NHL: Coyoten schicken Comrie nach Ottawa!

Ein wenig überraschend wurde gerade eben vermeldet: Mike Comrie verlässt die Coyoten! Vielmehr: er muss die Coyoten vorzeitig verlassen. Neu in Phoenix sind jetzt die Rechte von Alexei Kaigorodov. Der machte in dieser Saison in Ottawa das Gleiche wie Enver Lisin mit den Coyoten: als er in die AHL geschickt wurde türmte er nach Russland. So macht man aus einem Problemfall einen doppelten. Vielleicht erhofft man sich auch, dass die Beiden in der nächsten Saison zusammen nach Phoenix kommen und sich dann gegenseitig unterstützen. Abwarten also.

Das Comrie nun weg ist kommt ein wenig überraschend aber ist nicht unbedingt unlogisch. Comrie und sein Agent ließen verlauten, dass sie nach dem Ablauf des Vertrages in diesem Jahr den Free-Agent Markt testen wollen. Es könnte also sein, dass Comrie so oder so nach der Saison weg gewesen wäre. Da zudem Steve Reinprecht wieder zurückkommen wird war ein Center zuviel im Kader. Das es aber gerade Comrie trifft - das war doch überraschend.

Ich wünsche Mike Comrie alles Gute in Ottawa, wo er vorerst wohl der Nr. 1 Center sein wird (aufgrund von Verletzungen dort). Den Coyotes wünsche ich, dass sich dieser jetzt doch ein wenig komisch aussehende Deal in Zukunft noch auszahlen wird.

So sieht er aus, der “Neue”:

Einen Bericht von AZCentral.com gibt es bislang nicht, dafür die Meldungen von TSN.ca sowie von Ottawasenators.com. Eine Diskussion über das Thema läuft bei HFBoards auf Hochtouren - hier gelangt ihr dort hin. Eine Einschätzung über Alexei Kaigorodov von Hockeysfuture.com findet ihr hier.

TSN.ca:

Senators acquire Comrie in trade

TSN.ca Staff w/files from CP

1/3/2007 11:39:33 AM

The Ottawa Senators have acquired forward Mike Comrie from the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for center Alexei Kaigorodov.

Comrie has seven goals and 13 assists in 24 games this season. He missed 14 games earlier this season with a fractured right foot. Since returning, he has recorded nine points in his last 11 games.

It remains to be seen whether Comie will be in the lineup for Wednesday night’s game against the Buffalo Sabres. He is expected to land from Washington late this afternoon and needs to go through a physical and be added to the roster by 5 pm et if he is to play tonight.

Comrie scored 30 goals last year for the Phoenix Coyotes, but made it clear to Coyotes management he would be testing the free agent market this summer.

Armed with that knowledge, Phoenix has been actively trying to shed Comrie’s $3-million ticket for the past several weeks.

“This allows us to be flexible, to determine whether we’re a buyer or seller over the next 25 games leading up to the deadline,” Coyotes manager Mike Barnett tells TSN.

“It puts us in position to take on a bigger contract if there is a fit down the road.”.

Kaigorodov, a second round pick of the Senators in 2002, was signed to a two year deal back in September and appeared in just six games for Ottawa this season, collecting one assist. He was suspended in November for refusing an assignment to Binghampton of the AHL.

The Coyotes will maintain Kaigorodov’s suspended status, meaning they own his rights but won’t have to pay him until he returns to the NHL, perhaps, next season.

Kaigorodov is currently playing in Russia, as is Coyotes draft pick Enver Lisin and its hoped both are focusing on the defensive aspects of their game, which could provide Phoenix with a decent 1-2 punch next year.

The trade comes a day after the Senators lost forward Petr Nedved to the Edmonton Oilers on waivers. With top two centres Jason Spezza and Mike Fisher out with knee injuries, Senators GM John Muckler has been working the phones over the past few days trying to find some help.

The Coyotes will welcome the return of Steve Reinprecht to their lineup Thursday in Carolina and based on the solid play of veteran Yanic Perreault and the evolution of Mike Zigomanis, Comrie and his salary became an easy target.

“Ottawa had interest right from the beginning, but the discussions heated up a week ago,” said Barnett.

The Senators were seen by many as needing a centre even before the injuries to Spezza and Fisher. Once everyone is healthy Comrie will likely be the No. 2 centre.

In six NHL seasons, Comrie has collected 110 goals, 127 assists and 252 penalty minutes in 345 career games with the Edmonton Oilers, Philadelphia Flyers and Phoenix Coyotes. The Edmonton, Alta., native was drafted by the Oilers in the third round, 91st overall, of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. He played in Edmonton from 2000-01 to 2002-03 before he was traded to Philadelphia on Dec. 16, 2003. Comrie was then traded later in the 2003-04 season to Phoenix on Feb. 4, where he has played since.

Comrie’s best seasons to date came first in 2001-02 when he recorded 33 goals, 27 assists and 60 points in 82 games with Edmonton. He also played in the 2002 NHL YoungStars Game as part of NHL All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles. Comrie had his second 30-goal season in 2005-06 with Phoenix, and added as many assists for another 60-point campaign.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=190679&hubname=nhl

OttawaSenators.com:

Senators look for offensive boost from Mike Comrie

by Todd Anderson

With centres Jason Spezza, Mike Fisher and Antoine Vermette out of the lineup with injuries, Ottawa Senators general manager John Muckler helped fill the gap today by acquiring Mike Comrie from the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for prospect Alexei Kaigorodov.

“Very seldom are you going to lose your (top three) centre-ice men. We felt we needed a little more offence,” Muckler explained on why he made the trade. “The team has been playing very well. We just felt over the long run we needed a push on the offensive side.”

There’s a chance the Senators’ newest player will be in the lineup tonight when the club hosts the Eastern Conference-leading Buffalo Sabres at Scotiabank Place. Comrie was expected to arrive in Ottawa this afternoon.

Senators head coach Bryan Murray, who didn’t want to speculate on whom Comrie would play with if he was available for tonight, said he’s happy with the addition. During his days as the general manager of the Anaheim Ducks, Murray saw quite a bit of Comrie, who then played for the Edmonton Oilers.

“He seemed to be a thorn in the side of our team every time we would go in there,” Murray recalls. “He’s a skilled player, a point-getter. He’s played pretty well in the NHL. He should add some offence to this group. We’ve been short in our ability to score; Mike gives us an upgrade.”

With both Fisher and Spezza out for a period of time with knee injuries, and fellow centre Vermette day-to-day with a hip injury, Chris Kelly has been given more minutes playing in between Dany Heatley and Daniel Alfredsson. He doesn’t mind if Comrie will take away some of those minutes.

“He’s a great player and especially in our situation right now, he should help out,” Kelly said. “It never hurts to add depth on the team. I’m just trying to help out where I can.”

Comrie, 26, has played in 24 games with the Coyotes this season, recording seven goals, 13 assists and 20 penalty minutes. In six NHL seasons, Comrie has scored 110 goals, 127 assists and 252 penalty minutes in 345 games.

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