It seems like the Bulldogs have had enough with their depleted blueline, and Greg Pateryn's loss was bigger than we initially thought, as they've signed sometimes NHLer and twitter provocateur Mike Commodore to a professional tryout contract.

Details on the contract are not available yet, but it's reasonable to assume that it's similar to the one that Darryl Boyce signed with the Bulldogs earlier in the year for 25 games.

Commodore has lost a bit of a step in recent years at the NHL level but should be a solid to excellent add in the AHL. The hard-hitting 6'4", 227 pound defenseman is 32 years old, and coming off of a season where he played just 30 games in the NHL, with no points and a +4 rating.

The question for the Bulldogs now is whether Sylvain Lefebvre will adjust to the AHL in his coaching style, as rolling 4 lines while dressing a 4th line that's entirely useless and a detriment to the team isn't working.

Official Press Release:

HAMILTON, ONT – Hamilton Bulldogs General Manager Marc Bergevin announced today that the Club has signed defenceman Mike Commodore to a Professional Try-Out Contract. As per club policy, financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Commodore, 33, has spent parts of 11 seasons in the National Hockey League with the New Jersey Devils, Calgary Flames, Carolina Hurricanes, Ottawa Senators, Columbus Blue Jackets, Detroit Red Wings and Tampa Bay Lightning. In 484 regular season games, Commodore has registered 106 points (23 goals, 83 assists) and 683 penalty minutes. The 6’4”, 225-pound defenceman has also played 53 post-season games, notching eight points (2 goals, 6 assists) and 70 penalty minutes. In 2004, Commodore was a member of the Calgary Flames’ Western Conference Championship team that fell in seven games to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Stanley Cup Finals. In 2006, Commodore helped the Carolina Hurricanes capture the Stanley Cup by defeating the Edmonton Oilers in seven games.

Commodore has played 244 regular season games in the American Hockey League with the Albany River Rats, Cincinnati Mighty Ducks, Saint John Flames, Lowell Lock Monsters and Springfield Falcons. The native of Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta recorded 77 points (15 goals, 62 assists) and 588 penalty minutes during his time in the AHL. Prior to turning professional, Commodore played three seasons of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) hockey with the University of North Dakota from 1997-2000, posting 30 points (10 goals, 20 assists) and 382 penalty minutes in 106 regular season games. During the 1999-2000 season, Commodore helped the Fighting Sioux win a Western Collegiate Hockey Association Championship (WCHA) Championship.

Commodore was originally selected by the New Jersey Devils in the second round, 42^nd overall in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft.

Commodore is scheduled to join the Hamilton Bulldogs for practice on Saturday, November 24^th from 12:40-1:55 p.m. at Wave Twin Rinks at 1179 Northside Road in Burlington. The practice is open to the public.

The Bulldogs’ next game is Sunday, November 25^th against the Lake Erie Monsters at Copps Coliseum at 4 p.m. All ‘Dogs games during the month of November will be broadcast on Hamilton's Funny 820 (AM 820), with select games simulcast on Montreal's TSN Radio 690 (AM 690). Fans can also listen to and watch all 'Dogs games on www.hamiltonbulldogs.com. Live coverage with the broadcast team of Play-By-Play Announcer Derek Wills (all home and away games) and Colour Commentator Al Craig (all home and select away games) will begin with the Pioneer Pre-Game Show 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start time.