Willie Mitchell played parts of 15 NHL seasons, and even found a way back on the ice after a knee injury kept him out for more than a year.

This time, it looks almost certain that he's gone for good.

The Panthers don't expect their captain to be back next season, and one of his closest friends on the team essentially revealed Tuesday that he thinks Mitchell's career is over. Mitchell missed the final 42 games of this season largely over concern what another brain injury would mean to his long-term health, and it's been expected for weeks that this season would be the finale.

"Willie's been a consummate professional," Panthers GM Dale Tallon said. "He's been a great captain. He's won Stanley Cups. He's given his body and soul to the game. It's hard. ... It's never easy and I'll give him all the support he can get."