Mike Commodore

Player

Birthday November 7, 1979

Birth Sign Scorpio

Birthplace Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada

Age 44 years old

Nationality Canada

Height 1.93 m

Weight 227 lb (103 kg; 16 st 3 lb)

#52042 Most Popular

1979

Michael W. Commodore (born November 7, 1979) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman.

Commodore played for several teams in the National Hockey League (NHL).

1999

Commodore was selected by the New Jersey Devils in the second round (42nd overall) of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft.

He was drafted 42nd overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft.

2000

Commodore played his collegiate years at the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux, playing three years and winning the NCAA Championship in 2000.

Commodore has a brother, Matt, who also briefly played junior hockey with the Alberta Junior Hockey League Fort Saskatchewan Traders during the 2000-01 season.

Politically, Commodore opposes Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

In particular, Commodore has been critical of Trudeau's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and Trudeau's economic policy.

2004

He was traded to the Anaheim Ducks and then to the Calgary Flames, playing in the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals.

2005

Calgary's depth on the blue line left no place for Commodore in the regular lineup, and he was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes prior to the start of the 2005–06 NHL season.

2006

In 2006, he won the Stanley Cup as part of the Carolina Hurricanes.

Commodore and the Hurricanes ended up becoming NHL champions at the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals.

During both final runs, Commodore became noted for his red playoff beard and afro hair.

As the Hurricanes were received at the White House in 2006, president George W. Bush joked that "I'm not sure what is prettier, the Stanley Cup, or Mike Commodore's hair."

Both times Commodore followed the finals having his hair shaved for organizations which helped the Jimmy V Foundation cancer research.

The first time he had his hair shaved was at his mother's former school, Fort High.

The second time, Commodore held ten eBay auctions for the highest bidders which would allow them to have a chance to shave his head and keep his hair.

During the 2006 playoffs, Commodore also had fans copying a bathrobe he wore before the pre-game skate.

Along with Rhett Warrener, he played a role in Paul Brandt's music video, "Convoy", as a truck driver.

In the 2006-07 regular season, Commodore tied Mike Komisarek of the Montreal Canadiens for most shorthanded goals scored among defensemen, with two.

2007

He was a member of the 2007 Canadian IIHF World Championship team that won gold in a 4–2 win against Finland in Moscow.

2008

On February 11, 2008, Commodore was dealt to the Ottawa Senators along with Cory Stillman from Carolina for Joe Corvo and Patrick Eaves.

Commodore was signed as an unrestricted free agent by the Columbus Blue Jackets on July 1, 2008 to a five-year contract worth $18.75 million.

He scored five goals as well as adding 19 assists during his first season in Columbus that saw the Blue Jackets appear in their first ever Stanley Cup Playoff series against the Detroit Red Wings, who won in a sweep.

Commodore recorded 18 penalty minutes during the series.

2011

Commodore cleared waivers on January 17, 2011, and was assigned to the Springfield Falcons of the AHL.

The Detroit Red Wings signed Commodore to a one-year contract worth $1 million on July 1, 2011.

After signing, Commodore was offered to pick his own jersey number, which incited several Internet petitions to suggest the number 64, in reference to the Commodore 64.

The idea was supported by both the team and Commodore himself, but he decided against it.

2012

On February 27, 2012, Commodore was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning for a conditional seventh-round draft pick after playing only 17 games for Detroit.

With the 2012 NHL lockout affecting his free agent status, Commodore was signed to a professional try-out contract midway into the 2012–13 season on November 20, 2012.

2013

He was released on January 23, 2013.

Commodore played in the Kontinental Hockey League during the 2013–14 season.

2017

As of 2017, Commodore occasionally worked as an Uber driver.

Commodore has been very open over his disapproval of former Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, and Mighty Ducks of Anaheim head coach Mike Babcock.

Commodore has stated he was "screwed over" by Babcock while with the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks of the AHL, claiming Babcock refused to play him in favour of new addition Kurt Sauer.

The relationship worsened nine years later, after Commodore signed with the Red Wings, who Babcock was coaching.

Commodore states this signing is what ended his career in the NHL.

Commodore claimed that Babcock misled him by telling him he was wanted as a physical presence; Commodore remained a healthy scratch for a month and a half to start the season before playing in two games, and was then scratched again until December, only reentering the line up when, according to Commodore, Red Wings general manager Ken Holland ordered Babcock to play him.

Commodore would go on to say he was traded out of Detroit "because Holland felt bad [for me]", referring to his lack of playing time.