Islanders Re-Sign Blake Comeau

Isles Able To Sign Blake Comeau Before Arbitration

Official Isles Press Release 

"The New York Islanders announced today that Blake Comeau has agreed to terms on a one-year deal. Comeau, 25, established career highs in goals (24), assists (22) and points (46) last season during his fifth professional campaign. He finished fourth on the club in goals and fifth in points. The Islanders selected Comeau in the second round, 47th overall, of the 2004 National Hockey League Entry Draft. A native of Meadow Lake, SK, Comeau has totaled 121 points (56 goals and 65 assists) in 245 career NHL games, all with the Islanders. He’s also played in 111 games with the Islanders American Hockey League affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, compiling 20 goals and 61 assists. Prior to his professional career, Comeau played four years of junior hockey with the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League. On the international stage, he won a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2006 World Junior Championships."

PattyB Thoughts:
Believe it or not, one of the most impressive break-out seasons of any 2010-11 NY Islander was that of Blake Comeau. He had an incredible, career best, year that included his first 20 goal campaign at any level since the 2005-06 season when he played with the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL. He increased his point totals from 35 in 2009-10 to 46 in 2010-11, which is continuing his yearly trend, as he has increased point total's in each of the last four seasons. What I find even more impressive is the fact he was able to put up those numbers while still being an absolute force physically. He was third on the team in hits with 120, and was never afraid to go to the dirty area's on the ice. He has good character and the fact that the entire team rallied behind him when he got destroyed by a questionable hit from Max Talbot, is very telling about how much the team values him internally. Those contributions were appreciated by the Islanders and with this contract, it shows that the team realizes what he adds to their club. With Comeau's arbitration hearing scheduled for Thursday, the Isles felt it was necessary to get him signed before it. The deal the Islanders came to with him seems more than fair in my opinion as his money is right around where I was expecting it to be ($2.5 million) and his term (1 year) gives him the chance to prove that last year was no fluke. Some have speculated that he might now be moved for a defenseman, but I am not totally sold on that and I would be very happy to see him fulfill his contract on Long Island. 


Contract Terms:

LENGTH: 1 YEAR(S)     VALUE: $2,500,000     TYPE: STANDARD     EXPIRY STATUS: RFA
SEASON	AHL SALARY	NHL SALARY	P. BONUSES	S. BONUS	CAP HIT
2011-12	$2,500,000	$2,500,000	$0	—	$2,500,000