Whenever Sean Avery is ready to return to the NHL, it won’t be with the Dallas Stars.The combative, obnoxious forward was eligible to return from a six-game suspension over the weekend, but the Stars instead announced Avery will not rejoin the team—ever. Simmering tension between Avery and his teammates and his coach boiled over in the aftermath, with the dressing room united in its stance against him ever wearing a Stars sweater again. “You have to do what’s right for both parties, and that’s what we’re really trying to do,” co-general manager Brett Hull said.
Avery was only 23 games into a four-year, $15.5 million deal when NHL commissioner and supreme dickbag Gary Bettman suspended him for a crude remark about ex-girlfriends dating other hockey players. Remember when it was conduct during the course of play that used to get an athelete detention? The details of Avery’s departure still must be worked out. He could be traded, sent to the minors or bought out next summer. The club said it will work with Avery to try making this an amicable divorce. They won’t try voiding his contract on grounds he’s violated the conduct clause. There’s no telling when Avery will play again, but a young player of his talent and ability to rile other players will find a team ready to take the risk he presents.
Currently, he’s at an undisclosed location seeking treatment through a program set up by the NHL players association. When he was suspended, Avery told the Stars he needed help dealing with anger issues. Hull said Avery is in a 10-day, voluntary program that could be extended if counselors determine he needs a longer stay. Avery’s agent and publicist did not immediately respond to requests for comment. “We don’t want to ruin Sean or his career. We want him to get better,” Hull said. “The team needs to move on and start winning and he needs to take care of himself. … As a hockey player, I think there’s no question he can be an asset. That said, he’s got to fix the demons he has. It becomes such a huge distraction that it almost takes away from his ability to play the game.”
Avery is a two-time league leader in penalty minutes who prides himself on doing and saying things to irritate his foes. He savors his reputation as the NHL’s most-hated player and contrasts it with a well-publicized interest in fashion. He’s dated actresses, been written up in People magazine and spent this summer as intern for Vogue magazine. The fact he has a publicist makes him unique among NHL players. Although Avery had been fined and NHL rules were changed because of his antics, he’d never been suspended by the league until the now infamous incident.
Currently, he’s at an undisclosed location seeking treatment through a program set up by the NHL players association. When he was suspended, Avery told the Stars he needed help dealing with anger issues. Hull said Avery is in a 10-day, voluntary program that could be extended if counselors determine he needs a longer stay. Avery’s agent and publicist did not immediately respond to requests for comment. “We don’t want to ruin Sean or his career. We want him to get better,” Hull said. “The team needs to move on and start winning and he needs to take care of himself. … As a hockey player, I think there’s no question he can be an asset. That said, he’s got to fix the demons he has. It becomes such a huge distraction that it almost takes away from his ability to play the game.”Avery is a two-time league leader in penalty minutes who prides himself on doing and saying things to irritate his foes. He savors his reputation as the NHL’s most-hated player and contrasts it with a well-publicized interest in fashion. He’s dated actresses, been written up in People magazine and spent this summer as intern for Vogue magazine. The fact he has a publicist makes him unique among NHL players. Although Avery had been fined and NHL rules were changed because of his antics, he’d never been suspended by the league until the now infamous incident.
The 28-year-old Avery is on his fourth team in seven seasons. He came up with Detroit where he picked up a championship ring, was traded to my Kings, and then was dealt to the New York Rangers, who didn’t re-sign him when his contract expired. A trade would be the easiest way out - if there are any takers. The Stars probably won’t cut him because they would owe him $4 million for each of the next three seasons. They’re more likely to hold his rights until July 1, when they could buy him out for two-thirds of the balance ($8 million). Avery also could be sent to an AHL team, with the Stars paying his salary; if he didn’t show up, he wouldn’t get paid. Should Avery play in the minors, he’d go through re-entry waivers on the way back into the NHL. If a team claims him, the Stars and the new team would split the salary.
All in all, Avery has make himself a target with his behavior, but the suspension was just plain retarded and far beyond the scope of necessary or within reason for the commissioner to issue. The winning loser is Dallas, who can try to cut their losses by being free of Avery, but Avery is clearly a loser winner. His rep may be tarnished and he'll be taking flack for a while, but if Todd Bertuzzi can play after paralizing a player after punching him in the head from behind, then Avery certainly will be back too. and until then, he'll be counting those millions they owe him too...
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