Eric Comrie on his return to the Winnipeg Jets
[Music] all right this is going to be fun let’s welcome in returning to the organization and the Winnipeg Jets our old pal Eric conry Eric it’s been a minute welcome back to wst how are you I’m doing great how you guys doing uh you know we’re doing well sort of the dog days of summer but U tell you what we got uh you know big football game tonight and uh obviously still lots of excitement over the uh Jets off season and looking ahead to next year uh and I know there was a lot of people that were pretty fired up that you’re back in the fold with the organization being such a popular player um congratulations how how did it all come how were you approaching free agency this time and how did it work out that the Jets were the right spot for your next move I just it worked out really well I mean I just had a lot of good friends a lot of good familiarity with the franchise a lot of good uh memories there so I was like you know what my wife and I talked to about and said this this would be the perfect spot for us and it was just it couldn’t have happened any better we’re so thankful for the opportunity so thankful to be back I mean we love the city we love the people there we just we love and we have some of our best friends there I mean I mean Mark’s one of my best friends his wife one of my wife’s best friends I mean Josh is great Hy it’s just list goes on and on how many great guys are on that team well and and you know mean there is something to be said for going back to a familiar place with a famili I mean and and God knows you more than anyone would know it I mean I remember one of our conversations on the show after you had done the uh the quarantine merry-go round into the National Hockey League in that bizarre season um and then obviously you know going to Buffalo um you know moving into at this point in your career you kind of want a place where you know who you’re working with and you also know particularly as a young Father which we’ll get to um that you know whether you’re playing NHL minutes backing up in the American Hockey League you can sort of put down roots and have some sort of consistency to your life and that’s got to be a big big benefit uh for a person in your situation oh 100% I mean for myself it’s just so I’m just so happy back I just have so many good memories there and so many good like friends and family like there it’s almost like it just it’s just very nice for me and this put down some Roots like you said I can kind of get a house situation where I know where I’m going to live every single day it’s not going to be hopefully not moving around all the time like I was for a while there just going to be more stable and I want to make sure I have a stable home base for myself and my family because that’s the most important thing going forward is really making sure I take care of my family and give them the best um LIF thaty I can you know it it’s it’s kind of funny because I mean I think about you know you being drafted and going to development camp and coming into the uh into the National Hockey League but it actually has only been a couple years since you were last to Winnipeg jet because I mean you did have that stint in the 2122 season that you know it was probably more of your consist most your most consistent play with the Jets that actually earned you the opportunity to go out and get a bigger contract as a free agent yes I mean it wasn’t a long long ago it was just it was just a couple years ago and I think I mean just the one of the biggest things of being back in wi a pick is having familiar with one the goalie coaches there like Wade FL and myself a very good relationship we’ve worked very well together in the past um we understand like what helps and gets me going the best in the ice and I think for myself that’s something that I was really looking forward to is just getting back to that familiarity with like those different coaches and different things that help my game a lot um you know it’s always important to the guys that you’re sharing the crease with working every day in uh in practice with um tell us about your relationship with Connor heluk and what have you thought of his performance in the couple years you’ve been on the other side with the Buffalo Sabers obviously winning his second vzna this year I mean heli are like are very very close very good friends and we have always had a very tight relationship I mean I’ve played with him since I’ve known him since 2013 was the first time I probably met him so that’s it’s been a little while now you forget how old I’m getting and how old he’s getting um it’s been a lot of fun it’s been great um he’s he’s such a good goalie I mean to see his progression has been unbelievable I mean he’s he’s the best in the world for a reason it’s the amount of detail he puts into his game I mean I was there every single day watching video with him going over what he wanted to work on and practice and different things like that and it was it was special to see the amount of buying detail he takes into his game and I’m really was no surprise to where he’s been and where he’s gotten to because it’s just you can just see it every single day just the accumulation effect what was the what was the conversation like when uh the deal got done you were coming back to Winnipeg did you you give him a give him a buzzer had you talk to him beforehand and you know said this might be a possibility uh we were texting a little bit here and there and I mean he’s hard to get a hold of this summer he’s busy on the lake fishing all day long so even with two kids I don’t know how he pulls that one off I’m happy for him though he’s been I think that’s the buff plan yeah yes yes yes so we were texting back and forth and it it was awesome I know he’s working hard back home this summer he’s skating and working out and then whenever he has free time he’s fishing so it’s been it’s been great I mean we texted here and there a little bit I congratulated him on the VZ congratulating me being back and we talked a lot during the season as well so we we always stay in touch yeah you’ll you’ll certainly get your fair share of each other in a couple months or two and uh you know considering what you guys are both dealing with right now I imagine that will be uh welcome hey before we talk about you know changes in life and all that um you mentioned Wade flarity he continues to get an incredible amount of credit from Connor huk for you know what he’s done for himself obviously we’ve seen what Loren bris has done for the last couple Seasons here in Winnipeg tell us about working with Wade flarey and the how he has been such an important part of so many great seasons for uh professional goalies here in Winnipeg so it’s it’s a hard question to answer if you’re not a goalie because he just he understands the position so well and it’s not a one like a one- siiz tits all kind of thing like he’s so he’s worried about what what’s going to make your game the best he’s not worried about oh I want to make everyone play like Conor hellu no that’s not what his goal is his goal is to make you the best version of yourself and I think that’s really important because you look at a lot of guys nowadays they have they have a mold that they want that they want you to fit into and they try and fit you into that mold where he is more I’m gonna improve your skating I’m going to improve this we’re going to get this better this is what I see in your game which is going to take you another level and I think it’s the amount of detail he puts into his work like every single day he’s never he’s never just going out there and going through motion the I he’s always early always ready always prepared our video the video sessions are some of the best you’ve ever had I mean you go through the video it’s it’s just step by step there’s not it’s very very detail oriented very very uh oriented to yourself which is amazing yeah he uh I mean you and and it’s interesting you mention that because you’re right not as as a non- goalie I mean you you could hear these terms but goalies will resonate with that but I mean the bottom line is I mean Connor hbu’s resume speaks for S I mean U arguably you’re some of your best time in the National Hockey League came with Wade and um and certainly lb the last couple years has really benefited as well and I mean I guess that’s another you kind of mentioned it but that’s another big plus at this point in your year to come back and work with somebody that you have such confidence that can get the best out of you um anytime you’re out there 100% I think for myself especially just knowing that I know I have very good familiar with the goalie coach and very good famili with the organization just adds a lot of confidence to myself and allows myself to just be go there and be myself and just play my game and that’s that’s all I’m trying to do Eric hry is with us here on Winnipeg Sports Talk um congratulations are in order you are a dad what you’re seven months into uh this new state I mean how different is your life today than it was say a year ago or two years ago it’s honestly been great like it’s been unbelievable we are so blessed with have the best daughter named Capri she’s been awesome she’s been just I mean every single time I see her it’s she just gets the biggest smile on her face and it just lights up your day no matter what your day has been like and it’s unbelievable like I’m so thankful and so happy to be able to just come home and see her every single day it’s the best part of my day when I get to see her she’s been awesome I mean she’s been funny though she’s she’s very um uh my parents her her grandparents my parents call her mini me so she’s a lot like myself with the exact same personality as me and she looks just like me so it’s kind of a funny little thing well I had to laugh when you were mentioning what your daughter was like because it kind of sounded like you were describing yourself I mean you know one of the things and I think why you were you know I’ve been such a popular player a teammate wherever you’ve gone is just you know the way you’re conducting yourself and the fact that you’ve always pretty much uh got a smile on your face and it sounds like you got a little chip off the old block yeah the only problem with me was I was a very busy baby and she’s a very busy baby she doesn’t like to sit still I didn’t like to sit still either so it works out it works out really well for myself my wife is more of a more relaxed kind of person she’s he’s been very busy lately so it’s been good it’s been a lot of fun well speaking of not sitting still um this is the uh the one time of the calendar where you’re uh away from the job and The Daily Grind um this is the first summer as a dad um how’s the offseason going right now and um you know like what’s the day like right now knowing that you know you’re pretty much set with where you’re going next year I’m sure there’s probably a few plans to get done in Winnipeg but uh what’s uh what’s the off season like for you right now before you really kind of Dive In get ready for another season Winnipeg uh for myself it’s a lot of just I mean working out and skating is a big one I’ve really been doing a lot of stuff in the gym getting stronger getting faster uh skating’s been really good I and I have been getting out on the golf course every once in a while which has been nice and fun I played yesterday uh my dad’s actually going away for a couple days so I played with him yesterday I played pretty well I was I was quite halfy my round I mean I actually had um Mark kle came out a couple weeks earlier and we had a member guest thing and we came second and we should have probably came first we won the but came second and net I don’t know maybe they were sandbagging a little bit but it is what it is how do how do the head-to-head matches go between you and sha well he gives me some shots and uh according to him he calls me the uh biggest Sandburg in the NHL there’s actually an an article about that if you look you can find it online where he actually mentioned that um but I uh he says he’s never beaten me one time we were playing banon Dunes together and I think I think he was even par and is like his best round ever and I was beating him like I had him up six or something like that he was not very happy that night I can imagine I would drive him of all people that would drive him nuts yeah yeah but my actually my handicap’s got a little lower so he’s not quite as uh he’s I mean he’s really low he’s like a point point4 or something like that he’s really low but I’m down to a 4.9 so it’s we’re getting closer now so it’s a little bit scary now when I play against him well it’s neat you know we’ve seen Mark play in the Manitoba open in the past I believe it’s Dylan S Samberg that’s getting an opportunity to uh to play this year uh kind of representing the team well and that’s the thing and you know you get to an event like that on PGA tour Canada and you just realize how incredible the players are and you know a lot like a lot like professional hockey in a way I mean you know if you didn’t know you might think the gap between the American League and the NHL was this massive massive Gap once you get there and start watching it you realize that there’s I mean a a ton of players in one League interchangeable with some other players given the opportunity and a right break or two pro hockey is very I mean I I just think hockey and general is in a very good spot right now you look at the game right now I don’t think it’s ever been better I mean you’re watching I watched the S playoffs this year it was the best hockey I think I’ve ever watched in my life I mean the the finals of Emington versus Florida was was might have been the best hockey I’ve ever seen and it was just so much fun to watch every single game the speed the skill that they have in the game nowadays it’s insane and I just think right now I don’t think hockey can be in any better spot than it is um Eric well speaking of the playoffs and watching from from afar obviously unfortunately the the Savers did not make the postseason um like how much did you pay attention to what the Jets have been doing the last couple years but especially last year where they had that great season fourth overall in the NHL 52 wins 110 points um but then really having a tough five games against a great Colorado team and you know a playoff run that started with so much promise being over certainly before everyone here in the peg had hoped I mean I I watched a lot of the playoffs and I think the Jets had just an unbelievable year last year and they deserved so much better and they I mean to go up against that team is really unfortunate in the first round because that’s one of the better teams I think that they could have faced and I I mean I think they could have went all the way if they didn’t lose those guys to the suspensions and couple different things here and there they had some distractions I mean that Colorado team was built for the playoffs I mean that’s one of the best teams I think I’ve ever seen and like they were unbelievable that that first round against the Jets was one of the best hockey teams I’ve ever seen play Colorado it was unbelievable they couldn’t be stopped I don’t care who was who they were playing against they were going to win any Series against anybody it was unfortunate that Winnipeg ran into them in the first round but I think I think if you play almost any other team they have a better chance than against than against Colorado did yeah well I mean that is one thing about the Central Division you’re coming back to the neighborhood and the neighborhood is still a tough one um the Dallas Stars um the Avalanche the Jets and then I mean you look at what Nashville did in free agency adding the likes of Stam Co and marsho and uh yeah listen you got to be good but I think it speaks to you know as disappointing as the playoffs was it says something about you know winning 52 games in a division like that in a conference like that and you know for a guy that’s been on a team that you know isn’t quite at that level the last couple years that’s got to be a big part of it just being excited to be back and being you a team that can contend to try and get more playoff hockey and more white outs here in Winnipeg and and move on to the next step like the team had in the past while year around 100% And they will I mean that’s just the thing about it they have a great leadership group they have a great Management Group great coaching staff and I think that’s that’s all you can ask for is that team is prepared they know what to do they know how to win games and I think when you have a goal like Conor hellu who steal game every single night and you have guys like shle Mory it’s just Kyle Conor that that that’s a team that’s can that can succeed they have such great great talent great players and it’s it’s it’s it’s been a joy to watch them from afar the last couple years I’ve been cheering for them and following them even though I haven’t been there different conferences so I can kind of cheer for them which is good well you’re back in the fold now and part of it you know the one guy that I don’t think was here when you were last here is Scott arneil who’s the new head coach um do you have any uh experience with Arie from uh from your your past and um have you talked to the new head coach at all yes I talked to him and he seems awesome he seems great I’ve talked to a lot of guys on team who really like him really like what he’s doing to the team says everything’s going in the right direction and that’s all he can ask for is that everything’s going the right I mean everything’s going the right way and everything is really happy with the way things are going there so that’s I mean they’re really happy with the systems with the way they play the game plan and that’s that’s the most important thing and so I’m really excited to get to know him a little bit better because I know I’ve been a lot of teams but I’ve have not passed I’ve not met him yet so I’m very excited to meet him for the first time well and the funny thing is that you know he had time here with the moose and then back here with the Jets was a player before um and you know you’ve been here a few times but just it never has met and uh uh but I do think I mean you know what your teammates say I can tell you from a media perspective and just someone that’s known him for a long time I mean absolutely a great guy that I think you know from hearing him and his excitement about the team and getting this opportunity a second crack at head coaching in the National Hockey League a uh um there will be a lot of uh there will be a lot of excitement not just from the players but the coaching staff as well with an entirely new group taking over for for bones heading into the season um Eric com’s with us Eric you know it’s amazing I I’m thinking back to speaking with you the first time after you got drafted in 2013 um it’s now 2024 you’re aging me a little bit now your dad well and myself I mean listen it works the same for all of us um but uh but you know you’re coming back at a very different time in your career and uh you know the Jets have two young goenda or signed in the last couple years Thomas millich and Dom divon chantis um what do you remember about coming into the organization as a draft pick cutting your teeth as a pro and and what do you think you bring now as a veteran considering your experience that might be able to help those two young men as they begin their professional Journeys um you know to hopefully ending up at some point in the future with the Jets honestly I think the biggest thing I remember is just how welcoming the organization was and how friendly everything was there I think you go to a lot of places and you think you’re you get overwhelmed you get a little bit scared because it’s like okay if you don’t play good you’re done well here it’s it’s don’t get me wrong it’s still a business you got to play good you got to succeed but it’s also they care about you as a person they care about you as a a a human being they don’t just throw you to the wolves and expect you to just be fantastic they they work with you they teach you along the way they they they want you to be the best person you can be and I think that’s something that’s very important I think that’s something that you can’t take for granted that’s why I love the organization so much is they really care about you not only as a player but also as a person and not every organization’s that way and it’s just I’m just so thankful that they’re they’re going to be experiencing that and they can learn from that and I think myself I mean I’ve been through it all so I can I can kind of help them and guide them along the way as well just like I’ve had a couple guys do the same to me I I had Hutch I play with p a little bit down there in the American League play with heli so I’ve experienced it all I’ve been through a lot of different things and I think I can help different guys way through that Journey Eric it is uh it is awesome to have you back in the program now in the past you more than any other guest I think from the Jets I’ve always liked to I you got a lot of clubs in your bag when it comes to sports and being a sports fan I mean there’s some guys that are just completely focused on one thing you are not that guy but I do have to ask you Remis was mentioning this off air you’re a noted fantasy football player um there are some unique challenges in the first year after becoming a father when it comes to gming um how is your prep going on right now and have you thought about about you know having to juggle all of your roles as a father as a professional hockey player and as a fantasy football GM I’m a little bit nervous about it right now because I haven’t been following up to date as much as I should be so I’m a little bit nervous with where I stand in my last two years I wasn’t as good at performance as I would have liked I hav’t I had a keeper league in Buffalo I have a keeper league with a bunch of my friends around around Winnipeg so I have to make sure that I have to I have to get some some stuff in motion to see who I want to keep and some of that I mean I had a pretty good team I’m I I kind of try to make a run for in Buffalo last year and I fell short it didn’t work out so I lost a lot of draic so I’m really hurting so I got to make sure I find some sleepers late in the draft I’m a little bit nervous about it but I’m really excited because every Sunday my wife got uh Capri a little shirt that says on Sunday we watch football with Dad so I’m really excited about watching football with her and just on the couch and just making sure chearing for my players along the way that is that is awesome and you know what from a team perspective I me you know talking with you and a bunch of the guys while they’ve been in Winnipeg that uh like the the the internal competition in the fantasy league on the squad is is a real thing and uh I imagine you’re looking forward to coming back even with new teammates mixing it up in a new league this year in that Winnipeg jet dressing room 100% I mean it’s always funny to get into a new league it’s always fun to see new new faces new players in the league and how they how they manage their team because you never really know because a lot of guys manage their team very differently then you never really know what they like to do whether they go wide receiver heavy early and running back heavy early I I’m usually a running back heavy early guy and I think last year that kind of hurt me because there was a lot more valued running backs later in the draft than they were early in the draft last year and I think that really hurt me last year and I was really disappointed because I mean my one keeply team I had bejon and then I had Nick chub early and then I had um uh who was the other I had another start running back really early I forget but it was I had really good and it hurt me a lot Nick chub really hurt it was unfortunately it was a sad injury to see but he I had a stacked running back from him and unfortunately it did not work out for me well uh I’ll tell you what uh when you’re back here we’ve always got a spot for you on W us and even if you know there’s a lot of hockey going on we could just talk fantasy football with you sometimes on that as well so uh I would love to talk anything I love anything Sports I I watch all sports I mean I’m watching the golf Scottish open this week I got the British Open next week we got uh hey did you watch the soccer like a lot of Copa I’ve watched a lot of Copa I’ve watched a lot of Euros it’s been unbelievable Canada I was I was drubbing in my wife’s face she’s American so I was rubbing in her face and saying that we’re the better Soccer Country and we’re we’re we’re com the top and and unfortunately Argentina beat us so it was it was it was still actually it was actually a good game I mean Argentina’s a really good team and I think the game before against the game of four where they they won was unbelievable it was the penalty kicks was insane I love it was I I couldn’t stop watching I mean my brother Mike has got a couple boys at play soccer that it wasn’t the most pretty penal shooter of all time he’s ever seen but it was it was exciting uh just before we go as a goalie a guy that knows what shootouts are like in hockey what is it like watching these soccer uh games when they go to penalties um and what do you think are you thinking about it from a goalie perspective or you’re just like a regular fan saying okay nail it there in the top corner and in the can in the Canada game I was really nervous I was I was kind on the edge of my seat kind of going oh no no no because if we missed the first one like oh you gota be kidding me we’re not gonna win this game and then all of a sudden we came it was that was unbeli like I was watching more as a fan but I believe I was watching what game was I watching the other penalty might have been the Euro where I was watching that one and I was like watching it more as a go perspective saying what I don’t understand like it was I was trying to understand how they played it like I know it’s a bit of a guessing game and you’re kind of anticipating before you go but it was it’s fun to see I mean it’s fun also to see a different the different perspective of different Shooters and how the more skilled guys and the guys who were more confident just drilled as hard as like head in the back and that the guys were a little more nervous try to place that shot and sometimes that placement gets a little bit iffy well exactly it seems like they’re waiting a little bit extra to get a tell from the goalie and then just making sure you’re going in that’s what happened to the can game the guy missed I mean the first guy kind he just kind of hit a soft one went wide I was like oh man he just seemed like he’s just kind of kind of plac a little too good well Eric listen great having you on the program I hear in the background you got dogs you got a baby maybe even a tea time later on I’ll tell you what we’ll let you go here but uh great to know that you’re coming back to the peg we will look forward to seeing you in training camp have a great rest of the offseason and preseason for fantasy football and uh we’ll look forward to seeing you here we’ll do this again real soon all the best and uh great to see you back with the Jets awesome thank you so much you guys have a great day [Music]
Winnipeg Jets goalie Eric Comrie joined Andrew “Hustler” Paterson on Winnipeg Sports Talk for a conversation about signing with the Jets, his friendships on the team and becoming a new father. Recorded July 11, 2024.
Topics:
Intro, returning to the Winnipeg Jets (0:00)
Becoming a new father (7:35)
The off-season, golf (9:30)
The Jets early exit from the playoffs (12:30)
Mentoring young goalies (16:01)
Fantasy football preparation (18:26)
Following other sports (20:30)
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