Sean Avery: New York Rangers' Secret Weapon Is Still in the Bag

Don't tell the Washington Capitals that superpest Sean Avery has turned into a scorer since he rejoined the New York Rangers. The Caps have not played the Rangers since then and may be in for a surprise.

As the Flyers, Bruins, Devils, Canadiens, and others discovered in the stretch run, the so-called King of the Agitators is now less likely to drop the gloves and more likely to score a goal than he used to be.

He is joining the ranks of the fast and skilled, or hockey heroes, if his old reputation as a hockey villain doesn't get him killed.

Like the NHL itself, Avery is evolving in the direction of high speed, hard-hitting, skilled play, and away from staged fights, not to mention talking trash to the media.

The Capitals' coach, Bruce Boudreau, was quoted in the Washington Post today, saying, "Avery will never change."

From all reports, the Caps coaching staff has been reviewing videos of recent Rangers games to see how New York has changed since adding coach John Tortorella, forward Nik Antropov, defenseman Derek Morris, and Avery.

Boudreau coached Avery in Manchester in the American Hockey League, and played with his father on the Toronto Marlies, so he believes he has Avery's number.