Jets’ Staff Mismanage Comrie, Sign Rittich as New Backup

Former Winnipeg Jets goaltender Eric Comrie needed just 90 more minutes on the ice during the 2021-22 National Hockey League season to be considered a restricted free agent with arbitration rights heading into the 2022 offseason.

The 27-year-old did not get those minutes, and because of that omission by various members of the coaching and front office staff, he was able to flee the coop for greener pastures elsewhere as unrestricted free agency officially opened on Wednesday.

Drafted 59th overall by the Jets back in 2013, the Edmonton, AB. product has been with the club for the majority of his career. Despite some difficult treatment over recent years – including that of two Waiver claims and stints with the Detroit Red Wings, Arizona Coyotes, and New Jersey Devils – the always-happy Comrie made it clear that Winnipeg was his ‘second home’.

“It’s always difficult, it’s tough bouncing around,” Comrie said following his return to Winnipeg after his second claim on Waivers. “It’s always nice to be liked and when you’re picked up off Waivers, someone is liking you. That’s always a good thing too. But it’s hard switching teams and not having a steady idea of where you’re going to be the next day. Never really unpacking because you’re kind of unsure where you’re going to be and every time I did unpack, I would end up somewhere else. So that was kind of the kiss of death right there. But it’s crazy, you start to doubt if you’re going to be there very long. You’re unsure of how long you’re going to be there. It’s the uncertainty that weighs on you more than anything else.”

Looked upon to fill the backup role behind the Vezina-winning Connor Hellebuyck after Laurent Brossoit joined the Vegas Golden Knights via free agency meant that Comrie would see extended time on the big league roster for all of 2021-22.

He took the promotion well and raised many eyebrows with his strong play between the pipes in 19 appearances last season.

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His two coaches on the year left glowing remarks, with Paul Maurice calling him one of his all-time “top-five guys”, and his successor Dave Lowry leaving another juicy quote on his backstop’s demeanour.

“Well I think he’s a consummate teammate,” Lowry said of Comrie. “This is a kid — and I say it every day — he is the hardest working guy. He comes every day, he loves the game. He enjoys what he does. He’s the hardest working guy and guys notice that. And they enjoy an opportunity to watch him be successful.”

Comrie put up a 2.58 goals against average and a .920 save percentage to go along with a 10-5-1 record on the year. Because of that, and some poor decisions from the executive suite, he was able to move on to greener pastures and signed a two-year deal carrying a $1.8 million cap hit with the Buffalo Sabres.

His 8.78 goals saved above average at 5-on-5 ranked 11th in the NHL last season, while his high-danger save percentage of .862 at 5-on-5 ranked 13th (min. 100 minutes played) – courtesy of Natural Stat Trick.

Comrie will likely be used as a rotating option with veteran Craig Anderson coming back on another one-year deal and fellow backstop Malcolm Subban beginning the year on the long-term injured reserve. The highly-touted World Juniors star prospect Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen will remain in the minors for the coming year.

With news of Comrie’s decision to move to Buffalo, the Jets needed to solve their backup situation behind Hellebuyck once again.

The team opted to go with another short-term deal on a decently-proven netminder. This time it was David Rittich on a one-year deal worth $900K.

Although it doesn’t reek of Steve Mason or Al Montoya, the signing does leave a bit of a bitter taste in the mouths of most Jets fans who were hoping to finally see the career of Comrie take off following last season’s strong production.

The 29-year-old Rittich joins Winnipeg after an All-Star calibre 2019-20 season, but a heavy fall off in the two years since.

“We’re happy with the acquisition,” GM Kevin Cheveldayoff said Wednesday afternoon. “It’s a veteran backup netminder who’s had some experience in a bigger role and is hungry to push and to prove. But he also understands he’s there to support as well and to work. Good veteran player.”

Although struggling to find his form after leaving the Calgary Flames, the Czech product has a career 2.93 goals-against average and .904 save percentage in 152 total games. Last year, he put up an inflated 3.57 GAA and .886 SV% in 17 games with the Nashville Predators – numbers significantly worse than that of Comrie.

Should Connor Hellebuyck go down with any sort of ailment, or continue in his path dominated by early parenthood as exhibited in 2021-22, the Jets could be in trouble.

But only time will tell.