Comrie is thrilled to return to Winnipeg.
On the first day of free agency, the Winnipeg Jets have welcomed back a familiar face.
Eric Comrie has signed a two-year contract with an average annual value of $825,000. For the 28-year-old, returning to the Manitoba capital was an easy decision.
“I think that’s where myself, Ray (Petkau), my agent, my wife, and our family wanted to go. We have a lot of connections there,” Comrie said. “A lot of good friends, and I think it was the best place for me to continue my career.”
Comrie’s career took him to Buffalo in July 2022 when he signed a two-year deal with the Sabres. He went 11-16-1 with a 3.68 goals-against average.
“It was good. The guys there were unbelievable. We had a really close group and a lot of fun. I loved being there. It was just unfortunate the way things happened there with me the first year. I was playing a lot, then I tore my MCL, and things kind of went downhill from there,” Comrie explained. “I wasn’t fully 100% ready to play, and some bad circumstances came up. It was unfortunate the way it worked out, but I’m happy with the opportunity and happy to be back in Winnipeg now.”
Comrie is the Manitoba Moose franchise leader in games played, wins, and saves. He went 12-8-1 with a 2.94 goals-against average and one shutout over four seasons with the Jets. Returning to the dressing room will likely feel like he never left.
“I really think so. I have great relationships with a lot of guys on the team. I’m really close with many of them, and we stay in contact. We’ve never really lost touch. It’s been a lot of fun,” Comrie said. “Scheif and I are really close; we talk all the time and text almost every day. I see him quite a bit in the summer, and Josh Morrissey and I are also good friends. I know so many guys on the team; it’s fantastic.”
The Edmonton native mentioned that not much has changed since he left Winnipeg, except that he’s a bit older and now a dad. His wife, Haley, gave birth to a daughter seven months ago.
“She’s awesome,” Comrie said. “She’s great.”
His daughter will keep him busy this summer as he prepares for another season.
“I don’t know if you really relax in July and August. It’s more about getting to work and making sure you’re ready for the first day of camp. It’s about being dialed in, and making sure your nutrition is dialed in,” Comrie noted. “You start ramping up on ice and off the ice, and this is when you make that push. The success for the season starts in those couple of months before it.”
