Mike Comrie

**Mike Comrie** (born Michael William Comrie on September 11, 1980 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) is a Canadian former ice hockey player who played in the NHL for the Edmonton Oilers, Philadelphia Flyers, Phoenix Coyotes, Ottawa Senators, New York Rangers and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Comrie was drafted 91st overall by the Oilers in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft.

## Playing Career

### Early Playing Career

As a youth, Mike played in the 1993 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from the Whitemud region of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

### Professional

Mike left the Western Hockey League's Kootenay Ice midway through the 2000–01 season, signing an incentive-laden $10-million three-year deal with the Oilers 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.

Although he 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 by Mike Van Ryn), entry-level salary restrictions still applied to Mike's contract, with free-agent status allowing him to sign with any team he desired.

In Edmonton, Mike instantly become a fan favourite and hometown hero. 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 lackluster training camp in the pre-season, Mike's status as local hero in Edmonton started to change dramatically after he elected to hold out in a contract dispute for more than 30 games into the 2003–04 season.

The Oilers then-General Manager, Kevin Lowe, was reportedly willing to trade him to the Anaheim Ducks for Corey Perry and a first round draft pick, but within that deal sought to have Mike reimburse the Oilers $2.5 million, which was part of the bonus money he earned from his entry-level contract.

After the deal fell through, Mike was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in December 2003, for Jeff Woywitka, a first round selection in 2004 (Rob Schremp) and a third round selection in 2005 (Danny Syvret).

Mike played only 21 games for Philadelphia before being traded to the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for Sean Burke, Branko Radivojevic and the rights to Ben Eager.

During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, he signed with Färjestad BK of the Elitserien and played ten games with them, before leaving in December 2004.

Following an agreement made in July 2005, between the NHL and NHLPA members to resume hockey operations and play, he would return to the Coyotes for the 2005–06 NHL season, where he would record his second 30-goal season in the NHL. The Coyotes would then re-sign him to a new, one-year contract worth $3 million, on August 4, 2006.

On January 3, 2007, Mike was traded to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Senators prospect Alexei Kaigorodov.

On January 9, 2007, he scored his first goal for the Senators versus the Boston Bruins. Whenever Mike scored a goal at Scotiabank Place, his goal song was "Black Gloves" by the Belgian band Goose.

He helped Ottawa throughout the playoffs despite having an injured shoulder that required local anesthetic to numb the pain which prevented him from reaching down to tie his skates.

The Senators made it to the Stanley Cup Finals, losing to the Anaheim Ducks, in a 4–1 series decision. Prior to the loss, the Senators eliminated the Pittsburgh Penguins, New Jersey Devils, and Buffalo Sabres all in five games.

On July 5, 2007, Mike signed a one-year contract worth $3.375 million with the New York Islanders as an unrestricted free agent. Before the trade deadline on February 26, 2008, the New York Islanders re-signed him to a new one-year contract worth $4 million.

Mike would be traded back to the Senators on February 20, 2009 (along with Chris Campoli) in exchange for Dean McAmmond and a San Jose Sharks 2009 first round draft pick.

On September 10, 2009, Mike 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 upcoming 2009–10 NHL season.

He 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 by Sam Gagner.

Mike made his return to Edmonton a night to remember in a 4–0 pre-season win over the Florida Panthers, on September 18, 2009. He assisted on all four of the goals scored and registered a fight, squaring off with the Panthers' Eric Himelfarb to which he received a standing ovation from the Rexall Place crowd, who promptly chanted his name as he took his place inside the penalty box.

On November 17, he was placed on the NHL long term injury reserve list with mononucleosis and was expected to be out until late January. He had 5 goals and 8 points in 16 games.

Mike would make his return to the Oilers line-up on February 1, 2010, recording an assist in a 4–2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes. He finished out the rest of the season tallying 13 goals and 21 points, in 43 games.

On July 1, 2010, Mike became an unrestricted free agent with the Oilers opting not to re-sign him for the 2010–11 season. On September 3, 2010, he signed a one-year contract worth $500,000 with the Pittsburgh Penguins, joining the franchise that drafted his uncle Fred in 1973.

On September 22, 2010, he scored the very first goal inside of the new Consol Energy Center, 81 seconds into the Penguins' 5-1 exhibition game victory over the Detroit Red Wings.

Due to a nagging hip injury, Mike 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 empty Atlanta Thrashers net. It was the last game in Thrashers' franchise history before the team relocated to Winnipeg in the off season.

### Retirement

After undergoing hip surgery for the third time, Mike retired from professional hockey on February 13, 2012.

## Personal Life

Mike was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and attended Jasper Place High School. His mother, Theresa died of cancer in 1990. His father, Bill and uncles Fred & John are the founders of The Brick furniture company (which was sold in 2012 for $700 million).

He has a brother, Paul, who briefly played with the Oilers and a sister, Cathy. From his father's second marriage, Mike has two younger half-brothers: Eric, a goaltender who was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft and currently plays for their AHL-affiliate team, the Manitoba Moose, and Ty, a center, who last played in the WHL for the Vancouver Giants.

Mike was married to actress/singer Hilary Duff from 2010 to 2015; they have one child, a son, Luca Cruz Comrie (born on March 20, 2012).