Dale Mitchell (Photo from torontomarlies.com)
The Toronto Marlies have returned Memorial Cup hero Dale Mitchell to the Windsor Spitfires, which raises the questions, how do they get him into the lineup, and where is he going to play?
“The Windsor Spitfires are very pleased to welcome Dale Mitchell back to the team today. His addition solidifies an already strong corps of forwards on our team. Dale’s experience, energy, passion for the game and skill will be huge assets for us moving forward this season. We look forward to seeing Dale back on the ice,” commented Windsor Spitfires vice-president and general amnager Warren Rychel in a statement issued by the team.
The Spitfires are already deep at forward and will have to sacrifice the development of a younger player to get Mitchell, an overage right winger, into the lineup, as well as move at least one overager and possibly two.
Mitchell, the Leafs third round pick in 2007, scored 33 goals and 68 points in 68 regular season games last season and added another 14 goals and 29 points in 20 playoff games. However it was his three goals in 3:33 in the third period of the Memorial Cup tie-breaker game against the Rimouski Oceanic rallying the Spitfires from a 4-2 deficit to a 6-4 win that made him a hero in Windsor.
In nine games with the Marlies this season Mitchell had two goals and one assist.
Teams can dress just three overage players per game and with the return of Mitchell the Spitfires will now have five on their roster. Mitchell, an alternate captain last season, will join team captain Harry Young and Scott Timmins as the team's regular overage players and it appears that injured overage goalie Josh Unice will be moved, as Troy Passingham has played well in his absence. What becomes of Ryan Baldwin is not so clear. His desire to play in Windsor is for family reasons, and moving to another team (again) may not be his preference. He could remain with the team with the possibility of seeing game action should the other overagers get injured.
Having cleared the hurdle of getting him into the lineup, the next question is what line do you play him on? The right wingers in the lineup on Sunday against Oshawa were Kenny Ryan, Richard Panik, Austin Watson and Austin Brassard.
Ryan, the Leafs second round pick in 2009, has 10 points in nine games since coming to Windsor from Boston College, skating on the top line with Taylor Hall and Adam Henrique. Panik, Tampa Bay's second round pick in the 2009 draft has 12 points in 20 games. Watson, draft eligible in 2010, has 17 points in 22 games. One of these three will be moved to the fourth line to make room for Mitchell, meaning Spitfires first pick Austen Brassard either moves to the other wing or gets sent to the Lasalle Vipers to continue his development.
A decision most other teams would envy.
I'd love to hear your your thoughts on the possible Spitfires roster moves in the comments
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Comments
I think Brassard is the obvious choice here. Sure you'd like him to get some time on the fourth line, but if this team is about winning now, this season then i think you gotta go with more experience..
Panik would be the other one i'd consider moving, but his upside TODAY is much higer then Brassard. He's solid postionally and seems to be getting more and more comfortable with the OHL game each day.
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