Mike Comrie retires from NHL after undergoing third hip surgery in five years

TORONTO – A third hip surgery in five years was too much for Mike Comrie to overcome.

The 31-year-old centre announced his retirement from the NHL on Monday, two weeks after undergoing a hip resurfacing procedure.

Comrie played 589 NHL regular season games with the Edmonton Oilers, Philadelphia Flyers, Phoenix Coyotes, Ottawa Senators, New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins, collecting 168 goals and 197 assists.

He also had 10 points (4-6) in 32 career playoff games.

“My career has afforded me a series of phenomenal opportunities to play and become friends with some of the greatest people I have ever known and some of the greatest players who have ever played this game,” Comrie said in a statement released by his agent. “To have made the lasting friendships I enjoy today with so many of my former teammates is something that will stay with me for the rest of my life.”

The statement added that Comrie was no longer able to “manage the rigours of NHL play.”

A two-time 30-goal scorer, Comrie’s hip issues limited him to just 127 games over the last three seasons.

The Edmonton native started his career with the Oilers in the 2000-01 season and went on to score 33 goals the following campaign.

But things soured in the Alberta capital and he was traded to Philadelphia in 2003 after a contract dispute. After a brief stint with the Flyers, Comrie was shipped to Phoenix in another trade.

The Coyotes dealt Comrie to Ottawa in 2007 where he was part of the Senators team that lost the Stanley Cup final in five games to Anaheim.

Comrie signed with the Islanders the following season before Ottawa re-acquired him in a trade in 2009.

He rejoined Edmonton for the 2009-10 campaign before finishing his career last season with the Penguins. Comrie had just one goal and five assists in 21 games with Pittsburgh and was an unrestricted free agent when he announced his retirement.

Comrie, who won a gold medal for Canada at the 2002 world hockey championship, is married to singer Hilary Duff. They are expecting their first child in March.