I wasn’t surprised to hear co-GM, Brett Hull, weighing in on this.  He’s been vocal about Avery in the past.  Today, Hull said: “Sean needs to focus on his own well-being while the Stars hockey team must focus on playing hockey and competing for a playoff spot.  Everyone understands that Sean will not return to the Dallas Stars. We all need to move forward.”  He added that the goal is to allow Sean to “focus on resolving his personal issues” while the Dallas Stars can have “closure on this episode. The team needs to put its energies into winning.”  Therefore, the team will honor Avery’s contract while he seeks treatment.

There’s a long list of grievances when it comes to Avery’s past behavior.  Just to name a few things, he’s made racial comments against minorities and French Canadiens in the league, he’s gotten into fights with commentators and coaches, his weird hand-waving tactics in front of Martin Brodeur (New Jersey Devils) during the playoffs led to a rule change and he has criticized players like Jarome Iginla (captain, Calgary Flames) of not being “exciting enough.” 

Of course, the incident that finally caught up with him was when he referred to his old girlfriend, Elisha Cuthbert (who is currently dating Flames d-man, Dion Phaneuf) as “sloppy seconds.”

I think this is good for the Stars who have been really struggling this season (they are currently 27th in the league).  Hopefully, this will be a turning point for them because it’s just sad to see them doing so badly…

Post from: Hockey Beat

Wow.  This situation gets worse by the minute.  People are pissed and I know some people think he shouldn’t have been suspended for his actions but I’m sorry – I hope Sean Avery is done. 

I’m reading articles/blog posts where people say it’s unreasonable for Avery to have been suspended indefinitely for referring to Calgary Flames defenseman, Dion Phaneuf’s girlfriend, actress Elisha Cuthbert as “sloppy seconds.”  I’m sorry but it’s about more than that. 

He’s gotten away with so much crap over the years and this is my personal list of things that you shouldn’t do if you want to be taken seriously in the NHL:

• Don’t call a press conference to basically call someone a slut and insult an opponent on his choice of girlfriend.  Lame attempt to bring excitement to a game.
• Don’t call a press conference to insult a player in his own town.
• Don’t call a press conference when you’ve told your team and PR people that you won’t do that.
• Don’t get away with making racial comments towards players of diverse backgrounds as he has done with George Laraque.  The NHL couldn’t prove it and he was not punished.
• Don’t even think about commenting on a player’s fight with cancer as he did with Jason Blake.
• Don’t wave your stick in front of a goaltender in a lame attempt to look like you’re doing a good job defensively.  Beat a goalie like Martin Brodeur with skill.  Have a little class and respect for the game.

I have watched a lot of coverage on this tonight and one thing that stands out are the comments from Dallas Stars GM, Brett Hull, who said:

“There’s probably deeper issues that need to be dealt with as a person and forget being a hockey player.  Um… you know I think there might be, uh.. you know, some sort of medical help that he can get… you know there comes a point where you have to put everything together and go look at maybe this just isn’t gonna work.”

Ouch.  I respect Brett Hull for all he has given to the game and I have to agree with him. 

image: TSN

Post from: Hockey Beat

WOW.  My son and I have been looking forward to the Calgary Flames versus Dallas Stars game tonight, mostly because we really like Stars goalie, Marty Turco despite the fact that the team is off to a really horrible start.

Of course, a lot of people were wondering how the league’s biggest jerk, Sean Avery (Dallas) was going to try to harrass Dion Phaneuf (Calgary) since Neufy is dating the jackass’ former girlfriend, Elisha Cuthbert.  We didn’t even have to wait for the game to start since Avery called all the press to gather round (even requesting TSN specifically) so he could say the following:

“I am really happy to be back in Calgary, I love Canada.  I just want to comment on how it’s become like a common thing in the NHL for guys to fall in love with my sloppy seconds.  I don’t know what that’s about.  Enjoy the game tonight.”

What a complete and utter douche.  Anyway, the NHL has suspended him indefinitely, pending a hearing with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, because they felt that his conduct was “detrimental to the League or game of hockey.”

I’m happy to say that Tom Hicks, the owner of the Dallas Stars supports the suspension.  On the team’s official website, he wrote:

“Had the league not have suspended him, the Dallas Stars would have.  This organization will not tolerate such behaviour, especially from a member of our hockey team. We hold our team to a higher standard and will continue to do so.” 

Avery is expected back in Dallas tomorrow morning and I hope he gets spanked.  Here’s a video:

His teammates seemed stunned (one even shrieked “he said what?!”) while Turco answered questions about whether this was going to be a distraction for the teams:  “Well, you’d like to think not.  We’re all competitive enough and focused to get out there and do our job. When it continues over time . . . things certainly can be (a distraction). I don’t think, overall, he’s been the one and only disappointment for our team. When you’re trying to build up, from the basement, like we are, you need everyone focused in.  Hopefully, those words are echoed from his focus and he just wants get out of here and get on the ice and be competitive. But it all remains to be seen.”

Should be an interesting game… in the meantime, check out these pictures of Dion Phaneuf and Elisha Cuthbert on vacation.

image: TSN

Post from: Hockey Beat

I can only imagine how difficult it is for a team to lose their leader but Morrow is going to be out for the rest of the season so the Stars are going to have to just find a way to pull it together.  They are 3-5-2 in their last 10 games which, really, is so bad.  Even veteran goaltender, Marty Turco, looks shaky. 

Morrow had some things to say about his injury: "It’s disappointing.  I am a little bit shocked and I don’t really feel that bad.  Before we found out, I was expecting maybe a game or two, but now it’s six months recovery, and that hit me pretty hard.  It was really a nothing play.  I tried to make a check and I am not sure if it happened when I hit the guy or when I kind of lost balance and I kicked the boards. I got up and didn’t feel right. I had injured my MCL a few years ago and I thought that I might have finished it off, torn it completely. I didn’t find out it was my ACL until (Friday) with the MRI."

Too bad his team has folded like a house of cards.  I would be really disappointed if I was him.  I can see that Mike Modano is trying to up his effort in Morrow’s absence (he even scored two goals in Dallas’ last game against the Philadelphia Flyers) but the rest of the team needs to wake up too. 

image: TSN

Post from: Hockey Beat

Oh no!  It’s looking like the Dallas Stars could lose Brendan Morrow for the rest of the season! 

The team’s captain has a torn ACL in his right knee and will need surgery to repair it.  It’s quite possible (and reasonable) for him to be sidelined for six months.  He’s expected to make a full recovery but I don’t think it will be in enough time to help his team make a push for the playoffs (even if he did make it back, what kind of shape would he be in?).

Not good.  At all.

image: TSN

Post from: Hockey Beat

I was mildly surprised by the sudden swap of these veteran blueliners.  Boucher was in the final year of his contract and 3 points so far this season, while Sydor (who was also in the final year of his contract) has one goal and one assist in the 8 games he has played.

They both stood to make $2.5 million before the trade so, I assume, that won’t change.  Should be interesting to see if this makes any difference on either team…

image: TSN

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Post from: Hockey Beat