Rangers Reportedly Reuniting With Sean Avery

As soon as it was announced that Sean Avery was finishing his Anger Management program, he started making headlines about rejoining the New York Rangers. Rumours are flying about Avery getting grabbed by the Montreal Canadiens, the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The New York Times headline asked "Is Avery Bound for the Rangers?" The article under that headline reported that Rangers' President and G.M. Glen Sather accompanied the team to Dallas and met with Stars co-G.M. Les Jackson to work out details of how to get a deal done for Avery.

The New York Rangers held meetings to discuss the possibility of bringing Dallas Stars' bad boy Sean Avery to the Rangers, according to a report in the National Post. The newspaper said the meetings - held with coaches, players, and management personnel - concluded that Avery could help the team in its run toward the Stanley Cup playoffs.

An article by Stu Hackel of the Sporting News reported that Brendan Shanahan believes that an Avery/Rangers reunion would work out.

Ranger's coach Renney was quoted in an AP story today saying Avery is a guy who can play and is a great teammate. He was always there for his teammates and laid it on the line every night.

Avery, acquired by the Rangers in a trade with the Los Angeles Kings on Feb. 5, 2006, had 15 goals and 18 assists in 57 regular-season games for the Rangers in 2007-08, then added four goals and three assists in eight playoff games. In Avery's season and a half with the Rangers, the club was 50-23-13 when he played and 24-35-9 when he was out of the lineup.

Larry Brooks reported in the New York Post that the Rangers are expected to talk to the Dallas Stars about sending Avery to Hartford, New York's AHL affiliate. Brooks reported that the Rangers are strongly considering trying to reacquire Avery.

Eric Duhatschek, a columnist with the Globe and Mail, said Sean Avery could be back playing for the Rangers again and that it's logical to think that Avery's way back to the NHL is through New York, where he was an effective player for the Rangers in his time there.

Arthur Staple, writing in Newsday, said that if Sean Avery makes his way back to New York he will be just what these Rangers need. Arthur Staple, Newsday and
Pierre LeBrun of ESPN reported that Avery's agent, Pat Morris, said Sean Avery's return from exile is imminent.

Where will Avery go? It looks like Hartford, first, and then the Rangers, but Montreal, Pittsburgh, and Toronto might be interested as well.

Paul Doyle, writing in The Hartford Courant, said "Suspended NHL player Sean Avery could be on his way to Hartford."

The Hartford Wolf Pack of the AHL are affiliated with the New York Rangers. They are currently in third place in the Atlantic Division of the AHL and 13th place overall.

Shane Morin-Farraway, writing for Bleacher Report, said "Gainey needs to kick start his team now more than ever, and perhaps Avery could be the boost and wake up call that the team sorely needs."

Alan Bass, a senior writer for Bleacher Report, recently noted that the Penguins have much less depth at left wing than they do at center, and Ruslan Fedotenko is truly the only talented left winger on the Penguins’ squad, but is injured at the moment.

Who do we know who plays left wing, that is available, has been good for 15 goals per season, can park himself in front of the net, and can be a spark plug or an enforcer?

Sean something .... Used to play for the Stars, helped the Rangers, played for the Red Wings ....

Ron Wilson, coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs, recently said he's tired of telling the media his team is not tanking in hopes of getting the first draft pick and claiming John Tarvares. That means they are playing to win and they will be active before the trade deadline.

The superpest from Pickering was practically born and raised in Toronto. Pickering is right beside the sprawling city of Toronto.  

It looks as though the stars could be aligning for Sean Avery -- if not the Dallas Stars.