Veteran Kings defenseman Willie Mitchell, who has been out all season, required a second surgery this week on his injured knee, according to his agent Mike Liut.
The procedure was designed to clean up "some debris" in the knee, Luit said. Previously, Mitchell tried at least one round of platelet-rich plasma therapy.
Mitchell, a big piece of the Kings' run to the Stanley Cup, injured his knee during the lockout and had surgery to remove some cartilage.
He reinjured the knee during his rehabilitation, pushing too hard too soon before training camp. At times, he appeared close to coming back to action once the season started but spoke of swelling in the knee in late January.
By the time February rolled around, the Kings were reconciled to playing the season without Mitchell and acquired defenseman Keaton Ellerby from Florida. On Monday, they added another piece for the final stretch, trading for veteran defenseman Robyn Regehr from Buffalo.
Mitchell "should be ready for next season," Liut said, via email.
— Lisa Dillman
