Willie Mitchell recently underwent knee surgery but is farther behind in his rehabilitation and recovery than the Kings expected, coach Darryl Sutter revealed in an oh-by-the-way moment Monday.
Mitchell, a veteran defenseman, declined to comment.
"With Mitchell, he had knee surgery and he's way behind what he should have been," Sutter said after the first of two workouts. "He should have been (sidelined for) a couple of weeks and now he's already almost seven.
"And so that's thrown out of whack."
The Kings don't expect Mitchell to play in the lockout-delayed season opener Saturday against the Chicago Blackhawks. Sutter didn't elaborate on Mitchell's surgery or say on which knee the procedure was performed. The Kings said last week only that Mitchell tweaked his knee.
Mitchell was a vital cog in the Kings' unexpected run last spring to their first Stanley Cup championship. Through a team spokesman, Mitchell said he would talk to reporters only after he returns to the ice. There is no timetable for his return, however.
Sutter revealed Mitchell's recent surgery during an off-handed comment while addressing a question about goaltender Jonathan Quick's offseason back surgery. Sutter suddenly began to explain how Mitchell's recovery from surgery was behind schedule.
Mitchell had five goals and 24 points in 76 regular-season games for the Kings in 2011-12 and one goal and three points in 20 playoff games, when he averaged 25 minutes, 19 seconds on the ice. He averaged 22:14 during the regular season.
Kopitar skates
Anze Kopitar strapped on a new brace to protect his sprained right knee and went for a 30-minute skate after his teammates left the ice.
Assistant coach Bernie Nicholls put him through some light drills and he reported only a little discomfort afterward.
"It felt good, so we'll see day by day how I progress," said Kopitar, who was injured while playing in Sweden during the lockout.
"I didn't go all out right off the hop. I wanted to get the turns and the crossovers and everything. I'm sure if you skate straight ahead there's no pain.
"I was curious, I guess, to experience the turns and the pivots and I didn't have any problems. There is a little discomfort, but to be honest I thought it would be worse than it was. It takes a little bit to get used to (the knee brace), so I'm sure it'll be a process."
Kopitar said he's never worn a knee brace.
The Kings expect him to be sidelined for at least another two weeks.
Mitchell, a veteran defenseman, declined to comment.
"With Mitchell, he had knee surgery and he's way behind what he should have been," Sutter said after the first of two workouts. "He should have been (sidelined for) a couple of weeks and now he's already almost seven.
"And so that's thrown out of whack."
The Kings don't expect Mitchell to play in the lockout-delayed season opener Saturday against the Chicago Blackhawks. Sutter didn't elaborate on Mitchell's surgery or say on which knee the procedure was performed. The Kings said last week only that Mitchell tweaked his knee.
Mitchell was a vital cog in the Kings' unexpected run last spring to their first Stanley Cup championship. Through a team spokesman, Mitchell said he would talk to reporters only after he returns to the ice. There is no timetable for his return, however.
Sutter revealed Mitchell's recent surgery during an off-handed comment while addressing a question about goaltender Jonathan Quick's offseason back surgery. Sutter suddenly began to explain how Mitchell's recovery from surgery was behind schedule.
Mitchell had five goals and 24 points in 76 regular-season games for the Kings in 2011-12 and one goal and three points in 20 playoff games, when he averaged 25 minutes, 19 seconds on the ice. He averaged 22:14 during the regular season.
Kopitar skates
Anze Kopitar strapped on a new brace to protect his sprained right knee and went for a 30-minute skate after his teammates left the ice.
Assistant coach Bernie Nicholls put him through some light drills and he reported only a little discomfort afterward.
"It felt good, so we'll see day by day how I progress," said Kopitar, who was injured while playing in Sweden during the lockout.
"I didn't go all out right off the hop. I wanted to get the turns and the crossovers and everything. I'm sure if you skate straight ahead there's no pain.
"I was curious, I guess, to experience the turns and the pivots and I didn't have any problems. There is a little discomfort, but to be honest I thought it would be worse than it was. It takes a little bit to get used to (the knee brace), so I'm sure it'll be a process."
Kopitar said he's never worn a knee brace.
The Kings expect him to be sidelined for at least another two weeks.
