Over the five seasons between 2007 and 2012, there wasn’t much to be excited about regarding the NY Islanders. Without a winning record in each of those seasons, there were very few bright spots. 

With a mish-mosh of aging veterans and young players, one forward who looked like he could become part of the Islanders’ future and help change the organization’s fortunes was Blake Comeau.

Selected in the second round of the 2004 NHL Draft, Comeau had his best season with the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL in his post-draft year, recording 74 points (21 G, 54 A) in 60 games. His success led to his selection for Team Canada at the 2006 World Junior Championship, where he tallied seven points (3 G, 4 A) en route to a Gold Medal.

The following season, Comeau reported to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the AHL, receiving a three-game call-up in December, where he failed to register a point. 

Comeau let go too early

During the 2007-2008 season, Comeau was once again called up to the Islanders, where, for the most part, he spent the rest of his playing time within the organization. 

In 2009-10, Comeau began to see success at the game’s highest level. His 35 points in 61 games led the Isles to believe they may have found something in their former second-round pick. He’d follow that season up in 2010-11 with the best season of his career, scoring 24 goals and totaling 46 points. 

Comeau spent the majority of his time this season playing alongside a young Josh Bailey and highly skilled Rob Schremp. Despite Comeau’s performance, the team still struggled, finishing with 73 points, fourth-lowest in the league. 

In 2011-2012, after being rewarded with a one-year, $2.5M contract, Comeau found it difficult to replicate that success, failing to register a point through the team’s first 16 games. With his team totaling just 13 points, GM Garth Snow lost patience with the young Comeau, electing to place him on waivers, where he was claimed by the Calgary Flames.

Comeau went on to play parts of 16 seasons in the NHL before hanging up his skates at the end of the 2024-25 season. 

Though he was never going to become an elite player in this league, Comeau was a solid middle-six player, as evidenced by his long career in the league. 

Snow’s impatience with Comeau led to the franchise losing one of its few bright spots and someone who could have played a vital role into the future.