| Mike Comrie | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Comrie with theEdmonton Oilers in 2009 | |||
| Born | (1980-09-11)September 11, 1980 (age 45) | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) | ||
| Weight | 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb) | ||
| Position | Centre | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for | Edmonton Oilers Philadelphia Flyers Phoenix Coyotes Färjestad BK Ottawa Senators New York Islanders Pittsburgh Penguins | ||
| National team |  Canada | ||
| NHL draft | 91st overall,1999 Edmonton Oilers | ||
| Playing career | 2000–2011 | ||
Michael William Comrie (born September 11, 1980) is a Canadian former professionalice hockeyplayer. During his 13-yearNational Hockey League (NHL) career he played with theEdmonton Oilers,Philadelphia Flyers,Phoenix Coyotes,Ottawa Senators,New York Islanders, and thePittsburgh Penguins. He retired in early 2012 after undergoing hip surgery for the third time.[1]
Mike Comrie was born and raised inEdmonton,Alberta, and attendedJasper Place High School.[citation needed] As a youth, he played in the 1993Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with aminor ice hockey team from the Whitemud region ofEdmonton, Alberta.[2] He was drafted in the third round, ninety-first overall, in the1999 NHL Entry Draft by his hometownEdmonton Oilers out of theUniversity of Michigan. He would go on to the CanadianWestern Hockey League for 37 games before being called up to play for theEdmonton Oilers[3]
Comrie left theWestern Hockey League (WHL)'sKootenay Ice midway through the 2000–01 season, signing an incentive-laden $10-million three-year deal with the Oilers,[4] which, when all achievable bonuses were included, was well above the league maximum for the base salaries of 2001 draftees of $1.13 million a year.[5] Although Comrie was a free agent as a result of playing one year of major junior hockey as an overage player after leaving college (due to a loophole established byMike Van Ryn), entry-level salary restrictions still applied to Comrie's contract, with free-agent status allowing Comrie to sign with any team he desired.[6] In Edmonton Comrie instantly become a fan favourite and hometown hero.[7] He was an offensive threat during his first couple seasons with the team, tallying a total of 133 points in 192 games from 2001 to 2003.
After a lacklustre training camp in the pre-season Comrie's status as local hero in Edmonton started to change dramatically,[8][9] after he elected to hold out in a contract dispute for more than 30 games into the2003–04 season. The Oilers then-General Manager,Kevin Lowe, was reportedly willing to trade Comrie to the Anaheim Ducks forCorey Perry and a first round draft pick,[10] but within that deal sought to have Comrie reimburse the Oilers $2.5 million,[11] which was part of the bonus money he earned from his entry-level contract.[12] After this deal fell through, Comrie was dealt to thePhiladelphia Flyers in December 2003, forJeff Woywitka, a first round selection in 2004 (Rob Schremp) and a third round selection in 2005 (Danny Syvret).[13]
Comrie played only 21 games for Philadelphia before being traded to thePhoenix Coyotes forSean Burke,Branko Radivojevic, and the rights toBen Eager.
During the2004–05 NHL lockout, he signed withFärjestad BK of theElitserien and played ten games with them, before leaving in December 2004.[14] Following an agreement made in July 2005, between the NHL andNHLPA members to resume hockey operations and play, Comrie would return to the Coyotes for the2005–06 NHL season, where he would record his second 30-goal season in the NHL. The Coyotes would then re-sign Comrie to a new, one-year contract worth $3 million, on August 4, 2006.[15]
On January 3, 2007, Comrie was traded to theOttawa Senators in exchange for Senators prospectAlexei Kaigorodov.
Comrie scored his first goal for the Senators versus the Boston Bruins on January 9, 2007, atScotiabank Place inOttawa,Ontario. Whenever Comrie scored a goal atScotiabank Place, his goal song was "Black Gloves" by the Belgian bandGoose. He helped Ottawa throughout the playoffs despite having an injured shoulder that required local anesthetic to numb the pain, this prevented him from reaching down to tie his skates. The Senators made it to theStanley Cup Finals, losing to theAnaheim Ducks, in a 4–1 series decision. Prior to the loss, the Senators eliminated the Pittsburgh Penguins,New Jersey Devils, andBuffalo Sabres all in five games.
On July 5, 2007, Mike Comrie signed a one-year contract worth $3.375 million with theNew York Islanders as an unrestricted free agent.[16] Before the trade deadline on February 26, 2008, the New York Islanders re-signed Comrie to a new one-year contract worth $4 million.[17] Comrie would be traded back to the Senators on February 20, 2009, withChris Campoli, in exchange forDean McAmmond and aSan Jose Sharks 2009 first round draft pick.[18]
On September 10, 2009, Mike Comrie signed a one-year contract worth $1.125 million with the team he began his NHL career with, returning to the Edmonton Oilers after six years, for their upcoming2009–10 NHL season.[19] Comrie chose to wear No. 91 (his overall draft selection number), as his familiar jersey No. 89 (which he wore during his first go-round with the team), was taken bySam Gagner.
Comrie made his return to Edmonton a night to remember, in a 4–0 pre-season win over theFlorida Panthers, on September 18, 2009. Comrie assisted on all four of the goals scored and registered a fight, squaring off with the Panthers'Eric Himelfarb, to which Comrie received a standing ovation from theRexall Place crowd, who promptly chanted his name as he took his place inside the penalty box.[20]
On November 17, Comrie was placed on the NHL long term injury reserve list withmononucleosis and was expected to be out until late January. He had 5 goals and 8 points, in 16 games. Comrie would make his return to the Oilers line-up on February 1, 2010, recording an assist in a 4–2 victory over theCarolina Hurricanes. He finished out the rest of the season tallying 13 goals and 21 points, in 43 games.
Mike Comrie became an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2010, with the Oilers opting not to re-sign him for the 2010–11 season.[21]
On September 3, 2010, Mike Comrie signed a one-year contract worth $500,000 with thePittsburgh Penguins,[22] joining the franchise that drafted his uncle Fred, in 1973.[23] On September 22, 2010, Comrie scored the very first goal inside of the newConsol Energy Center, 81 seconds into the Penguins' 5-1 exhibition game victory over theDetroit Red Wings.[24] Due to a nagging hip injury, Comrie was sidelined for much of the regular season. He scored his first goal as a Penguin during their 82nd and final game of the season, on an emptyAtlanta Thrashers net. It was the last goal scored in Thrashers's homePhilips Arena beforethe team relocated to Winnipeg in the off season.
After undergoing hip surgery for the third time, Comrie retired from hockey on February 13, 2012.[25][1]
Comrie's father,Bill, and his uncles, Fred and John, are the founders ofThe Brick furniture company, which was sold in 2012 for $700 million. Comrie's mother, Theresa, died of cancer in 1990. Comrie has two older siblings; a sister, Cathy, and a brother,Paul, who played with the Oilers briefly, before Mike was drafted by them. Comrie also has two hockey playing younger half-brothers from his father's second marriage,Eric, agoaltender who was selected by theWinnipeg Jets in the2013 NHL Entry Draft[26] and Ty,[27] who plays center.[1]
Comrie began dating American actress/singerHilary Duff in the summer of 2007. The couple announced their engagement in February 2010,[28][29] and married on August 14, 2010, inSanta Barbara.[30] They have a son born March 20, 2012.[31] On January 10, 2014, the couple announced their separation.[32] In February 2015, Duff filed for divorce from Comrie, citing irreconcilable differences, and sought primary custody of their son.[33] The divorce was finalized in February 2016.[34]
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1995–96 | Edmonton Canadians | AMBHL | 33 | 51 | 52 | 103 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1996–97 | St. Albert Saints | AJHL | 63 | 37 | 41 | 78 | 44 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1997–98 | St. Albert Saints | AJHL | 58 | 60 | 78 | 138 | 134 | 19 | 24 | 24 | 48 | 51 | ||
| 1998–99 | University of Michigan | CCHA | 42 | 19 | 25 | 44 | 38 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1999–00 | University of Michigan | CCHA | 40 | 24 | 35 | 59 | 95 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2000–01 | Kootenay Ice | WHL | 37 | 39 | 40 | 79 | 79 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2000–01 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 41 | 8 | 14 | 22 | 14 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 2001–02 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 82 | 33 | 27 | 60 | 45 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 69 | 20 | 31 | 51 | 90 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 10 | ||
| 2003–04 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 21 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2003–04 | Phoenix Coyotes | NHL | 28 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2004–05 | Färjestad BK | SEL | 10 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005–06 | Phoenix Coyotes | NHL | 80 | 30 | 30 | 60 | 55 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | Phoenix Coyotes | NHL | 24 | 7 | 13 | 20 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | Ottawa Senators | NHL | 41 | 13 | 12 | 25 | 24 | 15 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 15 | ||
| 2007–08 | New York Islanders | NHL | 76 | 21 | 28 | 49 | 87 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | New York Islanders | NHL | 41 | 7 | 13 | 20 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | Ottawa Senators | NHL | 22 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 43 | 13 | 8 | 21 | 30 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010–11 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 21 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 589 | 168 | 197 | 365 | 443 | 32 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 27 | ||||
| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Canada | WC | 6th | 7 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 10 |
| 2003 | Canada | WC |  | 9 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 6 |
| 2006 | Canada | WC | 4th | 9 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 10 |
| Totals | 25 | 7 | 5 | 12 | 26 | |||
| Award | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| AJHL Rookie of the Year | 1996–97 | |
| AJHL MVP | 1997–98 | |
| AJHL champion | 1997–98 | |
| All-CCHARookie Team | 1998–99 | |
| CCHARookie of the Year | 1998–99 | |
| AHCAWest Second-Team All-American | 1999–2000 | |
| IIHF World Championship gold medal | 2003 | [35] |
Souray came over in November along with the Phoenix Coyotes' Mike Comrie. Both signed with Farjestads during the first transfer window in the Swedish season. Comrie lasted only about 10 games and left at the beginning of December.
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | CCHA Rookie of the Year 1998–99 | Succeeded by |