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CMPunk · 02-23-2009, 12:18 AM

With our 17th Round pick, Punk's Puckers select:

At LW, the most controversial player not in the NHL

#16
Sean Avery

Sean Avery (born April 10, 1980) is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger for the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL). He formerly played for the Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers and Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL). Prior to the NHL, Avery played for the Owen Sound Platers and the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Avery's success in his role of distracting other players has arguably made him one of the most reviled players in the league. Avery’s “double life” of being a professional athlete while having an interest in fashion has prompted New Line Cinema to commission a screenplay

Style of play

Despite Avery's relatively average physical dimensions (5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) and 195 lb (88 kg; 13.9 st)), he is considered to be one of the best agitators in the NHL. Because of his style of play, Avery has made many enemies in the NHL and is considered a pest by many. In a 2007 poll of 283 NHL players, 66.4% said that Sean Avery was the most hated player in the league.[34]

Avery "screening" Brodeur

During an April 13, 2008 first round playoff game against the New Jersey Devils, Avery screened goaltender Martin Brodeur during a two-man advantage on the powerplay. He waved his hands and stick in front of Brodeur in an attempt to distract him and block his view. The puck was later cleared out of the Devils' end zone but on the second Rangers offensive attack, Avery scored the powerplay goal.
Although screening is a common tactic used, notable in this instance was that Avery had spent the initial part of the play facing Brodeur while ignoring the puck. While not an explicit rules violation, many NHL commentators and players described Avery's actions as unsportsmanlike.[35] The following day, the NHL issued an interpretation of the league's unsportsmanlike conduct rule to cover actions such as the one employed by Avery. [36]
Don Cherry told Toronto radio station The FAN 590 on Avery's tactic, "I've known this kid since he was about 16 years old; Once a jerk, always a jerk. You can't blame the referee, because 'he couldn't believe what he was seeing.'"[37]

On December 2, 2008, prior to the Stars' morning skate in preparation for a game against the Calgary Flames, Avery approached the assembled reporters in the dressing room and informed them that he was about to make a statement. He proceeded to make the following comment directed towards Flames' defenceman Dion Phaneuf, who is dating Avery's ex-girlfriend Elisha Cuthbert, and presumably also Kings forward Jarret Stoll, who is dating another of Avery's ex-girlfriends, Rachel Hunter:
“ I'm just going to say one thing. I'm 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, but enjoy the game tonight. ” Within hours, the NHL suspended him indefinitely for "conduct detrimental to the league or the game of hockey." His comments were met with near-unanimous condemnation by the Stars organization, fellow players, and fans alike. Stars owner Tom Hicks said that the team would have suspended Avery had the NHL not acted first.[26] Avery apologized the next day, calling his actions "a bad attempt to build excitement for the game."[27]
On December 5, the NHL fixed Avery's suspension at six games, retroactive to the December 2 game against the Flames. He voluntarily agreed to undergo an anger management evaluation, and structured counseling if necessary, due to what the NHL called "unacceptable and antisocial" behavior "at odds with the manner in which his more than 700 fellow players conduct themselves." The league also disclosed that Avery had been warned before about his behavior by both Commissioner Gary Bettman and league disciplinarian Colin Campbell.[28]
On December 14, 2008--only hours after the last game of Avery's suspension--the Stars announced that Avery would not return to the team. However, Hull said the Stars would continue to honor Avery's contract and support him while he gets help.[29] Earlier, TSN reported that Stars' management were actively pursuing all options to permanently rid themselves of Avery.[24] Hull said one factor in the decision was that coach Dave Tippett and the rest of the team didn't want to take Avery back. Earlier, Tippett had said he'd specifically told Avery not to talk to the media about his former girlfriends, and was very upset when he did so.[30]
Avery was placed on waivers by the Stars on February 7, 2009,[31] and cleared waivers on February 9, 2009.[32] Avery was then assigned to the Hartford Wolf Pack, the New York Rangers' American Hockey League affiliate, although he remained a member of the Stars' organization.[33]

02-23-2009, 12:18 AM	#846
CMPunk aka Spike Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: The Darkest Corners of My Mind Exp:	With our 17th Round pick, Punk's Puckers select: At LW, the most controversial player not in the NHL #16 Sean Avery Sean Avery (born April 10, 1980) is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger for the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL). He formerly played for the Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers and Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL). Prior to the NHL, Avery played for the Owen Sound Platers and the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Avery's success in his role of distracting other players has arguably made him one of the most reviled players in the league. Avery’s “double life” of being a professional athlete while having an interest in fashion has prompted New Line Cinema to commission a screenplay Style of play Despite Avery's relatively average physical dimensions (5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) and 195 lb (88 kg; 13.9 st)), he is considered to be one of the best agitators in the NHL. Because of his style of play, Avery has made many enemies in the NHL and is considered a pest by many. In a 2007 poll of 283 NHL players, 66.4% said that Sean Avery was the most hated player in the league.[34] Avery "screening" Brodeur During an April 13, 2008 first round playoff game against the New Jersey Devils, Avery screened goaltender Martin Brodeur during a two-man advantage on the powerplay. He waved his hands and stick in front of Brodeur in an attempt to distract him and block his view. The puck was later cleared out of the Devils' end zone but on the second Rangers offensive attack, Avery scored the powerplay goal. Although screening is a common tactic used, notable in this instance was that Avery had spent the initial part of the play facing Brodeur while ignoring the puck. While not an explicit rules violation, many NHL commentators and players described Avery's actions as unsportsmanlike.[35] The following day, the NHL issued an interpretation of the league's unsportsmanlike conduct rule to cover actions such as the one employed by Avery. [36] Don Cherry told Toronto radio station The FAN 590 on Avery's tactic, "I've known this kid since he was about 16 years old; Once a jerk, always a jerk. You can't blame the referee, because 'he couldn't believe what he was seeing.'"[37] On December 2, 2008, prior to the Stars' morning skate in preparation for a game against the Calgary Flames, Avery approached the assembled reporters in the dressing room and informed them that he was about to make a statement. He proceeded to make the following comment directed towards Flames' defenceman Dion Phaneuf, who is dating Avery's ex-girlfriend Elisha Cuthbert, and presumably also Kings forward Jarret Stoll, who is dating another of Avery's ex-girlfriends, Rachel Hunter: “ I'm just going to say one thing. I'm 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, but enjoy the game tonight. ” Within hours, the NHL suspended him indefinitely for "conduct detrimental to the league or the game of hockey." His comments were met with near-unanimous condemnation by the Stars organization, fellow players, and fans alike. Stars owner Tom Hicks said that the team would have suspended Avery had the NHL not acted first.[26] Avery apologized the next day, calling his actions "a bad attempt to build excitement for the game."[27] On December 5, the NHL fixed Avery's suspension at six games, retroactive to the December 2 game against the Flames. He voluntarily agreed to undergo an anger management evaluation, and structured counseling if necessary, due to what the NHL called "unacceptable and antisocial" behavior "at odds with the manner in which his more than 700 fellow players conduct themselves." The league also disclosed that Avery had been warned before about his behavior by both Commissioner Gary Bettman and league disciplinarian Colin Campbell.[28] On December 14, 2008--only hours after the last game of Avery's suspension--the Stars announced that Avery would not return to the team. However, Hull said the Stars would continue to honor Avery's contract and support him while he gets help.[29] Earlier, TSN reported that Stars' management were actively pursuing all options to permanently rid themselves of Avery.[24] Hull said one factor in the decision was that coach Dave Tippett and the rest of the team didn't want to take Avery back. Earlier, Tippett had said he'd specifically told Avery not to talk to the media about his former girlfriends, and was very upset when he did so.[30] Avery was placed on waivers by the Stars on February 7, 2009,[31] and cleared waivers on February 9, 2009.[32] Avery was then assigned to the Hartford Wolf Pack, the New York Rangers' American Hockey League affiliate, although he remained a member of the Stars' organization.[33]