Willie Mitchell (ice hockey)

Lore & Background

Mitchell was traded to the Dallas Stars from the Minnesota Wild on March 9, 2006, in exchange for defencemen Martin Škoula and Shawn Belle. He closed the 2005–06 season playing 16 games and one playoff round with Dallas before becoming an unrestricted free agent in the off-season. His time with the Stars was brief, as he was acquired as a rental player at the trade deadline. Prior to joining Dallas, Mitchell had served as a rotating team captain for the Wild in December 2005. After leaving Dallas, he signed a four-year, $14 million contract with the Vancouver Canucks on July 1, 2006.

Reader's Guide

Mitchell's tenure with the Dallas Stars was short but marked a transitional point in his career. Acquired as a rental at the 2006 trade deadline, he provided depth on defence for the Stars' playoff push, appearing in 16 regular-season games and one postseason round. The trade sent Martin Škoula and Shawn Belle to Minnesota. Mitchell did not re-sign with Dallas, instead becoming an unrestricted free agent and signing a significant four-year contract with the Vancouver Canucks. His brief stint with the Stars is a footnote in a career that later included two Stanley Cup championships with the Los Angeles Kings (2012 and 2014) and two selections as Vancouver's top defenceman (2008 and 2009). For Dallas, the trade was a short-term move that did not lead to a long-term commitment.

Did You Know?

• Mitchell was traded to the Dallas Stars on March 9, 2006, in exchange for Martin Škoula and Shawn Belle.
• He played 16 regular-season games and one playoff round for the Stars.
• Mitchell was named a rotating captain for the Minnesota Wild in December 2005 before being traded.
• He won two Stanley Cups with the Los Angeles Kings in 2012 and 2014.