For the second time this season, the Boston Bruins have placed defenseman Ian Mitchell on waivers, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman on Friday.
The 24-year-old Mitchell has appeared in 13 games this season, record two assists and 10 penalty minutes and averaging 15:18 of ice time. Through four NHL seasons, Mitchell has four goals and 14 assists for 18 points in 95 career games, averaging 15:06 of ice time.
In four games with the AHL’s Providence Bruins this season, he has one assist.
The Bruins acquired Mitchell from the Chicago Blackhawks on June 26 as part of the trade that sent Taylor Hall and Nick Foligno to the Windy City. The Blackhawks also sent defenseman Alec Regula to Boston in the deal.
Mitchell, a second-round pick for the Blackhawks from the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, signed a one-year, one-way contract with the Bruins on July 10. He’s earning $775,000 this season, regardless of if he plays in the NHL or the AHL.
During his 2021-22 season with the Blackhawks’ AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs, Mitchell scored 11 goals and 24 assists for 35 points in 57 games. Many scouts considered him one of Chicago’s best defensive prospects, but he was unable to establish his game at the highest level.
After being drafted in 2017, Mitchell enrolled at the University of Denver, where in three seasons, he scored 18 goals, 71 assists and 89 points. He decided to forgo his senior season at Denver and sign a three-year entry-level deal with the Blackhawks.
The Bruins sit atop of the Eastern Conference’s Atlantic Division with a 20-7-6 record and 46 points. Their next game is at home on Saturday against the New Jersey Devils, then a quick flight to Michigan to face the Detroit Red Wings the following day.
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