Full-blown frustration sets in as Mitchell and Raymond square off at Canucks practice

From the Vancouver Sun:

They can't win a game to save their lives, but the Vancouver Canucks have their game faces on at practice today at UBC.

Losers of eight straight home games, the Canucks' tension and frustration boiled over with a practice altercation involving defenceman Willie Mitchell and winger Mason Raymond.

Mitchell ran at Raymond during a drill and, when the speedy sophomore came back at the veteran in the corner, Mitchell punched Raymond in the head and cross-checked him hard on the shoulder. VIDEO OF THE INCIDENT

The fracas drew several players and coaches, and tough defenceman Shane O'Brien skated to Raymond's defence and challenged Mitchell to fight before tempers calmed.

This only adds to speculations that team chemistry is in question, one of many problems that are plaguing the group.
I don't have many further comments or opinions on this depressing mess right now. It's tough to be positive. It's also too bad they couldn't go on a massive road trip to get away from the pressure-packed GM Place. But they have to wait until February 10 for that to happen. In the meantime they play Minnesota, Carolina and Chicago at home.
This could get ugly. At some point a change has to happen if this team cannot turn it around. I just hope that some kind of change happens before they get too far into the hole.

The Sun article also mentions that Mats Sundin was assigned to the Kesler-Burrows checking line. That may just work. There hasn't been much chemistry between Sundin and anyone else lately, except maybe Pavol Demitra, who remains out with a sore groin.

Below is a clip of several fights between teammates in the past. Remember the Probert-Primeau tilt in the Red Wings practice in 1994?





**UPDATE**
Here is some post-practice interviews. The players and coach like the aggression in practice and understand the frustration levels right now.

It appears that Wellwood and O'Brien are going to sit out against the Wild, while Rob Davison and Pavol Demitra will draw back in.

Image above from Vancouver Province

T Tags: Mitchell+Raymond+fight+video Canucks+fighting+at+practice Mason+Raymond Willie+Mitchell Shane O'Brien frustration

Willie and Luongo nearly go unnoticed on the Sea Wall

Great piece from Elliot Pap today:

According to Canuck defenceman Willie Mitchell, just one fan in this supposed hockey-crazed city noticed superstar netminder Roberto Luongo minus his distinctive long hair.
"We went for a run on the seawall the other day and I think only one person recognized him out there," Mitchell chuckled on Wednesday. "So I think the new haircut is going to do Roberto a lot of good as far as being in the city and sliding under the radar." If hardly a soul recognized Luongo, how did the equally high-profile Mitchell escape notice? "It was one and one," responded the Port McNeill native. "One person recognized him and one recognized me." Mitchell, by the way, did admit his goalie pal appears "a little more responsible looking, maybe it's being a father" with his different 'doo. His favourite, though, remains the un-gelled, long curly look that Luongo sometime sported before he slicked it back.
"I think that's his best," said Mitchell, who couldn't resist poking fun at Bobby Lou.

I had major long hair in the early mid-90's and then cut it off around 2000. The difference between the two on how people perceive and treat you is somewhat astounding.
I think Luongo looked pretty cool with the longer locks but whatever. As long as he stops the puck I really don't care.

T Tags: Luongo Mitchell Sea Wall haircut

Prince William Mitchell

In my opinion, Willie Mitchell could very well be the unsung hero of the Canucks this season, and especially in the post season. The 6'3" 205 pounder has been a steady, tough, and intelligent force for the Canucks. He is a leader. Many times on camera, you can see him hollering instructions to his mates. He is an avid communicator.
The Port McNeill, B.C. native seems to be throughly enjoying his time in Vancouver, and also seems to be playing the best hockey of his career.
So much of what Mitchell does for this team is usually hidden because he is not a flashy player. He is not an offensive defenceman. He has 10 goals and 62 assists in 384 career regular season games. He has 1 goal and 4 assists in 32 career playoff games. But Mitchell will back his goaltender at all costs, as we've especially seen him do this post season, clearing the puck from the goal line more than once.
Mitchell has been great playing against opponent's top lines all season long.
It's crazy to think that merely days after Ed Jovanovski bolted for Phoenix last summer, Dave Nonis acquired Mitchell. I think Mitchell has made most Canuck fans forget all about Jovo. He sure as hell has been a lot more consistent and responsible than Jovo ever was.

Mitchell Misc.

Mitchell was drafted by the New Jersey Devils 199th overall in the 8th round in 1996. He only played 18 games for the Devils between 1999-2001.
In March 2001, the Devils traded Mitchell to the Wild for Sean O'Donnell. Mitchell immediately became a Jacques Lemaire favorite, naturally.
In August 2005, the Wild signed RFA Mitchell to a 1-year deal, protecting him from leaving, but not committing longterm.
March 2006, the Wild traded Willie and a 2nd-rounder to the Stars for Martin Skoula and Shawn Belle.
The Stars lost in Round 1 of the playoffs, and allowed Mitchell to go to unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2006.
The Canucks signed him to a 4-year $14 million deal. Considering the style of play that Alain Vigneault was going to introduce here, the Mitchell signing was a brilliant move and has paid off immensely.

Port McNeill is a Canuck-mad town. Those residents, including Mitchell's family, couldn't be happier that he is playing for Vancouver in the playoffs. Willie's mom said recently:

"It's a very Canuck-supportive town. It was tough when he was with the other team [Minnesota]," she said. "It's a dream-come-true to play in the playoffs with the Canucks, a team he's followed all his life."

Mitchell's grandfather, 81, played semi-pro hockey when he was younger, and has only recently hung up his skates. From the Vancouver Sun:

Willie's grandfather, Les, describes himself as one of the biggest Canuck fans around, especially now that his grandson is playing. When he watches games, he wears a special Canuck jersey that reads "Grandpa Number 8," in reference to Willie's jersey number.

Great stuff.

WillieTube

Mitchell saves our carcasses against the Stars.

Mitchell gets his 1st goal as a Canuck. Ironically it's against his old team, the Wild.

Willie hands Jarome his own ass.


What kind of face does Mitchell make when a bag of shite like Chris Kunitz sucker punches him behind the referee's back?

T Tags: Willie+Mitchell Biography Stats

Frustration reigns supreme in Dallas

Mitchell is god

I found this post interesting in the Dallas Morning News Blog today:

Brenden Morrow was really upset tonight. He's been around this and he wants to know what the heck the team is doing wrong, why it can't catch a break. I'm not sure why, either.

It's funny, Willie Mitchell had the most memorable play of the playoffs for the Stars last season, in my opinion. Joe Sakic was standing on the doorstep taking three whacks at Marty Turco and Mitchell stood by and did nothing. Sakic scored, and it was clear the Stars were going to allow the Avalanche to go to the net for the whole series.

This year, Mitchell rushes back and swipes a sure tying goal by Ribeiro off the goal line.

I'm not sure what that means, but it has to mean something.

Can I take a stab at that? Maybe it's because he WANTS to play here. On top of that, he fits in well with Alain Vigneault's system.

Modano's disappointed...still

"This feels a lot like last year; a lot of just-abouts, a lot of overtime goals, not being able to score in the playoffs," Stars center Mike Modano admitted.

Mike, may your disappointments continue for just one more game!

Don't get too cocky

I am feeling somewhat optimistic about the Canucks closing out this series soon. What really intensifies my cautiousness though is the fact that any of these games can go either way. Yesterday, in a sense, it came down to Lehtinen missing an open net on the 5-on-3 and Mitchell clearing the puck off the goal line.
If we were blowing them out 4-1 in these games I'd have more confidence. But we're not. It's down to bounces and few-and-far-between mistakes in this series. If Dallas gets a few bounces soon and takes some momentum, then anything can happen.

The last time the Canucks lost 3 games in a row (which is what it would take for Dallas to win the series) was December 19-22nd.



T Tags: Canucks Willie+Mitchell Stars Frustration