Mike Commodore didn’t need to allotted 15 minutes the Wings gave him to decide whether or not he wanted to sign a contract with them, he jumped at the opportunity like a lot of free agents do.
“My heart rate went from resting to 180,” said Commodore, 31, who played last season in the Columbus Blue Jackets’ organization. “It was like, ‘Wow! I wasn’t prepared for that.
“I sat in my truck, put it in park and thought about it for two minutes. It’s a no-brainer. I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to play for this organization. If someone would have told me last year you’d be playing for the Detroit Red Wings, I would have laughed at them.”
The Red Wings ended up signing Commodore to a one-year contract worth $1 million dollars on the first day of free agency. He will be a physical presence on the blue line (especially during the penalty kill) standing at 6-foot-4 and 225lbs.
Commodore had a tough season last year with the Blue Jackets spending most of the season with Columbus’ AHL affiliate in Springfield after having a falling out with Blue Jackets head coach Scott Arniel. He was granted free agency after being bought out of the final two years of his contract with Columbus who had to pay two-thirds of his combined salary of $6.85 million, spread out over the next four seasons.
Commodore now comes to Detroit with something to prove.
“I have something to prove,” Commodore said. “It’s been a tough couple of years in Columbus. I’m looking forward to proving myself.”
The Commodore signing is even more interesting for the Wings since he did have issues with Wings head coach Mike Babcock.
Back in 2002 when Commodore and Babcock were both in Anaheim the two clashed eventually leading to Commodore being sent to the minors and then traded to Calgary.
Furthermore, while playing for the Blue Jackets two years ago, Commodore sounded off on his thoughts while in Anaheim playing for Babcock…
“Mike Babcock was without a doubt an obstacle in my career. I wanted to prove him wrong. … I used him as big-time motivation. I thought he put his best foot forward to bury me.”
It seemed to be Babcock though who pushed GM Ken Holland to pursue and eventually sign the big defenseman having said that what happened with Commodore is no longer an issue.
“It was something I thought about a little bit (before deciding),” Commodore said. “That happened a long time ago. It’s water under the bridge. I’d like another opportunity to play for (Babcock). He was a first-year coach in the NHL, I was trying to break into the league. We’ve both come a long ways.”
Babcock said that his issue with Commodore in Anaheim was that of a conditioning issue.
“I didn’t think, fitness-wise, he was ready to play in the NHL,” Babcock said. “I never thought about (Commodore’s comments) for a second. He’s a big boy. I am, too.”
According to Ansar Khan of Mlive.com, Commodore and Babcock both talked with the coach coming away excited.
“We had him earmarked for two weeks,” Babcock said. “We like his size and he’s physical. He’s a perfect fit for our team. He’ll support his teammates, he’ll work hard on people.
“If he’s paired with (young) Jakub Kindl, he’ll help him.”
Commodore also said he’s excited to play for a puck possession team like the Red Wings.
“I’m not a rushing defenseman but can hold my own moving the puck. I look forward to getting the puck to (the forwards), kill penalties, block shots,” Commodore said. “That’s one thing Ken and Babs said the Wings needed — someone to be hard to play against.”
Source: Mlive.com