The Capitals are one of several teams interested in free agent defenseman Willie Mitchell, who was at Kettler Iceplex on Tuesday for a workout with the team. The 33-year-old was a key member of the Vancouver Canucks’ blueline the last four seasons. He is a 6-foot-3, 205-pounder with a style of play the Caps are often accused of lacking — a physical presence in front of the net and someone able to make opposing forwards pay a price for skating into his area.
Sounds like a good fit, right?
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But there’s a reason Mitchell is still available almost seven weeks after free agency opened. He suffered a serious concussion last January after a hit by Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin and missed the rest of the season. It was the third concussion of Mitchell’s career and that’s a concern for any team courting him.
So far he’s had workouts with Vancouver, San Jose and Los Angeles. Mitchell reportedly has been symptom-free all summer.
If healthy, he adds depth and a veteran presence to a Washington blueline that’s likely adding John Carlson, 20, and Karl Alzner, 21, full time. As the roster is currently constructed, it also bumps John Erskine to the No. 7 spot and makes Tyler Sloan a depth defenseman again.
It’s a move that makes sense. But the Caps have to seriously weigh the health risks involved.
