I’m not too sure what Sean Avery did to the players of the Dallas Stars to make them hate him so much. He wasn’t exactly producing extraordinary numbers but he’s never been a very prolific scorer. It certainly didn’t do his reputation any good however when many of the Dallas leaders supported his permanent banishment from the organization just a couple months into his new 4-year contract. At the time of Avery’s publicized departure, the Stars were one of the worst teams in the league. Forty games later, they are battling for the playoffs.
So Avery is now a Ranger again, having been picked up off waivers. What exactly is Glenn Sather thinking? Avery was obviously a cancer to the Stars, a team known for having strong leadership. The Rangers need scoring forwards and capable defensemen and Sean Avery is supposed to be the answer? He’ll give the team plenty of opportunities on the power-play by drawing penalties but he also takes a considerable amount of penalties. Avery is more talented than most instigators but when you have a guy on your team like Avery, he becomes one your team’s figureheads. The other players on your team will watch Avery and match his tempo. Why would you want a guy like Avery emotionally leading your team when you have Chris Drury?
Speaking of Drury, I can’t help but wonder, with all the chaos surrounding the Rangers this season, what Chris Drury is thinking about this. He’s just a role player on this team. There are too many powerful influences directing this team for Chris Drury to be a true difference maker. It’s pretty much the worst situation for him in terms of taking advantage of his potential. Drury is expected to put up numbers first and foremost and lead by example. Do you think he wants to play with Zherdev or Avery? Drury leaves it on the ice every game but he’s not talented like any of the superstars in this league. Drury scores because he works harder and plays smarter than his opponents. He’s been ineffective as a Ranger because there are too many different personalities, not enough unity, and not enough skill in that locker room.
On the opposite side of the spectrum is Avery, a modern day Barnaby, who is supposed to energize his team and agitate his opponents. Most of the time however, he takes it too far. The Dallas Stars will tell you, his behavior distracts his own team’s focus most of all.
It’s a desperate roll of the dice for Glenn Sather. His job should be on the line after what has happened in New York this year. If Avery doesn’t work out, they’re stuck with him for another three years. It’s as if Sather is saying, listen guys I know the Rangers haven’t performed well this year but I really think Avery is the piece we’ve been missing all year. He might be right. The Rangers have had a surprising amount of success with him in the lineup the past couple of years. But they also had players like Jagr, Shanahan, and Straka to provide better scoring depth in years past. The Rangers roster had a complete overhaul the previous summer and now it’s a disaster that’s about to add another long contract to an undeserving player.
Just like the Rangers of old, there’s no accountability. Everyone gets paid no matter your age or how unproven you may be. If the Rangers didn’t have Lundquist, this team is in 10th place in the East.