Memo to New York Islanders: Don't Go After Sean Avery on July 1

In his latest "Slap Shots" column (http://www.nypost.com/seven/05252008/sports/russian_league_giving_nhl_run_for_its_mo_112444.htm?page=1), New York Post writer Larry Brooks suggests that the New York Islanders should "have their cash ready" should New York Rangers agitator Sean Avery make it to unrestricted free agency on July 1st.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Sean Avery is a good hockey player. Over a full season, he could put up the offensive numbers worthy of a second-line center spot. He produced 48 points over 84 games in 2006-07, and 33 points in 57 games last season.

Avery's presence in the Ranger lineup makes the team play with an added spark. The Rangers are 50-26-16 when he plays and 9-13-3 when he does not. He seems to have found his niche with the Rangers and has had a positive impact on them in his year and a half there.

But Avery comes with tremendous baggage. He has become hated around the NHL for his on-ice antics.

He is a frequent diver. He runs goalies. He'll agitate enforcers and then hide behind other players when they come looking for him. And who can forget his dancing in front of Martin Brodeur that caused the NHL to make a new "Sean Avery rule"?

When you factor in his ability to cause distractions off the ice, whether dating (and breaking up with) Elisha Cuthbert, spending his off-season at an internship with Vogue, or showing up in the black book of a prostitute, Avery brings a level of baggage with him that is almost too much to handle.

Another reason why the Islanders should stay away from Avery is because he doesn't fit on their roster.

The Islanders already have Mike Comrie under contract for 2008-09, and he is expected to get Top Six minutes. Mike Sillinger and Shawn Bates are also under contract, although both missed significant time last season due to injuries.

The Islanders also have a handful of young centers who got playing time last season in Frans Nielsen, Jeremy Colliton, and Ben Walter. All three will be restricted free agents after the season, but all three are expected to be re-signed and at least earn a spot in Bridgeport for 2008-09.

If the Islanders wanted to upgrade at center, they would prefer to find a first-line guy. They were hoping Comrie would be that guy, but last season proved that he's a better second-line option.

With a weak free agent class in terms of elite talent, a player like Avery, who is no better than a second-line player, will end up getting paid more than he would normally deserve. The last thing the Islanders need is to overpay a center, place him in the No. 1 spot, and watch him underproduce. They've seen too much of  Alexei Yashin and Comrie over the past five years.

Lost in all of this is the fact that Avery suffered a lacerated spleen a month ago during the Rangers' loss to the Penguins in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Chris Simms suffered a similar injury during a Tampa Bay Buccaneers' loss in September 2006. He hasn't played since.

Avery's injury may not be as severe as Simms's was, but he also suffered
shoulder and wrist injuries last season. Brooks himself criticized Avery last November for reckless play and suggested that he was going to get himself injured again if he was going to look for fights at every possible opportunity.

Avery has said (to Brooks, no less) that he "bleeds Ranger blue" and wants to stay a Ranger. The Rangers have been hesitant to offer Avery the money he wants and are preoccupied with trying to re-sign Jaromir Jagr, fueling speculation that Avery could hit the free agent market.

Should he do so, it's likely that some team would offer him a contract in the $4 million per year range.

That team shouldn't be the Islanders.