Sean Avery: Who Wouldn't Love Him?

Sean Avery may be a pest, but he is very good at it, and any team in the NHL should be happy and feel lucky to have him.

Avery is a different type of pest. Most of them in the NHL are good for only that, in fact it seems they can barely even skate. When it comes to pissing off your opponent, they usually end up doing more harm than good for their own team. Avery, though, seems to have mastered the skill/art of “the hockey pest.”

The Dallas Stars are now blessed with the presence of the super pest, and he will bring energy to that team. Unlike most of today's pests, Avery has shown the ability to make plays and finish, as well. He will be a lot of fun for Dallas now that he is a member of the team as opposed to playing against.

Every hockey fan knows what Avery did in the playoffs last year against the New Jersey Devils, and because of that there is now a rule instituted in the book against taunting the goalie right in his face. The “Avery Rule” at the time was completely legal; there was nothing the officials could do. Now that it is no longer legal, Avery will need to find something else to do to get under the skin of opponents. I have a feeling this will not be a challenge.

The Rangers front office made a big mistake when it let go of Avery; he was the team's most dangerous weapon on the ice. If he was put on the ice with top players, he would have more points and still be the super pest he has always been. The Rangers should have put him on their first line instead of on the third line, where he was most of the time.

As a Maple Leafs fan, I would have loved to see Cliff Fletcher hold a press conference to announce that they have acquired Avery, no matter who they had to trade for him. If Avery ever came to Leafs Nation, it would be one of the happiest days of my life.

He is the ultimate weapon when he’s going after the puck; if he went for it more often, he could be a 60-point man. I know 60 points isn’t great, but combined with everything else he does, he is well worth any trade that will bring him to the Leafs.