No shenanigans for Avery in Calgary this time
Photo credit: David L. Pokress | Rangers winger Sean Avery fights off a check from the Capitals' Brian Pothier during the 2009 playoffs.
Sean Avery
Nov. 5: Rangers 4, Oilers 2
CALGARY - When Sean Avery arrives at the Saddledome Saturday, he will be tight-lipped.
The last time he was here, as a Dallas Star on Dec. 2, 2008, his remarks at the morning skate - for which he later apologized - cost him a six-game suspension and a plane ticket out of Texas.
Avery made crude references to the current relationships of Flames defenseman Dion Phaneuf, who was dating Avery's former girlfriend, Elisha Cuthbert, and Kings forward Jarret Stoll, who was dating another ex, Rachel Hunter.
The NHL immediately suspended him for "conduct detrimental to the league or the game" pending a hearing. Stars owner Tom Hicks said he also would have suspended Avery, who apologized for "a bad attempt to build excitement for the game."
Avery was barred for six games, and on Dec. 14, the Stars said they would cut ties with Avery, who had signed a four-year, $14.4-million contract. Rangers president Glen Sather opened a spot in Hartford and claimed Avery on recall waivers. Avery underwent counseling and dressed for 24 regular-season and playoff games with the Rangers, who are owned by Cablevision, which also owns Newsday.
In Edmonton, before the 10-6-1 Rangers flew here to face Phaneuf and the Flames, Avery reiterated that the events of the past were not on his mind.
"I have zero interest in all the shenanigans that have built up," Avery said. "I've moved on. I'm really just concentrating on the New York Rangers being a good team and doing what I can to help the team win. And I'm really excited to be back in Canada."
Avery's last point was an assist on Oct. 24 in Montreal. He will be on the fourth line again, unless John Tortorella changes his mind. He liked the combinations in the 4-2 win over the Oilers, in which Avery played 5:56.
"This isn't just about Sean," Tortorella said. "There's accountability involved here and when I have other players going [well], that's how it's gonna be. That how we ended up with lines the way they are now.
"Kots [Ales Kotalik], at a point in time, was getting 10, 11 minutes a game. I think he's played very well of late, so he's getting minutes. So this isn't about Sean Avery.''
