Willie Mitchell

Professional National Hockey League hockey player Willie Mitchell plays defense for the Western Conference Vancouver Canucks.

After being drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the eighth round of the 1996 NHL Entry Draft, Mitchell spent his first few years as a professional with the Devils' American Hockey League affiliate. He made his NHL debut during the 1999/2000 season. After playing only 18 games with the Devils, Mitchell was traded to the Minnesota Wild near the close of the 2000/01 season.

Mitchell became a full-time NHL player with the Minnesota Wild, and played a regular shift as he developed into a solid shut-down defenseman. In 2004, Willie joined the gold medal winning Team Canada at the World Championships after the Wild's season ended.

In March of 2006, Mitchell was traded to the Dallas Stars at the NHL trade deadline. He played 16 games with Dallas, and became an un-restricted free agent at the end of the 2005/06 season.

During the off-season, Mitchell signed a four-year, $14 million, contract with the Vancouver Canucks. With Vancouver, he's developed into their top defensive defenseman, and has been relied upon to check opposing top lines every night. He received the Babe Pratt Trophy as the Canucks' top defenseman in both 2008 and 2009. Never one to score goals, Mitchell has never scored more than 4 goals in an NHL season. Still, his ability to limit scoring chances against and his presence in the locker room led the Canucks to name him an alternate captain.

• 1996: Drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the 8th round, 199th overall in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft

• 1998: Played for the Albany River Rats of the American Hockey League

• 1999: Played for the New Jersey Devils

• 2000: Split season with the Albany River Rats and the New Jersey Devils

• 2000: Traded to the Minnesota Wild

• 2006: Traded to the Dallas Stars

• 2006: Signed with the Vancouver Canucks as a free agent

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