Avery's latest shenanigans

by James Mirtle on Apr 4, 2009 6:36 PM CDT Comment 29 comments

This was with about five minutes remaining in the third period, and both received minor penalties. Sean Avery's lucky in that regard, although his team was shutout in the game.

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As I remarked in the open game thread...

Avery gave Thomas the “Hansen brother” treatment.

While I agree that Avery deserved a penalty, the penalty should not have been called because the refs missed it. The penalty was called when they saw the replay on the scoreboard.

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by Jim Schmiedeberg on Apr 4, 2009 6:39 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Wait. If it’s a deserved penalty…how can you be unhappy that it was called?

Also, a ref was skating right by and one went dashing forward as Thomas was.

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by John Fischer on Apr 4, 2009 6:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It’s the precedent.

by phil333 on Apr 4, 2009 11:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm only unhappy in the manner in which it was called

The penalty was not called until the refs saw the replay on the arena scoreboard, Sam Rosen and Joe Michelletti commented on it, and also said that the arena wasn’t supposed to be showing it. Since when is replay used to call penalties?

The refs weren’t paying any attention to Avery, John, go back and watch the video. They didn’t see the play. Avery knew what he was doing

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by Jim Schmiedeberg on Apr 4, 2009 7:37 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I watched the video and saw the replay later on Hockey Night Live on MSG-HD. You mean to tell me the line of refs skating in the same direction Avery was going saw absolutely nothing, one ref started skating faster only because Thomas skated ahead, and that the refs just looked up and went “Oh well?”

Really.

As far as precedent is concerned, this isn’t a precedent. Refs have conferences after plays to figure out who gets called for what – usually after big scrums where things got too hectic among too many people. I don’t see how this is any different.

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by John Fischer on Apr 4, 2009 11:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Avery’s agitating abilities are so far beyond anyway else’s, that nobody can compete with him. As a result, opposing players flip out when they really don’t have to, take bad penalties, and get off their game, and it drives even teammates and bystanders mad. Also, Avery gets the league to change rules mid-playoffs and refs to call penalties they didn’t see.

Something similar would happen if some super goal scorer came out of nowhere, scored 300 goals by himself in one season, and his team sweeped their way to an 82-0-0 record and the cup. Everyone would hate him for ruining the game.

by framp on Apr 4, 2009 8:04 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree that Avery’s by far the best agitator in the league but they way people feel about him has everything to do with him being an a-hole and nothing to do with him being good at being obnoxious.

by David M. Getz on Apr 5, 2009 11:52 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Still

The league is going to have to look at the way they deal with Avery.
Correct me if I’m wrong but wasn’t he given a penalty last week when he another player was attempting to fight him. Avery refused and looked to the ref while the other player continued to shake him, and then both were sent to the box.
Yes, he’s made his bed but I’d like to see him treated with some degree of fairness.

by yrmom on Apr 4, 2009 8:12 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

It's all a set up

Avery’s playing super genius on this one.

What do you think will be going through the Bruins players minds if they meet the Rangers in the playoffs? They’ll spend the game running around trying to get him back and even up the score.

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by HockeyJoe on Apr 4, 2009 8:47 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I can't believe how many fans Avery has

Super genius? Yeah, the same garbage did wonders in the playoffs last year, as I recall.

Knew what he was doing? Yeah, no chance the TV cameras would pick this stunt up. Whether or not the on-ice officials caught it, he’s looking at a suspension.

Everyone hates him because his abilities are so far beyond anybody else’s? Yeah, just like we hated Gretzky.

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by Back In Black on Apr 4, 2009 9:03 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Boy, what got you all wound up? Did Sean Avery hit on your girlfriend?

I seem to recall his antics working against New Jersey last year, so much so that they carried the chip on their shoulder into their first regular season meeting this year.

Suspension? For that? I guess in the NHL anything goes – his reputation will probably earn him a game – outside of that, what did he actually do, other than be a prick, to get suspended?

Everyone hates him because he’s a wuss, and he’s quite good at it. He’s also quite good at getting normally reasonable people to lash out unreasonably. I’m not an Avery fan, as you wrongfully declared, but if you can’t understand what he’s doing… You’re getting too caught up in his wretched aura.

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by HockeyJoe on Apr 5, 2009 4:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

As a Ranger and Avery fan...

1) I do not approve of what he did today
2) None of the refs saw it happen live, and thus a penalty should not have been called.
3) I wouldn’t be surprised to see some kind of league action on this.
4) Anyone who takes Avery seriously has to lighten up. This does not mean I condone what he did today, if someone did that to my goalie I would want his head. But, Avery is an prick, and the only way you deal with them is to ignore them.

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by Rob Luker on Apr 4, 2009 10:26 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

No, actually the way to deal with it is to continue to voice displeasure with his childish and dangerous behaviour until he is finally removed from the league. It almost worked already, if it weren’t for the league having 1 desperate team who doesn’t care about their reputation he’d already be gone.

Ignoring a problem is never the solution.

by ConfidoBoyd on Apr 4, 2009 10:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

And I bet you are one of those people who get offended by anything Avery does. I agree with anyone that what he did was not right, but if the Rangers play the Bruins in the playoffs, its all the media will be talking about and there is no doubt in my mind some Bruins players will have it on their minds.

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by Rob Luker on Apr 4, 2009 11:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Of course. Look how many goals the Bruins conceded after what Avery did. Totally got into their heads.

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by John Fischer on Apr 4, 2009 11:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That’s quite the sample size you’re working with there.

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by HockeyJoe on Apr 5, 2009 4:40 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well you lose that bet, feel free to not lead off replies with ignorant generalizations and assumptions. No, I do not get personally offended by what Avery does. I also do not get personally offended by mass genocide half way across the world, that does not mean I don’t have the intellectual capacity to condemn it.

You didn’t really address how your original thesis of ignoring him is an effective way to “deal” with him. Were you speaking about fans? opposing players? media? everyone?

by ConfidoBoyd on Apr 5, 2009 10:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

This has to be a suspension from the league. It is an intentional high stick to the back of the head. Considering he has already been suspended by the league once this year he may be looking at missing some playoff time is the league detirmine it suspension worthy.

by jkrdevil on Apr 4, 2009 10:48 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

For those who think the refs shouldn't have called it

32.2 Disputes – The Referees shall have general supervision of the game and shall have full control of all game officials and players during the game, including stoppages; and in case of any dispute, their decision shall be final.

32.4 General Duties – It shall be the duty of the Referees to impose such penalties as are prescribed by the rules for infractions thereof and they shall give the final decision in matters of disputed goals. The Referees may consult with the Linesmen, Goal Judge or Video Goal Judge before making their decision.

by desdemona on Apr 4, 2009 11:47 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

Was only a matter of time

… before the tool reared his natural head again. What a weasel. What a waste. What a pathetic actor.

Oh wait, I’m mistaken — I meant what a clever agitator and valuable genius contributor to the Rangers’ cause. Yeah, that’s the ticket. Why, if only we had a whole league of Avery’s, they could show it every Monday and call it RAAAAAWWWWWW. Yawn.

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by Dominik on Apr 5, 2009 3:28 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

It’s really hard for me to get worked up over this. In a league where crosschecks to the kidneys are normal, hits to the head are legal, punching players in scrums around the net after the whistle is expected, and slashing a guys hands when he’s on a breakaway is the right thing to do, this is completely harmless. It’s not like there’s any real risk of injury, especially compared to the high-sticks that skaters get hit with every game.

What he did was calculated to get the Bruins upset. It wasn’t stupid or childish. You can call it unsportsmanlike, but so is a ton of other stuff that happens in a hockey game.

by RyanV on Apr 5, 2009 4:54 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

The things you listed don’t fall into the unsportsmanlike category as they are to be expected in hockey. Well, this wasn’t a situation where this action is to be expected. Besides, it was from behind (no chance for Thomas to do anything about it) and on the goalie (who is extra protected by the rules). I don’t know if I would suspend him or anything, but implying that this was a normal hockey play is ridiculous.

by Malurous on Apr 5, 2009 5:12 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It’s not a normal hockey play, which was kinda my point. It’s much less dangerous than most normal hockey plays. Thomas didn’t need a chance to defend himself, because he just got tapped on the back of the neck. If that’s accidental, nobody even thinks twice about it. Goalies get extra protection from the rules, but they also get extra protection from their equipment, like their helmets, which means there was no possible way for this to result in an injury.

Avery did it to get Thomas and the Bruins upset, and it worked. It’s no different at all from trash talking (which certainly qualifies as unsportsmanlike), except that it doesn’t happen as much and it’s easier for the cameras to catch.

by RyanV on Apr 5, 2009 4:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thomas

That’s at least the second time this season he’s punched a player with his blocker.

by Exit716 on Apr 5, 2009 9:23 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I’d love to see goalies defend themselves more, instead of curling up in a ball and letting their teammates handle everything.

Okay, really, I just miss Ron Hextall’s batshit ways.

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by Doogie2K on Apr 5, 2009 10:03 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Poor freddie sjostrom.

by engineer on Apr 5, 2009 10:23 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

He actually seemed to be all right … one would think that would put you down for a bit.

by James Mirtle on Apr 5, 2009 11:24 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Should have been Avery.

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by PPP on Apr 5, 2009 4:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Regardless of whether or not the refs saw it,

it is still a deliberate hit to the back of the head with his stick. If this was Chris Simon he would have gotten 20 games by now. And if it had been hard enough to mess Thomas up and nothing was called there would have been an uproar. The fact of the matter is that an NHL player took a blatant penalty using his stick on another player’s head during an era of NHL hockey when blows to the head are at an unprecedented level of scrutiny. It was absolutely stupid.

by DanNOLA on Apr 5, 2009 10:30 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs