Just hours after signing winger Bill Guerin, New York Islanders GM Garth Snow struck again, this time signing center Mike Comrie to a one-year, $3.375 contract.
This signing I feel is a better one than the Guerin signing. Comrie is 26 and still has time to improve. He's well-traveled to be sure, departing Edmonton, Philadelphia and Phoenix under a cloud of disappointment in his play and at times his attitude.
Still, he's proven capable of posting up decent numbers as a second line center, and with the Ottawa Senators this season added a gritty defensive angle to his game that was previously missing.
Snow probably has designs on Comrie being a first-line center, perhaps not the best role for him as he's seemed more comfortable on the second line, but given the Isles lack of depth it's understandable if Comrie is pressed into first-line duty.
I also think it's a good idea, given his difficulty in sticking with several teams, only to commit to one year to see how Comrie pans out.
At best, he could mature into the role of first-line center which could work out well for the Isles. At worst, he'll be good enough for 20 goals, 45 points and can be cut loose next summer if things don't work out.
At the very least, Comrie's proven that when motivated he's a hard worker, which was more than Alexei Yashin appeared to be.
Well, I've commented many times on what I think about Yashin, so I won't get into that again. I would be interested to see the money Comrie got on this deal, although clearly the Islanders have some to spare. I don't necessarily have an issue with Comrie, but he's gotten a better amount of opportunities than a lot of players and doesn't have too much to show for it. This should be a big year for him, as if he can flourish with the upgraded ice time he gets in NY he can parlay it into a long-term deal with either the Isles or another team. It also seemed quite a few teams were interested in him (likely due to so many other guys NOT being available) and so the money talked here. Hard to dislike this, but I wouldn't expect too much.
Mike Comrie is a premadona. He isn't as good as he thinks and has only done well because of where he's landed. I don't hate the guy, but I don't think he's the second coming of christ either. I just don't like the path the islanders are going. Now they're going to get a dman that no one elese wants....Vannanen or Vishnevski?
The Buffalo Sabres sign goaltender Jocelyn Thibault to a one-year deal
he'd be a good backup, FLAMES GO AND GET AULD
Last edited by OntarioFlamesFan on July 5th at 5:38 PM.
Oh, gosh yeah, where is my mind at? Good call. Lol, I'm with you, I bet they'd be very happy to take Gerber to arbitration at this point..he'd stand to lose a few bucks.
Yep, Comrie's only 26, and for all his talent this is his fifth team since December 2003. That should tell you pretty much everything you need to know about the lad...
While I agree that Comrie has been around the block, it should also be pointed out that he's posted two 60-point seasons and been above the 30-goal mark twice. At 26, that's not bad.
A report from ESPN.com's EJ Hradek says that the reason Sheldon Souray hasn't signed yet is that he has an understanding with the Rangers, whom he wants to play for, that they will sign him as soon as they deal with contracts for Lundqvist and Shannahan and Avery - and possibly trade Matt Cullen or Marek Malik to create cap space for him. Souray has made repeated statements that he wants to play for the Rangers.
I never said Mike Comrie was a bad player. He'd just got to work some maturity into his game and put some of that baggage in storage. That's why he's been moved as much as he has.
ChipS:
Good surmise. The Rangers have $14 million in cap space to play with: $9 million in real cap space, plus the 10 percent you're allowed to go over the cap prior to September 1.
If the Rangers signed Souray and Shanahan for a combined $9 million cap hit -- not a prediction, just playing with numbers right now -- that would make them vulnerable to a $6 million plus offer sheet for Avery or Lundqvist. They'd have a seven day clock to dump salary in order the match, let alone dumping salary to get under the cap.
They particularly need to get Lundqvist taken care off, as he's the biggest risk to a healthy offer sheet right now.
Last edited by Matt_McCallum on July 6th at 10:28 AM.
I've always seen Comrie was a poor man's Doug Weight. He was looking pretty good in Edmonton, but they put way too much pressure on him and he crashed and burned. 3.75 mill? He isn't worth a penny more than 2.75 mill.
I've never liked Comrie, spoiled lil rich boy who's dad owns the Brick furniture stores, and poor quality, at that, same as Comrie's playing level, poor quality.
He plays a pretty physical game consider how small he is, and I don't think that he has been given the best of chances. Really in Ottawa he wasn't playing with their stars, so there was no reason to believe that he was going to go out and put up good numbers. I doubt he was playing any more than 10 minutes a game.
In Edmonton he was given a lot of ice time, but at the time he didn't have much to work with. In Pheonix... well LOL he was in Pheonix and we haven't seen much good come out of there other than the now incredibly overpaid Briere. Simon Gagner is going to make him look like a franchise center this year, because Simon Gagner is that damn good.
Comrie will probably be playing on the first line in the upcomming year with who? Satan and Guerin? If Guerin gets off his #### and starts hussling it could be a decent line. But you have to admit, it's one of the worst first lines in the NHL.
Anyone have any idea of where Yashin will land, if anywhere? He may be a cheap option for a team like Pheonix. I personally would love to see him land in Tampa, but I realize that they are limited in cap space.
I'm Lyle Richardson, also known as Spector, Foxsports.com 's "Prince of Pucks".,which is based on the fact I live in Prince Edward Island, Canada and I couldn't think of a better byline. I've been an NHL hockey commentator since 1998 on my website, Spector's Hockey, and I'm a contributing writer for Foxsports.com , The Hockey News and Eishockey News. I'm also a regular on The Faceoff Hockey Show and a frequent guest on "The Late Crew" on The Team 1200 Ottawa.
