He still looks and plays small, while the rest of the team has somehow grown up around him.
People used to say Willy was a wuss and dude is one of the hardest forwards we have to play against, so much so that Patches is trying to learn how to protect the puck like Willy does, telling his kids to watch him play.
- gravyface
I think the Leafs have obviously kicked the tires on an extension and probably have the number that Mitch is looking for. The fact that nothing's been done suggests that they don't like the number.
Mitch probably has this year to prove that he's an invaluable piece that deserves that much, or he's going to find a new address and new fans to piss off on July 1st.
I've said before you can be undersized as long as you don't play like it - and I agree that he is playing like it. He's still a great passer, has nice hands and moves and reads offensive plays well. He will get his points, but the finer points of his game seem to have eroded a little and I think that's where we're frustrated.
In the earlier days, before other players really knew him, he exploited his quick stick and relatively high hockey IQ to great benefit - picking off passes, intercepting plays and so on - but they've adapted to move the puck in safe lanes and Mitch's picks aren't as effective because he hasn't adapted himself. Players know the passes he can make and will try so they're looking for those now, while they weren't before - so some of that magic fades as well. While being bigger or stronger would certainly not hurt him, it's not really the reason Mitch has been struggling - it's, I think, the failure to adapt to the adaptations made around him.
