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Notable new faces on Canadian teams
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Willie Mitchell – Defenceman, Vancouver Canucks
Even though he's new to the team, Willie Mitchell is by no means a stranger to the Vancouver Canucks.
The hard-nosed defenceman earned a reputation as one of the peskiest thorns in the side of Vancouver forwards during his tenure with the division rival Minnesota Wild. Mitchell made a name for himself during a series of renowned battles with former Canuck Todd Bertuzzi and for his contribution to Minnesota's 2002-03 playoff drive.
Mitchell, 29, is as stay-at-home a defenceman as they come. He's never tallied more than 14 points in a season, but the Canucks knew what they were buying when they opened up the vault to give Mitchell a four-year, $14-million US deal this past off-season.
The Port McNeill, B.C., native uses his physical presence and mobility to punish and smother opposing offences. It's an approach he found success with during his five years with the Wild before being shipped to the Dallas Stars at last year’s trade deadline.
"I play a solid defensive game and bring that element of feistiness and I'm anxious to get going," Mitchell told the Vancouver Sun.