to go with, "pairings that are doing as well as they can" instead.
I really can't imagine veteran players are going to be happy being part-time players like that for an extended period of time. Especially high compete players like Willie Mitchell or Matt Greene that want to be out there with their teammates and contributing on a regular basis.
I think when you find yourself stuck in that situation, like Greene did this year, you play the part of the good teammate and don't rock the boat. As a free agent with options on where to go, however, I doubt Greene would willingly volunteer to play the part of the spare wheel again if he has a chance to be a full-time contributor somewhere else.
For the sake of player development though I kind of think that letting McNabb get regular ice time and struggle through the inevitable rookie mistakes will be more beneficial then letting him sit as a healthy scratch.
Muzzin during the regular season was driving people bananas as they broke him in, but by the end of the year and into the playoffs you had more people than not singing his praises and pretty much pardoning all past sins.
How about a cost effective #6 and #7 tandem of Brayden McNabb and Andrew Bodnarchuk? That would certainly free up $6,450,000 from not re-signing Mitchell and Greene to use towards a Gaborik re-signing, for example.
HYORI 1963
Grit & Character
Yep. Does anyone remember Jamie Storr???
If Mitchell isn't re-signed, I'd love to have Bods as our 7th dman with some spot duties. I think Bods will surprise some people.
I predict Willie is going to sign a two year deal with us for 2 mil.
He'll slowly slide down the depth chart
He'll slowly slide down the depth chart
