image: TSN

A melee had broken out between the teams and it was just one of many scrums that happened as a result but you, obviously, cannot hit someone while you’re on the bench.   O’Brien will miss Thursday’s game at Minnesota but will be eligible to return on Friday at Dallas.

Here’s a video of the chaos:

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Washington Capitals head coach, Bruce Boudreau, has revealed in a new book called Gabby: Confessions of a Hockey Lifer, that Avery made some derogatory comments about his weight during the opening round of last season’s Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

"He told me I was the biggest, fattest bleeping pig he had ever seen," wrote Boudreau. "He told me I was fatter than bleeping Ken Hitchcock. He told me I was going to die because I was such a fat bleep."

Really?  The worst part is that the two of them know each other pretty well since Boudreau coached Avery when he was with the Manchester Monarchs of the AHL in 2003. 

I guess it really shouldn’t be surprising and I can appreciate a little trash talk but when you start telling people that they are going to die because they are overweight, you’ve crossed the line.  I really can’t stand Avery.

image: TSN

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image: TSN

New York was enjoying a 2-0 series lead over the Washington Capitals when a crazy thing happened – the Caps, with a majorly inexperienced goaltender between the pipes – shut out the Rangers with a final score of 4-0.

What was the catalyst for this huge turnaround?   I’m not going to take all the glory away from the Washington players.  They tried hard and Alexander Semin had a two-goal night.  The got some help, however, from Avery who just couldn’t seem to control himself at all.

Let’s take a look at the penalties drawn by Sean Avery alone:

• Roughing  – 2  min (03:07, 2nd period)
• Hi-sticking  – 2  min (07:13, 2nd period)
• Interference on goalkeeper  – 2  min (17:45, 2nd period)
• Roughing  – 2  min (17:12, 2nd Period. Served by Colton Orr)
• Misconduct (10 min)

The misconduct was for punching Caps goaltender, Simeon Varlamov.  I swear it looked like coach John Tortorella was ready to kill him.  Watch the misconduct:

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Anyway, Thomas wasn’t going to take that crap and he retaliated by giving Avery a nice shove to the back of the head.  What a mess. I really think that it’s a mistake to have him back in the lineup. It’s a privilege that people dream about growing up to be drafted and chosen to play in the NHL and I’m kind of tired of this clown taking it for granted.

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I really can’t believe it.  I know that people deserve a second chance but I’ve never been a fan of his and I doubt I ever will.  Along with the string of other offensive things he’s done, Avery was initially suspended indefinitely for making a derogatory comment about the girlfriend of Calgary Flames defenceman, Dion Phaneuf. 

It became clear that his team at the time, the Dallas Stars, didn’t want him back with GM Brett Hull saying Avery needed “medical help.”  Then, Avery was banned from the NHL for six games and ordered to anger management.

After all that, the Stars announced that Avery would not be invited back to play for them and, after being cleared by the Behavioral Modification program, Avery went to play in the AHL where he got two goals and an assist in six games.

I wonder how Avery is going to mesh with the New York Rangers new head coach, John Tortorella…

image: TSN

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He’s expected to start skating early next week but it will be interesting to see if any teams are willing to give him a chance.  More likely than not, he’s going to go down to the AHL for a bit (even then, I’m not sure anyone wants him) and try to work his way back into the NHL.

He is still technically associated with the Dallas Stars but I highly doubt he’ll be rejoining their roster after the hockey club made it clear that they don’t want to have anything to do with him.

If he doesn’t clear re-entry waivers, maybe he can look up Ray Emery and they can hang out.

image: TSN

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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…

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Dallas Stars GM, Brett Hull, had mentioned that maybe Avery could use “medical help” so I wonder if he had anything to do with the request that Avery undergo a professional anger-management evaluation.  If necessary, he may have to begin attending structured counseling sessions to address, what the league feels, is “unacceptable and antisocial” behavior.  Here’s what NHL Commissioner, Gary Bettman, had to say about the situation:

“Mr. Avery has expressed remorse for his recent comments and has sought a professional anger management evaluation.  I will require that he follow through with that process as a condition of his returning to the ice and that he complies with any and all recommendations.

Mr. Avery has been warned repeatedly about his conduct and comments, which have too often been at odds with the manner in which his more than 700 fellow players conduct themselves.  Playing in the National Hockey League is a privilege, requiring a high standard of personal behavior. Mr. Avery forfeits that privilege for six games.”

I wonder what will happen with the Stars.  They have eluded to the fact that they may not want Avery back.  Do you think he will dress for the December 16th game against the Phoenix Coyotes?

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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

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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

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