If you were a Montreal Canadiens fan in the mid-2000s, odds are you remember Mike Komisarek: big frame, bigger hits, zero nonsense.
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Komisarek wasn’t flashy—far from it—but you felt better knowing he was on the ice. He blocked shots like it was his job (because, well, it was), and he made forwards earn every inch in the corners. For a while, he was exactly what Montreal needed. Then came the summer of 2009—and everything changed.
Komisarek Was Made for Montreal
Komisarek entered the league with some buzz. He was a seventh-overall pick in 2001, fresh out of Michigan, with a bruising style that seemed tailor-made for the NHL of that era. By the time he’d settled into a full-time role with the Canadiens, he was logging big minutes, finishing every check, and giving the Habs faithful something to cheer about—even if it didn’t show up on the scoresheet.
Komisarek’s partnership with Andrei Markov worked like a charm. Markov was the puck mover, the offensive mind. Komisarek was the stay-at-home hammer. It was old-school hockey in the best way. And in 2009, he was rewarded with an All-Star nod—a big deal, especially in a city like Montreal where that kind of recognition still carries weight.
Then the Maple Leafs Called Komisarek’s Number
That same summer, Komisarek hit free agency. Toronto—in the middle of another rebuild—needed muscle on the blue line. In July 2009, then-Maple Leafs general manager (GM) Brian Burke made a splash, signing him to a five-year, $22.5 million deal. Back then, that was serious money for a stay-at-home D-man.
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On paper, it made sense. Similar to what current Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving is currently trying to do, Burke was attempting to change the team’s DNA at the time – although it was then referred to as “grit.” Komisarek brought the edge Burke wanted. He was tough, reliable, and battle-tested.
But the game isn’t being played on paper. Komisarek’s first season in Toronto was cut short by a shoulder injury just 34 games in. After that, it never really came together. The league was changing fast. Speed was in, space was tight, and Komisarek’s physical, grind-it-out style suddenly became a step too slow. He seemed always to be behind the play.
In Montreal, Komisarek was the guy who had your back. In Toronto, he was the guy with the $4.5 million cap hit who was chasing the opposition’s backsides. He couldn’t keep up. That kind of shift—especially in a market like Toronto—can quickly raise the temperature. And, it did.
Komisarek Tried, But He Never Got His Game Back
Komisarek stuck around for a few more seasons with the Maple Leafs, but it never quite clicked. By 2013, the team bought out the final year of his contract. He was only 31, but the writing was on the wall.
He gave it one more go with the Carolina Hurricanes on a one-year deal—a quieter stop. However, just like that, Komisarek’s NHL days were done. Over 11 seasons, Komisarek played 551 games, putting up 14 goals, 67 assists, and just shy of 700 penalty minutes. These are far from eye-popping numbers. But, given his game, that was never the point.
What Went Wrong for Komisarek? Or, Did It?
Whenever a high-profile signing goes sideways, there’s always a debate. Was it the player? The team? The timing? The truth is probably somewhere in the middle. Komisarek’s game made sense in the early to mid-2000s. But the NHL shifted under his skates—quicker transitions, mobile defensemen, fewer scrums, more stretch passes.
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Toronto didn’t get the Komisarek they thought they were paying for. Instead, they got a player stuck between two eras. And when you play in a Canadian market like Toronto? That spotlight can turn into a magnifying glass. One year you’re an All-Star, the next you’re a cautionary tale.
There’s More to the Komisarek Story
It’s easy to boil it all down and call Komisarek a free-agent miss. But if that’s all you remember, you’re missing the whole picture. He played a key role in Montreal during a time when the team needed pushback and grit. He didn’t fake his game or pretend to be something he wasn’t.
Komisarek gave what he had—and for a solid stretch, that was more than enough. In a league that moves fast and forgets faster, Komisarek’s story is a reminder. Players don’t always get to choose how they’re remembered.
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But the ones who left it all out there on the ice? They’re worth remembering anyway. Komisarek is one of those players.
[As a current note, Komisarek is with the Vancouver Canucks in their Player Development department. He assumed this role in May 2022. He works primarily with the organization’s prospects — helping young players both on and off the ice to grow, and assisting in their transitions into professional hockey.]
