Dallas Stars Acquire Defenseman Willie Mitchell
Published on March 9, 2006 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Iowa Chops News Release
FRISCO, Tex. - Dallas Stars General Manager Doug Armstrong announced today that the club has acquired defenseman Willie Mitchell and a second round pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for defenseman Martin Skoula and defenseman Shawn Belle.
"Willie is a veteran player who upgrades the depth of our defensive corps," said Armstrong. "He plays a solid defensive game and will be a good fit for our hockey club as we prepare for the 2006 Playoffs and a chance to compete for the Stanley Cup."
Mitchell, 28, has played in 306 career NHL games, scoring nine goals and 50 assists for 59 points with a plus/minus rating of +29 and 362 penalty minutes. He has appeared in 64 games for Minnesota this season, leading the team in plus/minus with a +15 rating. Mitchell has scored two goals and six assists for eight points this season with 87 penalty minutes. He served as team captain for the Wild during the months of December and January (Minnesota rotates their team captains on a monthly basis).
The 6-3, 205-pound defenseman played a pivotal role in Minnesota's run to the Western Conference Finals in the 2003 Stanley Cup Playoffs, appearing in all 18 games, tying for the team-lead in plus/minus (+5), and leading the team in average ice time (24:48).
Originally drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the eighth round (199th overall) of the 1996 NHL Entry Draft, Mitchell was acquired by Minnesota on March 4, 2001, in exchange for Sean O'Donnell.
Skoula, 28, has appeared in 61 games for Dallas this season, scoring four goals and 11 assists for 15 points with 36 penalty minutes. He was signed as a free agent by Dallas on Aug. 3, 2005.
Belle, 20, has appeared in 45 games with the Iowa Stars (AHL) this season, scoring one goal and two assists for three points with 63 penalty minutes. He was originally acquired by Dallas from St. Louis on June 25, 2004, in exchange for goaltender Jason Bacashihua.
Mitchell is expected to join the team in Vancouver prior to the Stars' game against the Canucks on Saturday night. Dallas will take on the Flames tonight in Calgary (8:00 p.m. CT, kdfi-27, News/Talk 820 WBAP).
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