BROOKLYN, N.Y. – In the third act of his successful NHL journey, Florida Panthers defenceman Willie Mitchell – who, it seems, will not be cleared to play this post-season – still wants to win.
“I’m not a quitter,” Mitchell told reporters on Sunday afternoon at Barclays Center. “I’ve never quit on anything in my life. Just with my situation, I’m trying to see it through I guess you could say.
“Trying to be a good teammate behind the scenes, take a lot of pressure off of these guys and doing things they otherwise might have to do themselves. It’s a young organization, they’ve never been here before, so some things just on a hockey ops, day-to-day (level) that they don’t know about how it should be at this time of year. Just trying to organize all that and trying to take some pressure off these guys so they can just go out and play a game for the real deal. Lord Stanley…”
Mitchell sustained a concussion in mid-season and hasn’t played since. The Panthers have publicly said that they would allow the 39-year-old defenceman to make up his own mind about his playing future, but it’s clear at this point that he won’t return this post-season.
That hasn’t stopped the veteran defender from being a full participant in Panthers game-day skates and practices throughout their first-round playoff series against the New York Islanders.
It’s an unusual situation. It’s rare for an injured player to continue to be engaged with their teammates like Mitchell has been.
“He’s our captain, and he’s been a good leader on our team,” head coach Gerard Gallant said of Mitchell. “Definitely when you have those veteran players – and Willie hasn’t played a game in quite a while – but being on the ice and being around those young players is important. He’s done a good job of that.”
Even though Mitchell has been out of the lineup, he’s been functioning as a resource for a blue line that is extremely young. Three of the six blue-liners who will dress for Game 6 are under the age of 25, including 19-year-old star Aaron Ekblad who moved in with Mitchell’s family last year.
A two-time Stanley Cup winner, Mitchell has done his best to impart what wisdom he can to his younger teammates.
“You’ve got to will it home because there’s another team over there doing the same thing,” Mitchell explained. “You have to break their will. That’s the main thing at this time of year. You have to want it so far inside that no one else can grab it and you just keep running with it.
“As a group that’s what we’re trying to do. Trying to teach the young guys a little bit. Some have it and some are learning it. It’s going to take that to be a good hockey club.”
Mitchell’s efforts aren’t going unnoticed. If you watch the Panthers practise, you’ll notice him often speaking with Alex Petrovic, 24, Michael Matheson, 22, and Ekblad. When Florida’s extras do drills at the other end of the rink while the club works on special teams, Mitchell is often working with the club’s penalty killers.
“He’s huge, he’s doing everything he can,” Petrovic said of Mitchell’s influence. “He hasn’t been playing, but we’re always out for dinners with him and he’s always teaching us new things every time.
“Every time we talk to him, even at the rink, he’s been helping out with the PK and he’s a huge guy to have around,” Petrovic continued. “He’s been there, he’s won the Cup twice, I don’t know, he’s just a huge presence in here. Throughout the whole year he’s always been with us, you want to rally around the guy. He brings everyone together and I think that’s a huge part of our success. Even last year he kind of just started to mold that. He’s a great guy to have around.”
Petrovic has struggled at times this season and certainly had a tough defensive outing in Game 1. Lately though, the physical defenceman has come up huge. He scored the game-winning goal in Game 4 and set up Aleksander Barkov with a beautiful backdoor pass to tie the contest in Game 5.
“Couldn’t be more proud and happy for him,” Mitchell said of how Petrovic has adjusted to the post-season.
“Petrovic has had an up-and-down year at times, but he’s… 23 or 24 or whatever the heck he is, young anyways.
“I remember cracking into the league when I was 22 and you make mistakes,” Mitchell continued. “Especially as a D-man it’s more glaring. Forwards can make mistakes and everyone just doesn’t notice it and it’s a 3-on-2 and if Petrovic doesn’t have his stick in the right position it’s his fault. Well no, the guy (up front) made the mistake.
“We were actually sitting around the house talking about the playoffs,” Mitchell continued of Petrovic, “and I was like ‘You’re going to score a big goal this playoffs,’ that’s how it works right?
“And sure enough he scored a big goal for our hockey club. So he was tickled pink.”
Mitchell didn’t want to discuss his status on Sunday, out of respect for his teammates and the gravity of the situation they’re facing – a do-or-die Game 6 on the road. It’s clear that not playing is difficult for him, particularly at this time of year.
Still, the 39-year-old defender with the long reach and two rings is working hard, trying to push his teammates, finding ways to contribute. He doesn’t want to be “a passenger” out there. He’s motivated by the good fortune he’s had in his career and he wants the same for his teammates.
“I’ve been lucky. I’ve got the big skate, I’ve had the big summer. Twice!” Mitchell said.
“And there’s a couple guys in here and that’s what it’s about. Roberto (Luongo), I look into his eyes and I know how much he wants that and I’m a good friend of his. That’s my motivation: to see that guy win…
“There’s nothing more that that guy wants than to win a Stanley Cup.”
As much as Mitchell would prefer to be hard-matched against the opposition’s best, the way he was for decades, there’s another side to the game. There’s knowledge, wisdom and X’s and O’s. In these areas, as anyone on the Panthers will tell you, their captain has been valuable.
“I’m trying to do everything that’s possible,” Mitchell said. “I’m sure I’ve done a lot of things wrong, but I’m trying to make sure I pass on some knowledge I’ve had from great teachers – whether it’s (Jacques) Lemaire, (Larry) Robinson, (Brent) Sutter is a pretty great coach. Scott Stevens, Scott Niedermayer I’ve played with, Sergei Zubov. Great leaders and winners and (I try to) pass on their experiences, just like it got passed on to me.
“And also learn. S—, I learned so much from an 18-year-old who lived with me just about how to play the game. Not how to eat, with his sweet tooth, but how to shoot the puck and stuff like that.
“I’m trying to stay engaged that way with these guys” Mitchell said. “And really, I’m trying to win.”