Sean Avery has NO respect for anyone in the NHL. He's a pest, he's dirty, he's cheap, and most of all he's fearless. Combine these things with a little talent, and you've got a player most teams in the NHL want to have. As much as I hate to say it, Sean Avery will be around until he decides to retire.
He showed some of his antics in the limited time he spent in Detroit, and continued them full force when he was in Los Angeles. His lack of respect was so evident, and to the Kings credit they weren't going to put up with it.
They made a statement, and sat him for the last part of the 05-06 season. I was ecstatic that a team would make a statement like that to a player."Make a change, or you're not going to play." Amazingly enough, it worked...for a while. He was playing with more respect, yet still playing hard.
He cut his penalty minutes in half, and kept his point production up. I gained some respect for Avery at his ability to make that change. Then he was traded to the Rangers, and the old Sean Avery was back.
In New York, they must have told him to go back to what he was before. He started agitating, and being the jerk that got him in trouble before. He has a bigger platform in New York to show off, and is almost praised for it.
It's frustrating beyond words.
But as time passes and the more Sean Avery ends up in the media because of another thing he's done, I have to ask myself; is he or isn't he good for the league?
This is a league that has the occasional bad boy, but everyone is pretty clean. No one is arrested for drug trafficking, possession, or for shooting anyone. So if we have a guy that causes disturbances the way Avery does, I think we're doing alright. As long as he stays within the rules, I'm starting to think he might be good for the competition in the league.
Everyone is now aware of the way Avery is on and off the ice. He didn't get the ice time to be a Super Pest playing in Detroit, and Los Angeles doesn't get the same media attention. But he sure does get the limelight on Broadway.
I really don't like the way he flips the bird to the camera whenever he gets the chance, but he sure brings a lot of attention to the NHL, and I don't think that is a bad thing.
I am glad that the NHL has gone away from players that make the team just as an agitator or goon. No roster spot can be wasted, and Avery has earned his spot.
He doesn't put up all star numbers, but can contribute 10-20 goals a season, when combined with 150-200 PIM is something any team would take in a 2nd or 3rd liner. Plus he showed he could produce in the playoffs which is almost more valuable that any of the points he put up in the regular season.
If I ever had something good to say about Avery, it would be that he is creative. His stance in front of Martin Brodeur waving his stick was genius. Until that point, you couldn't call a penalty for it. He found a loop hole, and as short as it was, he did take advantage of it!
I haven't been a Sean Avery fan, and I was hoping his time in the league would be short. After Dallas signed him for almost $16 Million over 4 years, I realized it wasn't going to happen anytime soon, so why not embrace it. Besides, it will be that much more satisfying to beat the Dallas Stars.
19 comments Last one added 11 months ago — Leave a Comment
Chris Hoeler 12 months ago
Avery is good for the NHL...with the NHL going for this family friendly kind of event, Avery brings back the old time hockey by remaking rivalries between teams and players. His battles with Martin Brodeur were absolutely amazing and re-ignited the rivalry between the Rangers and Devils. Yes he is a pain in the ass and he may have done this or that but to fans who watched the old NHL and are a fan of old time hockey, Avery is a breath of fresh air. I am happy he is in the NHL.
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Chris Lenz 12 months ago
Avery is an honest player. You know what you're getting from him, and you know he's giving his all. He got a rule change made in mid-playoff! that's creativity!
He's also never been suspended. You're looking at a guy who DOES know where the line is.
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Mike Rappaport 12 months ago
I think Avery can be a player that the NHL markets. He provides that something extra that sports like the NBA and NFL love.
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Tyler Charles 12 months ago
Avery rocks, enough said!
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Daniel Sallows 12 months ago
Sean Avery is good for the game because there is no such thing as bad press. The NHL's version of Dennis Rodman, he can sell the game, and for that in my books he is a great player.
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Fahad Zaidi 12 months ago
He helps his team win. The Rangers won over 70 percent of their games with him in the lineup last year and I'm sure he'll do the same in Dallas. Especially if he gets to play along side Brendan Morrow.
As a Stars fan, I couldn't be happier about him being a part of the team!
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Alan Bass 12 months ago
great article, scott. they do indeed need avery in the nhl. he brings great publicity, and he truly will help any team that he is with, in this case, dallas
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Patrick SJ Read 12 months ago
I hope he could stay in NY - that was the funniest damn thing I have seen in all hockey. As players we are taught from a young age to intentionally screen the goalie....I just never saw anyone do it with so much determination, or fervor! Does that new rule mean that screening is illegal and the whistle will now blow, or just the league! ;o)~
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Brendan Krooker 12 months ago
Spleen Boy may entertain the punchdrunk crowd but he has no respect for the game and real hockey fans see right through him.
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Patrick SJ Read 12 months ago
real hockey fans? those that played real hockey respect the guy, and laughed out loud at his "unprofessional screeing." So, screening or fighting? a "real" hockey man would knows the difference. fans who buy tickets are "real fans" because they paid to watch hockey, whose players make jack.
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Stars Rule 12 months ago
O.K. Brendan, let's say that the total number of NHL fans is 10. Nine of those NHL fans think Avery serves a purpose and is good for the game and ONLY ONE of the 10 disagrees but proclaims himself "a real hockey fan." That implies that the other nine are what....................not real hockey fans? Doesn't make much sense does it? You, as a "real hockey fan" have your own ideas about Sean and the rest of those that have commented here have their own opinion and I would NEVER, EVER tell someone they are NOT a "real hockey fan" just because you happen to disagree with them.
I am certainly not a fan of Sean but then again I have not seen him play that much. I will admit that Sean is different but I KNOW he wants to win just as much as any other player does. I feel like Jack/Hull will pull in the reins a bit but not enough to completely change his persona. What I can't wait to see is when Avery and Otter both get going. I anticipate that the Stars will have much more press this season and that is a good thing.
I am a very passionate Stars (hockey) fan and I don't understand why anyone would feel good about beating the Stars.....................Scott. I don't anticipate much of that going on this year anyway.
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Dov Ivry 12 months ago
The Rangers were dead in the water when Avery showed up a year and half ago and he was the sparkplug that triggered their late run to the playoffs. Last year he was injured twice and they had a losing record both times. In the lineup, they won. Sather wasn't going to pay him $4 million and the Rangers have to move on, hoping Voros will fill part of the void. But our fans are going to miss him and wish him nothing but the best in Dallas.
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MR CONTROVERSY 12 months ago
you know ,, lmao ,,, it figures ,,, if u are a ranger fan , u were routing for him when he was in the line up .... now that hes' not , u put him down ... your article ticks me off ... and im sure you knew it would tick of someone lol ... what does avery do ... hmmmmm he gets under ppls skin ,, hes good at it ... he don't deliberately go after some one to hurt them .. you very rarely see him dropping the gloves first ... and since the nhl changed the rules so much with checking and cross checking and hooking ,,, he mastered a way to furiate the other teams best players ... and u have issues with that .. lol
eric lindros was one of the dirtiest players in the game ,, why didnt u right about him ,,, cause hes a superstar ... lol bet u didnt say anything when crossed checked little guys like pat verbeke and todd harvey , theo flurry head first into the boards ... why didn't u write about that jerk off pronger ,,, who i personal hope some one taggs his ass this year ... stomping on guys legs and ankles with the blade of his skates ... owww big star u don't write about , the real piece of crap u don't write about ... avery who don't do a dam thing in comparisson u write about ... i loved it when he flagged marty in the playoffs ... reguardless what the nhl said and did ... he didnt touch him and he wasnt in the blue line ... give me a break .. faget ass marty got scored on when avery wasnt flagging him, and it was by avery ... lmao ... the guy has crazy talenet too .. look at the stats with him in the line up and out ... the guy is def a clunch player ... and he gets busy at crunch time ... im glad he went to dallas ... he did what what was best for him ,, he went where he was wanted ,, and he went to and equally good team ... and got paid ... every ranger fan loved him ,,, ur the exception oh and stars ^ there ... your 150 % wrong dude ... u want to put a guy down for his play or ability , or dirty player ... avery isnt the one ...
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Scott Fitzsimmons 12 months ago
Did you actually READ the article instead of skimming over it ? I said he WAS good for the NHL! I'm neither a Ranger fan or a Dallas fan. He was different when he was in Los Angeles, and has become a lot smarter in doing things. He had over 250 penalty minutes in Los Angeles, and was very dirty. Once he stopped taking so many stupid penalties, he was much more valuable to his team. I may not like him, but I gave him credit for being talented, fearless and creative. So before you 150% disagree, READ IT AGAIN!!
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Eric K 12 months ago
While he may or may not be good for the NHL, at least VOGUE seems to think he's good for them....
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Stars Rule 12 months ago
Eric - If we, or at least if I, could read your comment I might be able to understand what you are trying to say. But, I can't read it so I will disregard it. I'm not sure but I think you lumped us all in the same pile and you think we are against Sean. I think I only saw one comment from Brendan that probably indicates a dislike for Sean. He IS GOOD for the NHL and there should be a few more like him. Since the Stars already have Steve Ott, the addition of Avery will make this year very interesting and should bring a lot of publicity to the game and the NHL. GO STARS!!!!!!!!!
Eric #2 - What does VOGUE have to do with whether or not Sean Avery is good for the NHL?
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MR CONTROVERSY 12 months ago
no ,,,,,, half ur article ur cutting the guy , the other half your writing about what you are just gonna have to deal with when you watch a dallas game lol .... i did read the article the first time ... and he didn't nothing in la in comparisson to pronger , and many others ... think u need to reread it ,, how its frustrating beyound words lol ... my point is this ,,, avery is gone ,,, let it go ,,, if u rearly wanted to write a great article and make a statement ,,, about if anyone is good for the nhl ,,, write about jerk offs like criss pronger .... if that was my teammate he was doing that to , i would have cracked in the back of the head with the stick ... don't ask or write is avery good for the league , we already know he is ... u said he went right back to the old avery when he came to ny ... so what ,,, hes gone now ... ok for u i'll change it ... i disagree with 95% of the article ,, happry now ... but don't worry bro ,,, i did love some of ur other articles ..
as for stars .... u did say ur not a an avery fan .. simply put ... so if u learn how to read what i wrote , the u will see u fit perfectly where i put u ... as a guy who don't like avery .. lol
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Scott Fitzsimmons 12 months ago
I don't have any idea what you just said, but I am glad you enjoyed the other articles!
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John Rowland 11 months ago
Avery played to win, period. ANYTHING to win. That's what great competitors do. Good luck Sean, we'll miss you in NY!!!
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