Avery on waivers

Stars place Avery on waivers amid Rangers rumours
TSN.ca Staff

A day after handing the New York Rangers a huge 10-2 loss, the Dallas Stars, as expected have placed forward Sean Avery on waivers.

The New York Post reported on Friday that the Rangers held discussions involving the front office, coaching staff and players to determine if the troubled wingers' return to the team would be beneficial.

Prior to Avery's time in Dallas he played one and a half seasons for the Rangers. He signed with the Stars as a free agent this past off-season.

If Avery remains unclaimed, and New York want Avery back, the Stars and Rangers would need to work out a plan that would see Avery assigned to the Rangers' American Hockey League affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack.

Before the forward could be accepted by the Wolf Pack off waivers, the two teams would need to reach an agreement to place him on re-entry waivers that would see the Rangers get Avery.

According to the New York Post, the Rangers would then pay half the cost of his remaining contract (four-year, $15.5 million). New York would pay a pro-rated percentage of his 2008-09 salary starting from the day Avery joined the team this season. They would be responsible for $1,937,500 in both salary and cap charges over the following three seasons.

The entire process would need to be completed by the NHL's trade deadline on March 4th for Avery to be available to the Rangers for the playoffs.

While the Wolf Pack would be willing to take Avery, the Manitoba Moose, with whom the Stars have an AHL-NHL loan agreement, would not.

Mark Chipman, owner of the Moose, says the Stars have not inquired to see if the team would accept Avery.

"We haven't discussed it because it's not something we're thinking about," Chipman told TSN.

Avery was suspended for six games by the NHL due to inappropriate comments he made back in November. He has not played since that time and has been in the NHL/NHLPA behavioral health program.

Avery's agent Pat Morris spoke to AM640 in Toronto on Friday and explained he has seen a change since his client has been in the program.

"My experience with him over the last two months has been a nine or a ten compared to what it used to be," Morris told AM640. "He's responsive, he listens, I think he takes advice better, he interacts, he's kinder and gentler and a better people person."

Morris also explained Avery knows he will be under the microscope when he returns.

"He knows he'll be under evaluation whenever he's back into a hockey domain, certainly that has not been lost on him, we've had long conversations about that," said Morris to AM640.

He is expected to be cleared from the program this week or sometime early next week.

Avery clears waivers; likely headed to AHL
TSN.ca Staff

Forward Sean Avery cleared waivers on Monday, meaning the Dallas Stars' propriety may be heading back to the Big Apple.

The New York Rangers' American Hockey League affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, will likely be the destination for Avery's return to professional hockey.

But at this point, the Rangers and their top minor league affiliate have yet to finalize an arrangement with the Stars to provide a home for Avery.

Assuming an agreement is reached with the Stars, Dallas would assign him to the AHL. The forward isn't expected to report to Hartford before Tuesday.

The Wolf Pack will host the Manitoba Moose on Wednesday.

Avery was suspended for six games by the NHL due to inappropriate comments he made back in November. He has not played since that time and has been in the NHL/NHLPA behavioral health program.

Good riddance to him. Overpaid little b**** is getting what he deserves

Yeah rangers will probably pick him up. He's the type of player who will NEVER learn. I couldn't care less really