Islanders' Travis Mitchell has grinded his way to a homecoming game
Travis Mitchell of the New York Islanders skates against the Tampa Bay Lightning at UBS Arena on Dec. 2, 2025. Credit: Jim McIsaac
DETROIT — All NHL players deserve respect for making it to The Show.
But it was impossible not to feel especially good for 26-year-old rookie defenseman Travis Mitchell, an undrafted free agent from South Lyon, Michigan — about 40 miles northwest of Detroit — as he was given the honor of leading the Islanders’ center-ice, post-morning skate stretch at Little Caesars Arena prior to Tuesday night’s match against the Red Wings.
Still, Mitchell’s consistent spot in the Islanders’ lineup on a third pair with Scott Mayfield is anything but honorary. The defensive-minded grinder is making the most of an unexpected opportunity with Alexander Romanov (right shoulder) lost for the season.
“Guys that grind it out in the AHL, it teaches you things,” Mayfield told Newsday. “Guys see that. Guys respect that.”
More on his on-ice play in a bit but, first, let’s finish setting the scene.
Unable to hide a brimming smile, Mitchell repeatedly called it “special” finally being able to play in this building with about 30 friends and family that he knew of in attendance (he figured there would be more who came but hadn’t told him of their plans).
Even more special after two close calls.
He was reassigned to the Islanders’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport one day before the Islanders played in Detroit on Nov. 21, 2024. Last month, Mitchell was sent back to Bridgeport five days before the Islanders completed a historic 6-1-0 road trip with a 5-0 win over the Red Wings on Nov. 20.
So, yes, it was very easy to feel happy for Mitchell on Tuesday.
“It definitely stunk,” Mitchell said, laughing, about missing out on the previous two trips to Detroit. “But you understand there’s a process to it all. There’s always a reason why and everything happens for a reason. I’m a big believer in that. So the fact that now I’m able to come here and actually get to play is pretty special and pretty cool.”
The 6-4, 203-pound Mitchell — whose father, Jeff, played seven NHL games for the Stars in 1997-98 — entered Tuesday’s match with one goal in his first eight NHL games. He’s clearly won coach Patrick Roy’s trust with his simple defensive game and willingness to play physically. Most important, Mitchell, who was averaging just 11:05 of ice time entering his ninth match, perfectly understands his role among the Islanders’ six defensemen.
Roy does frequently skip him in the rotation. But it’s never been a benching, only situational decisions. Mitchell sees ice time toward the end of games.
“Each game, I get more and more confident,” Mitchell said. “I want to adjust to that role of what’s needed here where it’s being consistent, moving pucks, playing physical. So with each game getting better and getting more comfortable to kind of solidify myself and, hopefully, the ultimate goal is to become an everyday NHLer. Just taking this opportunity to do that is my biggest thing.”
Mitchell thought there was a chance he would be drafted when he was 18. The NHL’s Central Scouting Bureau included him in its rankings and he said he did interview with a “couple” of teams.
That call never came, though.
“I had kind of gone through the whole draft process,” Mitchell said, pausing to allow himself a laugh. “But ultimately, I didn’t get drafted. From there, you’ve got to go back to work and hopefully continue to grow as a player and a person to make it to that next level, each step of the way.”
He played four seasons in the USHL, this country’s top junior league, then played three seasons of NCAA hockey for Cornell before joining the Islanders’ organization.
“It’s been great playing with him,” Mayfield said. “It’s not an easy league to just jump into midseason. But he’s held his own, played well and done what we needed him to do.”
The Islanders were happy for Mitchell on Tuesday. Mitchell was happy for himself.
His backstory made it very easy to be happy for him.
Notes & quotes: Mathew Barzal was able to play after missing the morning skate for maintenance and being a game-time decision… Forward Max Tsyplakov and defenseman Adam Boqvist remained the healthy scratches while Bo Horvat (left leg/ankle) missed his second game.
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
