On February 28, 2011, Mitchell was traded from the Toronto Maple Leafs to the New York Rangers in exchange for a seventh round draft pick in 2012. After starting the 2011–12 season with the Rangers AHL affiliate Connecticut Whale, Mitchell was called up to the Rangers for a game on November 25, 2011, in which he registered his first point for the Rangers by assisting on a goal by Brian Boyle.