Torrey Mitchell

Torrey Mitchell

Mitchell in April 2015.
Born (1985-01-30) January 30, 1985
Greenfield Park, QC, CAN
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb)
Position Centre
Shoots Right
NHL team
Former teams		 Montreal Canadiens
San Jose Sharks
Minnesota Wild
Buffalo Sabres
NHL Draft 126th overall, 2004
San Jose Sharks
Playing career 2007–present

Torrey Charles Mitchell (born January 30, 1985) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was originally drafted by the San Jose Sharks in the fourth round, 126th overall, of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

Amateur

"Big Money Mitch," as he was nicknamed, graduated from Selwyn House School and The Hotchkiss School before he attended the University of Vermont. During his Junior year at Vermont, he served as co-captain of the Catamounts. After the Catamounts' 2006–07 season, Mitchell left the school and played in the American Hockey League (AHL) for the Worcester Sharks. On March 31, 2007, Mitchell scored his first AHL goal against the Houston Aeros in a 7–3 victory.

Professional

Mitchell in 2008.

In the summer of 2007, Mitchell attended the San Jose Sharks' training camp, and on October 4, 2007, he played his first NHL game against the Edmonton Oilers. He scored his first NHL goal on November 9, 2007, against Jean-Sébastien Giguère of the rival Anaheim Ducks. During that season, Mitchell spent most of his time playing on the third line with Patrick Rissmiller and Mike Grier, becoming a penalty-killing specialist with the Sharks. Mitchell also became a favourite among Shark fans when he scored a memorable goal in a game against the Ducks. The Sharks were killing a penalty, and Mitchell was able to grab the puck on a breakaway and score on Giguère while defenceman Mathieu Schneider was hooking from behind, even forcing Mitchell to fall on the ice before Mitchell got up and scored the goal. On April 10, 2008, Mitchell scored his first career NHL playoff goal in the second game of the first round series against the Calgary Flames, assisted by Ryane Clowe and Craig Rivet.

On September 21, 2008, during an open team practice, Mitchell was pushed by Brett Westgarth while skating full speed towards the net. He slammed into the right goal post and suffered a complete, non-displaced tibia/fibula fracture, commonly known as a "boot top fracture." The original estimate for his return to the ice was a minimum of two months after the incident. He resumed skating with the Sharks in practice in January 2009. He resumed play with a planned three-game conditioning assignment to the American Hockey League Worcester Sharks on January 16, 2009, but he suffered another injury to the same leg during play on January 18. He missed the remainder of the regular season, later making his season debut in the Sharks third playoff game.

After a 2008–09 season marred by injury, Mitchell became a restricted free agent in the off-season, eventually re-signing with the Sharks on a three-year, $4.1 million contract.

On July 1, 2012, Mitchell signed as a free agent to a three-year contract with the Minnesota Wild. Due to the 2012–13 NHL lockout, however, Mitchell signed a standard contract with the San Francisco Bulls of the ECHL on December 31, 2012.[1] He played his first official game as a Bull two days later and scored the only regulation goal for the team at their home arena, the Cow Palace, in a 2–1 shootout loss.[2]

On March 5, 2014, Mitchell was traded to the Buffalo Sabres, along with a second-round draft pick in 2014 and a second-round pick in 2016 (traded to Montreal for Josh Gorges), in exchange for Matt Moulson and Cody McCormick.[3]

In the following 2014–15 season, Mitchell was again moved at the NHL trade deadline – he was shipped to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Jack Nevins and a seventh-round draft pick in 2016 on March 2, 2015.[4]

On June 15, 2015, Mitchell signed a three year contract to remain with the Canadiens for a reported $3.6 million.[5]

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2002–03 Hotchkiss School NEPSAC 26 19 30 49 33 — — — — —
2003–04 Hotchkiss School NEPSAC 25 25 37 62 42 — — — — —
2004–05 University of Vermont ECAC 38 11 19 30 74 — — — — —
2005–06 University of Vermont HE 38 12 28 40 34 — — — — —
2006–07 University of Vermont HE 39 12 23 35 46 — — — — —
2006–07 Worcester Sharks AHL 11 2 5 7 27 6 1 1 2 15
2007–08 San Jose Sharks NHL 82 10 10 20 48 13 1 2 3 10
2008–09 Worcester Sharks AHL 2 1 0 1 0 — — — — —
2008–09 San Jose Sharks NHL — — — — — 4 0 0 0 2
2009–10 San Jose Sharks NHL 56 2 9 11 27 15 0 2 2 2
2009–10 Worcester Sharks AHL 5 1 2 3 10 — — — — —
2010–11 San Jose Sharks NHL 66 9 14 23 46 18 1 4 5 10
2011–12 San Jose Sharks NHL 76 9 10 19 29 5 0 1 1 6
2012–13 San Francisco Bulls ECHL 2 1 0 1 0 — — — — —
2012–13 Minnesota Wild NHL 45 4 4 8 21 5 1 0 1 0
2013–14 Minnesota Wild NHL 58 1 8 9 21 — — — — —
2013–14 Buffalo Sabres NHL 9 1 0 1 4 — — — — —
2014–15 Buffalo Sabres NHL 51 6 7 13 26 — — — — —
2014–15 Montreal Canadiens NHL 14 0 1 1 8 12 1 4 5 6
NHL totals 457 42 63 105 232 72 4 13 17 36

Awards and honors

Award Year
All-ECAC Hockey Rookie Team 2004–05

References

  1. ↑ "Bulls Sign Former Sharks Fan Favorite Torrey Mitchell". San Francisco Bulls Pro Hockey (Official Site). 2012-12-31. Retrieved 2013-01-05.
  2. ↑ "Torrey Mitchell Scores in Bulls Debut, a 2-1 Shootout Loss to Colorado". San Francisco Bulls Pro Hockey (Official Site). 2013-01-02. Retrieved 2013-01-05.
  3. ↑ "Wild gets Moulson, McCormick from Sabres for Mitchell, picks". StarTribune. 2014-03-05. Retrieved 2014-03-09.
  4. ↑ "Mitchell traded to Canadiens by Sabres". National Hockey League. 2015-03-02. Retrieved 2015-03-02.
  5. ↑ "Canadiens sign Mitchell to three-year deal". The Sports Network. 2015-06-15. Retrieved 2015-06-16.

External links

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