When Mike Comrie, centre, steps on the ice for the first time in the 2009-10 regular season against the Flames one will be wondering whether the second coming will erase the first one.

The long and sordid story of Mike Comrie’s time as an Edmonton Oiler and the aftermath of his trade had made him public enemy number one for many fans.  Doug Weight, Curtis Joseph and even Bill Guerin left the team because they wanted a big payday that the Oilers were not able or not prepared to pay.

Comrie was different.  He was an Edmontonian, drafted by the Oilers.  This was his team of his boyhood.

Things did not start well right from the beginning.  Comrie was drafted in the 3^rd round of the 1999 draft.  At the time he was playing for the University of Michigan, but then in 2000 he left school.  By signing with the WHL Kootney Ice of junior hockey it could make him a free agent on December 31, 2000 if not signed by the Oilers.

It was seen rightly as a grab for the brass ring.  The loop hole in the old collective bargaining agreement meant that he would not have to accept a rookie salary scale which was capped.

Eventually the Oilers avoided the whole problem by coming to an agreement and using Comrie in the lineup immediately.   Comrie was a scoring machine in the WHL and had got off to a league record start.  So everyone assumed the little centre was in a great situation.

But tremors of his near free agency were just signs of things to come.  As well it was obvious that the Oilers sophomore General Manager Kevin Lowe had not liked how things had worked.

Fans however loved Comrie.  His scoring and skill along with his willingness to go into the corners meant that many pulled for him.  He would lead the team in scoring in 2001-2002.

After an injury plagued 2002-2003 season Comrie’s contract coming due.  Wanting a new contract better than the 10% pay hike offered Comrie held out to try and force the Oilers to act.

GM Kevin Lowe, in what may be the low point of his career off the ice decided only to trade Comrie after he reimbursed the Oilers 2.5 million dollars.  This demand was met with a cold response from the Comrie camp, as he told the Edmonton Journal, “It’s frustrating . . . I’m very disappointed. Hopefully we’ll get through this like professionals.”

Lowe’s demands finally killed a deal that would have sent Comrie to Anaheim for Corey Perry.

Instead, the Oilers, who insisted they were not trying to be vindictive sent Comrie to Philadelphia in December of 2003 for Philadelphia for minor-league defenseman Jeff Woywitka, a 2004 first-round draft pick and a third-round pick in 2005.

Some in the media felt that Comrie was upset with Lowe even before the financial demand over his criticism of Comrie’s play in the playoffs in 2003.

Comrie moved from Philadelphia to Phoenix.  He would then in 2006 to Ottawa.  Eventually he signed as a free agent with New York Islanders only to be traded once more to Ottawa.

This past offseason Comrie rejoined the Oilers.  He said, “This decision just feels right at this time in my life… I’m older, more mature and before when I played here it was a little overwhelming and I didn’t embrace it as well as I should have.”

Comrie led the Oilers in the preseason and for the Oilers sake and for his own, all are now hoping it continues.

This Mike Comrie is easy to like and the former boo boy is back as possible hero once again.

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