John Mitchell was often a lonely figure at old Lakeshore Lions Arena, a marginal Leaf who was an early August arrival for the summer skates to protect what little ice time he earned in his transition from the Marlies.
He was also one of the last farmhands to go through St. John’s, a 19-year-old far from home with teammates such as Matt Stajan and Carlo Colaiacovo, before the affiliate moved across the highway from the ACC.
Fast forward to Monday night at the Pepsi Center where he was centring Jarome Iginla in the hunt for his 600th National Hockey League goal and Colorado Avalanche mainstay Alex Tanguay.