• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

MayorsManor.com

NHL blog, LA Kings hockey news and interviews from The Mayor

  • Radio Replay
  • Prospect Rankings
  • Podcast
  • Contact Us
You are here: Home / NHL / Bruins / RECAP: Willie Mitchell on NHL Home Ice Radio

RECAP: Willie Mitchell on NHL Home Ice Radio

January 25, 2011 By John Hoven

Los Angeles Kings defenseman Willie Mitchell joined the guys on NHL Home Ice radio earlier this afternoon.  Although they asked a little about the win last night and his injury woes in 2010, the bulk of the interview was spent talking up rookie Kyle Clifford.  Here’s a quick recap…

* How important was it to win again at Staples Center after the recent eight game home stand where the team went 2-6? I think we could all feel it coming. Over the few games before I think we were starting to play good hockey again, just not getting the results. So, it’s nice to get rewarded. For the mental aspect, it was big.

* (on Clifford) He reminds me of Rick Rypien when he was breaking in with the Vancouver Canucks. Nobody really knew he was and I’d see him beat up guys left and right. Finally, word started to get out. Cliffy is much the same way, but actually even younger. He’s a good hockey player too. He’s done the physical stuff and that’s probably a big reason why he stayed up in the NHL at such a young age. His game is going to continue to evolve though. He’s a really good player and he’ll be a good player for us for a long time.

* (on the Clifford-Thornton fight last night) Before the Boston game we knew they were a blue collar type team with an in-your-face style. We also knew we weren’t going to have Kevin Westgarth in the line-up. So, you look around and say ‘Do we need a little more sandpaper?’ Clifford has answered the bell so well this year. Thornton has done it for an extended period of time and he’s actually a really smart player too. So, to see him (Clifford) get in a tussle with a guy who’s done it that long and is widely known as one of the smarter players, and to do so well, it’s kinda scary to think what he might be capable of years down the road.

* What kind of upside do you see for Clifford? Some guys have done it different ways. If you look at some of the good power forwards, they had that physical game early on in their career and that allowed them to bide their time and hone their skills and get their scoring touch. He has a really good snapshot. The more he plays and gets the trust of the coaches, because he is a young player, the more he buys himself time to get his timing down and all those small steps needed to get to the next level. He’s on our third/fourth line right now. I definitely see him as a second line guy down the road, maybe following in the footsteps of somebody like Milan Lucic – a guy who can go to the net hard, has a good shot and isn’t afraid to pay the price to get those ugly goals.

* You were injured quite a bit last year. How happy are you to be back playing? I was probably one of the happiest people in North America to ring in 2011.  Starting January 16th of last year it was a tough time for me, first with my concussion and then other injuries (talks about his broken wrist, a knee injury vs. St. Louis, etc.). My head injury was a horrible thing to go through, but it may have been one of the best things for me in the long run. It taught me not to panic. Something in my knee is just superficial compared to what I went through with my head and my life. When it’s a head you don’t know if you’re going to get better. So, it’s allowed me to put things in perspective.

 

.

Filed Under: Bruins, hockey, Kings, Los Angeles, NHL Tagged With: Boston, Clifford, hockey, Los Angeles, Lucic, Mitchell, Thornton

About John Hoven

John Hoven is a former member of the Professional Hockey Writers Association and co-hosts Kings of the Podcast. He's also the founder and editor of MayorsManor.com, which has been named Best Sports Blog in Los Angeles and Hockey Blog of the Year. Click "ABOUT OUR TEAM" below for a full bio.

Primary Sidebar

Kings Of The Podcast

Kings Of The Podcast: Ep. 147 with Jordan Spence

Kings Of The Podcast returns for another all-new episode, and this time around John Hoven and Dennis Bernstein are joined by LA prospect Jordan Spence. Some of the topics covered in this hour-plus KOTP edition include: — Mark Yannetti and the NHL Draft — Being born in Australia and relocating to Japan, then Canada — […]

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent Posts

  • Reign Recap: Petersen Shines in Ontario’s 5-2 Win Over Tucson
  • Ontario Reign Projected Lineup vs. Tucson Roadrunners; Several LA Prospects Returning To Action
  • Kings Of The Podcast: Ep. 148 – Live from NHL All Star Weekend in Florida
  • Rapid Review: Notes and Highlights from Kings Latest Stormy Loss in Carolina
  • Reign Recap: Four Goal First Period Powers Ontario to Victory Over Colorado
  • Projected Lineups – LA at Carolina; Kings Blow Into Town With History Against Them
  • Ontario Reign Projected Lineup vs. Colorado Eagles; It’s a 3-2 Season Series
  • Reign Recap: Ontario Falls Short Against Calgary 4-1
  • Ontario Reign Projected Lineup vs. Calgary; Time to Wrangle Up Another W
  • Rapid Review: Notes and Highlights from Kings 5-2 Loss in Tampa Bay

Tweets by mayorNHL

Footer

Archives

Tags

AHL Blackhawks Brown camp Carter Clifford coach comments Doughty draft Ducks history hockey interview Kings Kopitar lineup Lombardi Los Angeles Manchester Mayor MayorsManor Monarchs Murray NHL Ontario Penner Playoffs Prospect Quick quote Radio Reign Richards roster Sharks Stanley Cup Stoll Sutter Toffoli trade video WCB West Coast Bias Williams

MayorsManor

  • About Our Team
  • Contact Us
  • Store

© 2023 MayorsManor.com