Dallas Stars: Assessing Their Moves On Day One Of Free Agency
By Josh Clark
Blake Comeau
Contract details: Three years, $2.4 million
Another addition to the forward group was the signing of Blake Comeau. At the age of 32, Comeau has spent his NHL career serving as a depth forward for five different clubs. He most recently spent two years in Colorado with the Avalanche.
“He’s a great veteran presence,” Nill said in the press conference. “He’s had a strong career and has done a good job in Colorado the past couple years and played well against us. He’s a very versatile player. You can play him first line, play him on third line, left side or right side. I like the veteran presence in the dressing room.”
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In the 2017-18 season, he skated in 79 games for the Avs, tallying 13 goals and 34 points along with a +5 rating.
“Blake will be a great addition to our forward group with his skill set and ability to play anywhere in the lineup”, said Nill in the press release. “His elite speed makes him a disruptive defensive presence and he fits well with what head coach Jim Montgomery is trying to accomplish.”
Comeau thrives as a depth scorer, reads plays well, and uses his speed to his advantage. Some saw it as another unnecessary signing, but he could definitely give the Stars a unique advantage.
“I kind of see a similar role that I had in Colorado,” said Comeau on a conference call. “Just a physical, two-way player that can play up and down the lineup. I play both wings and I don’t have a preference. I hope I can add to the penalty kill there. We had a really good penalty kill in Colorado and I was a big part of that. Just kind of being a utility player that can play both wings up and down the lineup, kill some penalties, and kind of do whatever I’m asked.”
The three years may be a bit of a risk for Dallas considering he’s a 32-year-old depth player. Comeau wanted the extra security and assurance considering he has a young family and didn’t want to move again, and the Stars were happy to oblige.
“Yeah, especially now that I have kids,” said Comeau. “I have two young girls. Especially my five-year-old because she’s moved around enough in her life. You kind of realize the importance of having some stability and a little bit of being in one spot that’s familiar to them, so that was important to me. The three years was something that I was looking for and I was very happy that it was Dallas.”
Comeau could end up skating alongside Radek Faksa and Tyler Pitlick and provide another speedy asset to that line along with an active scoring threat. That is exactly what the Stars’ third line needs, so Comeau could end up being a perfect addition that Stars fans didn’t know or think the team needed. Kind of like Patrick Eaves.