It's Official! Sean Avery Is a Blueshirt Again; Mark Bell Gets Sent to Hartford!

As of today Sean Avery is once again a New York Ranger. This can be a good thing for the team, as well as a bad one.

Avery has played in 23 games with the Dallas Stars this year and had a rocky start. He recorded only 10 points in those 23 games which totaled three goals and seven assists, before he ran into trouble with the league.

For the first few games, I look for Avery to try to make his presence known on the ice as quickly as possible. To show he belongs on the team once again. Hard hits, maybe a fight or two, he will do what he does best, aggravating the opposing teams.

How ever Avery has stated that he will focus more on playing hockey then anything else. So what can we expect?

Will he continue to agitate and get in the face of arch enemy Marty Broduer. Or will he concentrate more on scoring and attacking and more low key.

Avery has the talent to be a very good hockey player, if he stays out of the box. With Tortorella’s style of play. I think Avery will fit right in. After all, we all know he is an aggressive player. Aggression is what the coach wants.

There was some talk on how Avery’s and Tortorella’s personalities may clash. I personally don’t think this will be a problem. Tortorella is the coach, Avery is the player. Avery wants to play, so he will do as he is instructed.

Besides last year every player and coach expressed how Avery had a great personality in the locker room and off the ice. I don’t see a problem happening between the two. The Garden will explode when Avery makes his return there, wearing the Rangers colors. He is a fan favorite in New York. And the new coach will see this as well.

But no matter how good the Rangers penalty killing units are. Avery needs to stay out of the box and out of trouble. This is the part of him that can hurt this team.

I believe he will be more focused and realizes the opportunity he has been giving, and i believe he will be determined to score goals and do what ever it takes to help the team.

Last week, the Rangers signed Mark Bell off of the Maple Leafs waiver list. But as of March second, he has been assigned to Hartford. This makes no sense at all.

Bell is more likely to score more goals then Voros, or Betts. In terms of scoring goals, he is even better then Avery. So why not put him on the third or fourth line for now and see what he does. Sending him down is a bad move.

Bell has already proven he can be a 25-goal scorer a year. He has done it twice with the Black Hawks back to back. Which at the time, was one of the worst teams in the league.

Yes I know. The Rangers had a great game against the Avs. But before you get all excited. The Avs have been struggling and the Rangers scored goals against a struggling goalie as well. Yes they played a great game.

Yes they scored a lot of goals, which may get them out of the slump they are still in. I don’t consider a one-game scoring frenzy against a struggling team a recovery.

If they do it against the Islanders, who do play the Rangers very well at times. That still wont be enough, do to the Ilse are the worst team in the league and have serious goalie issues.

They have the Bruins, Hurricanes, and back to back games coming up against the Flyers. As well as Montreal, Penguins, Buffalo and the Devils coming up. If they do what they did to the Avs, to these teams. Then I will say hey. They recovered!

This team still needs a goal scorer. Mark Bell can be one of them. Should be one of them. But yet, as of right now, he won't be.

Regardless what some may think, this team is still broke and needs to be fixed.

Avery and Bell are not the greatest solutions. But are definitely players that can help and add a touch of toughness and increase the teams scoring ability.

So now we ask, well who will play center if Betts were to sit with Dubinski playing wing?

Well Prucha has and can play center as well as Avery. They have in the past and were successful at doing so.

The Rangers have , Gomez, Drury, Korpikoski, Dubinski, and Anisimov (who has not yet played a game with the Ranger) that can all play center. Adding Prucha and Avery to the list, that makes six centers. So it can be done.

If Betts sits. Doesn’t that hurt the pk unit? Not at all! The Rangers have one of the best Penalty Killing units in the NHL. They use all 12 forwards in it. You take away Betts, you add Avery or Bell (who does check people) you really don’t lose a thing.

The Rangers really need to look at who they have right now. Both on their roster and in Hartford.

It is not to late to make the Play-offs and better this team at the same time with who they have on both rosters. Changes are still needed to be made here.

Good luck guys!!!