NY Rangers Claim Avery Off Waivers from Stars

Sean Avery is back in the NHL. The New York Rangers announced on Tuesday that they have claimed the always controversial left wing off re-entry waivers from the Dallas Stars. The Rangers will be responsible for half of his remaining salary, which equals out to an annual cap hit of $3.875 million over the next three years. The Stars will be responsible for the other half. Avery had been playing with the Rangers' AHL affiliate in Hartford in an effort to return to the NHL. Rumors had swirled for weeks that if the Stars placed Avery on re-entry waivers, the Rangers would claim him. In 23 games so far this season, he has three goals and seven assists for 10 points and 77 penalty minutes. This will be his second stint with the Rangers. I guess I was wrong about the Rangers not claiming Avery off waivers after claiming Mark Bell from Toronto last week. This move comes as no surprise given the recent speculation the Rangers wanted him back to bring a spark back to their team. It will be interesting how Avery meshes with new coach John Tortorella given the latter's highly critical comments of the left wing back in December. Avery will bring a lot of toughness and offensive depth to the team as well as be an agitating presence to opposing teams. However, I'm not sure this is the right move for the Rangers to make. They are currently sliding through the standings in the Eastern Conference and could miss the playoffs if they cannot turn things around. Avery's antics caused the Dallas Stars to start the season very poorly and they did not improve until after he was suspended. If Avery brings those same antics to the Rangers, it could do the team more harm than good.

Avery Suspended Indefinitely by the NHL

Dallas Stars forward Sean Avery has been suspended indefinitely by the NHL for a derogatory comment made toward the girlfriend of Calgary Flames' defenseman Dion Phaneuf on December 2, 2008. Avery made the comment on camera following the Stars' practice and just hours before the Stars and Flames were to play each other in Calgary. The comment Avery made appeared to have been premeditated, as he tried to hold back a smile and keep from laughing while he spoke. The Stars organization is so thoroughly disgusted with the comment that they are on the verge of cutting ties with Avery. The team signed him to a four-year contract this past summer. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and league disciplinarian Colin Campbell will hold a hearing in New York with Avery to determine a suspension on Thursday. Avery attempted to issue an apology to his teammates and the Stars' organization through the organization on Wednesday, but was rejected by the team. He issued an apology that was not sanctioned by the team on Wednesday, though. Avery has been the center of controversy since his rookie season in 2001-02. He has had verbal confrontations with fans and players on an off the ice, including racial slurs and derogatory comments about Jason Blake's bout with Leukemia, as well as giving a New York cameraman the middle finger last season. The comment by Avery shows how classless he really is. He has completely embarrassed himself, his team and teammates, and the whole league through his distasteful words and should be completely ashamed of what he said. He's nothing but a clown who likes to run his big mouth just to get attention. There is no place in the NHL for Avery's childish antics and the league needs to come down hard on him or he will continue to run his mouth. If the league punishes Avery harshly, it will teach him a lesson for being such an ass.