"Defenceman Willie Mitchell will be at the Vancouver Canucks' regular-season opener Oct. 9 at Rogers Arena.

He just won't be wearing a Canucks' uniform and that will feel strange.

"It's going to make it easy for my family and friends, that's for sure," Mitchell joked on a conference call Wednesday a few hours after he signed a two-year, $7-million deal with the Los Angeles Kings. "That should be interesting. My wife looked that up before I did. It will be fun, there will be a lot of energy, a lot of emotions … I hope I get the colours right on the first night."

The Kings, Vancouver's first NHL opponent 40 years ago, visit the Canucks on Oct. 9 in the regular-season opener for both teams.

Mitchell's decision came after he had auditioned for at least four NHL teams, including the Canucks, who were all seeking confirmation that he had fully recovered from a season-ending concussion suffered way back on Jan. 16 when he was slammed into the end boards by Pittsburgh Penguins star Evgeni Malkin.

The Kings gave Mitchell something other suitors were reluctant to do. They not only offered him a two-year deal, they gave him the same salary — $3.5-million a year — that he had collected in his four seasons as a Canuck.

Many felt Mitchell, 33, would have to sign a one-year, bonus-laden contract and prove he was over the concussion. The Kings were willing to roll the dice on a player they see as a significant addition to a back end that includes youngsters Drew Doughty and Jack Johnson.

Ron Hextall, the Kings' assistant general manager, said he sees Mitchell in a shutdown role alongside Doughty, the talented Norris Trophy finalist.

"I do envision him being with Drew Doughty," Hextall said in an interview with the team's website. "In the end it's the coach's decision, but that's kind of where we see him playing against the (Ryan) Getzlafs and the top centres and top lines on other teams."