The Winnipeg Jets front office made a subtle move on the eve of free agency opening last week as they resigned pending free agent goaltender Eric Comrie to a one-year contract.
This move then became an extremely interesting move when the Jets decided to let Laurent Brossoit, the Jets backup goaltender from the 2021 season and who was also a pending unrestricted free agent, walk to free agency. Brossoit was subsequently signed by the Vegas Golden Knights on a two-year contract within hours of the free agent window officially opening.
There was a question on if the Jets would pursue another goaltender to assume the backup job behind Connor Hellebuyck, but Kevin Cheveldayoff, the Jets general manager, has taken a stance on who will be the backup for the Jets next season.
The Winnipeg Jets have assured that Eric Comrie will be the backup for the team during the 2021-2022 season
In a press conference during the evening on the first day of free agency, Chveldayoff said that Eric Comrie’s “time has come” to be a partner to Hellebuyck.
Kevin Cheveldayoff on the Eric Comrie contract.
— Murat Ates (@WPGMurat) July 28, 2021
"His time has come."
Praises Comrie's commitment. Calls him "a great partner for Helly"
Comrie has had an interesting career path so far. Originally drafted in the second round of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft by the Winnipeg Jets, Comrie has yet to be a consistent presence at the NHL level.
Since 2014-2015, the twenty-six-year-old has appeared in only nine NHL games while playing 207 games in the AHL. During the 2021 season, Comrie played in five total games: one for the New Jersey Devils and four for the Manitoba Moose.
It is extremely interesting that the Jets are now turning to Comrie to be the backup. Comrie does not have the best stats in the NHL with a 3-5-0 record, .408 goals against average, and a .873 save percentage.
Hellebuyck is a goaltender known to play a heavy workload and Comrie would most likely appear in about twenty games for the Jets in 2021-2022.
Comrie has an outstanding opportunity during this upcoming season to show his potential and show that he can be a top-backup netminder in the league. With the statements made by Cheveldayoff, it is shown that the Jets leadership has full faith in Comrie and it will be interesting to see if this move pays off for both the Jets and Comrie.
Winnipeg Jets Fans: Do you agree with this decision to promote Eric Comrie to backup rather than signing a free agent netminder? Leave your comments below!
*All Stats Provided by Elite Prospects*