Are the Stars Aligning for Sean Avery and the AHL? Half-Price Sale for Agitator

Exiled Dallas Stars' forward Sean Avery is expected to be cleared from the NHL and NHLPA's Behavioral Modification program no later than early next week, according to Sporting News staff reports on Sportingnews.com.

He should be skating before Valentine's Day.

If he is claimed, the Stars would split the remainder of his contract with his new team.

The Sporting News staff  claimed Avery is scheduled to begin skating on Monday in anticipation of returning to hockey, and in order to do that, Avery knows he will have to regain NHL teams' trust which will very likely require time in the American Hockey League.

The Stars are revisiting their options on what to do with their suspended left winger. Avery remains Dallas property. The Stars may have to find an AHL team willing to take Avery on board.

Dallas does not have an AHL affiliate, but arrangements could be made with an AHL team. Plans are underway for the Texas Stars to play in the AHL in 2009 or 2010.

The AHL team closest to Dallas is the San Antonio Rampage, who are affiliated with the Phoenix Coyotes. The San Antonio team is currently in last place in the West division of the Western Conference of the AHL and in third last place overall.

Avery played for the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks and for the  Motor City Mechanics, in the past, but those AHL teams no longer exist.

The Stars could then place Avery on waivers and, providing he clears, he will be reassigned. Avery's best chance of returning to the NHL may be via re-entry waivers.

The Stars could peddle him or waiver him. A team acquiring Avery would then be responsible for getting him back into game condition.

His contract has three-years and $12 million remaining after this season, but Dallas would pay half.

That's a half price sale. —Just don't refer to Avery as the Dallas Stars' sloppy seconds.'