Willie Mitchell (knee) is expected to play in the Kings' regular season opener on Thursday. Mitchell missed the entire 2013 campaign because of the injury. Rust is an obvious concern, but getting him back should still provide the Kings with a big boost.

Kings coach Darryl Sutter isn't ready to commit to Willie Mitchell (knee) playing in the season opener. Mitchell participated in his second preseason game on Tuesday. "I think he had a really good game one, and he probably I would say he had a tougher time tonight," Sutter said. "He's 36-years-old and he's missed 15 months of hockey, and the second game is always your toughest one." Mitchell had a plus-one rating in 21:12 minutes of ice time in a 2-1 victory over Anaheim.

Willie Mitchell will play against the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday. Mitchell missed the entire 2013 campaign due to a knee injury. He previously played in Friday's preseason contest and Sutter liked what he saw.

After a 15-month absence because of knee inflammation, Willie Mitchell returned to the Los Angeles Kings for a preason game Friday night and impressed coach Darryl Sutter. Said Sutter: "I thought he played really well.for a guy that hasn't played for a while. He was fine. He's probably going to say he ran out of gas a little bit. It looked like there were times where he did. It's a totally different situation when you start playing games." Mitchell played for slightly more than 23 minutes Friday and said afterward: "I felt fine out there. I didn't do anything great. I didn't do anything terrible. It was just probably status quo for most guys' first game. There's a couple of reads I want to improve on, just like everyone else. I look forward to getting back in and keep improving."

Willie Mitchell is set to participate in Friday's preseason game. It will be his first contest since June 11, 2012 as he missed the entire 2013 campaign due to a knee injury. He'll play alongside Slava Voynov. "It's nice that Darryl's kind of putting me with him at the start, just because I am familiar with his game. He's familiar with mine," Mitchell said. "It kind of makes the transition when you haven't played hockey for a little while a little bit easier."

Willie Mitchell expects to play in Friday's exhibition game versus Colorado. "I'm playing for sure, so I'm looking forward to it," he said. "I'm not looking forward to the thin air, but ... after the road I traveled, I'd take that any day of the week. I'm excited. Really excited to go. Just excited to get in game action." He hasn't played since June 11, 2012 when the Kings won the Stanley Cup because of knee inflammation that required a pair of surgeries. He practiced Thursday with the group that is projected to play against the Avalanche.

Defenseman Willie Mitchell is hoping to land one of the two open spots on the Kings' starting six. Drew Doughty, Slava Voyonov, Matt Greene and Robyn Regher are guaranteed roster spots but there are a host of candidates for the next two starting and two reserve positions. Mitchell, who missed the entire 2012-13 season due to knee surgeries, is hoping to nab one of the two starting positions. Mitchell played in the Kings' scrimmage on Saturday but will not play in the team's pre-season opener against the Coyotes Sunday.

The Kings are taking it easy with Willie Mitchell at the start of the preseason. The 36-year-old missed the entire 2012-13 season due to knee inflammation that necessitated two surgeries, so the Kings plan to ease him in to action. For instance, he won't play in the split-squad games Sunday. "I'm not going to throw [him] into the fire," coach Daryl Sutter said. "He's got to ramp it up. . When you're 36 and haven't played a game in 14 months, and he wants to be in game situation, but game situation was more today for him. So, I don't know. I like the way the preseason schedule is with only seven games, and then the breaks in it. Once you go along, there's gaps in it where we'll start sorting the team better, and then that's when those guys will play more."

Willie Mitchell (knee) is able to skate pain free. "Like I said, it wasn't major pain, anyways, when I had my setback," Mitchell explained. "It was more just dumping a lot of inflammation into the knee, and when the inflammation comes, then the pain comes. So I have none of that now, and because of that, it's full speed ahead." He's expected to be available for the start of the Kings' training camp.

Defenseman Willie Mitchell, who missed all of last season because of knee problems, has been skating in informal sessions and "is doing everything and he feels good," Los Angeles coach Darryl Sutter said. But, Sutter added, "It's still going to be a question that you're not going to know every day."