Torrey Mitchell

Torrey Mitchell
230px 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 C. 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. 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.

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.

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.

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

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

External links

• Torrey Mitchell's player profile at NHL.com
• Torrey Mitchell's career statistics at The Internet Hockey Database
• Vermont Catamounts profile at the Wayback Machine (archived April 15, 2005)