Avery, just 23 games into a four year, $15.5 million contract, will not return to the club once his suspension ends. Commissioner Gary Bettman suspended Avery for six games on November 2 for saying "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" before a game between the Stars and Calgary Flames. Flames defenseman Dion Phaneuf is dating Avery's ex-girlfriend, actress Elisha Cuthbert.
This seems like a convenient excuse for Dallas to rid itself of Avery. I mean, they can't really be kicking him off the team for this comment, right? Not only is it a freedom of speech issue, but it really wasn't all that vulgar. It appears that the Stars players, who were united in their decision to dump Avery, believe that he has problems beyond ex-girlfriends. If this interview is the only reason he won't return to the club, it sure seems like a gross overreaction.
One commenter on ESPN's article about the decision wrote "He should have just slashed Phanuef in the head, then he would have gotten two games, if anything." Unfortunately for the NHL, it's actually a valid point. In his blog for NESN.com, Bruins play-by-play man Jack Edwards questioned precedent in NHL suspensions. Flyers defenseman Randy Jones viciously hit Patrice Bergeron from behind, giving him a grade-3 concussion and a broken nose, and knocking him out for 72 regular season games and seven playoff games, and was suspended for two games. Same with Scott Hartnell, who took a cheap shot at Andrew Alberts and gave him a terrible concussion as well. So that's two games for cheap shots on the ice that badly injure opposing players, and six games for a comment about an ex-girlfriend in the media, and then a ban from returning to the team. Wow.
So what's next for Avery? The Stars can trade him, send him to the minors (through waivers), or buy him out for two thirds of his deal ($8 million instead of $12 million). He probably won't be flat out released, because then Dallas would need to pay him his entire salary for the next four years. Should he get claimed off waivers, his new team and the Stars would split the salary. Whatever ultimately happens with Avery doesn't matter, the NHL will look stupid either way. But that's nothing new for Gary Bettman and company.
Yes there is still more drama in Dallas. But for once it has nothing to do with TO.
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