Pittsburgh Penguins Could Steal Sean Avery To Fight Off Rangers for Playoff Spot

Sean Avery may be on the verge of returning to New York, but the Pittsburgh Penguins could steal him away, as they are fighting the Rangers for the last playoff spot in their division.

With the addition of Avery, the Penguins would have the top two hockey heroes in the NHL and the No. 1 villain.

Media reports on Saturday, citing an NHL source, said the Dallas Stars are preparing to place Avery on re-entry waivers by Monday—bringing him back from the American Hockey League's Hartford Wolf Pack.

That will open the door for any other club to claim Avery.

There is the strongest indication that the Rangers want Avery, but they are taking a risky gamble, as Avery could be claimed by any team lower in the NHL standings than the Rangers—including the Penguins.
 
The Penguins recently fired head coach Micheal Therrien, and have posted a 3-1 record under Bylsma, putting them in the hunt for a playoff spot.

They lost key players such as Ryan Malone, Jarkko Ruutu, and enforcer Georges Laraque, but the Pens attempted to fill those holes this season with the additions of Miraslov Satan, Ruslan Fedetanko, and most recently, Chris Kunitz.

As of Feb. 28, 2009, the Penguins have 68 points and are in 10th place in the playoff race behind the Carolina Hurricanes in ninth with 69 points, and the Buffalo Sabres, who currently hold the eighth and final playoff spot with 70 points.

The New York Rangers are in seventh place in the Eastern Conference playoff with 70 points. The have been called 'vanilla' and many Rangers fans are calling for the return of their favourite villain.

Sidney Crosby has been scratched the past two games, and is not playing Sunday either.

The Penguins have been looking for a more ideal winger for Crosby for some time.

Sergei Gonchar is finally back from the injury that has sidelined him all season.