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When Sean Avery found himself suspended by the NHL and waived by the Dallas Stars, many believed he got exactly what he had coming to him.
As it turns out, he might be getting exactly what he wanted all along.
He is, of course, no stranger to controversy. His agitating remarks and bizarre antics seem to take center stage with every club he has played for, and his career thus far has been sandwiched with accusations of his "lack of respect for the game."
His first club, the Detroit Red Wings, saw general manager Ken Holland unload him in 2003 for this precise reason, and his last club, the Stars, saw no place for him to contribute after commissioner Gary Bettman cited "conduct detrimental to the game of hockey" in justification of his suspension.
Avery now finds himself a member of the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack, the minor-league affiliate of the New York Rangers, the only team that appears interested in his services. But for a player who thrives on making headlines, typically through controversial comments and behavior, his potential return to Broadway could prove to be a blessing in disguise, which begs the question of if he's truly been punished at all.
His personal interests aside, Sean Avery is first and foremost a hockey player. He claimed the Stars gave him a better chance to win, and had he played in their playoff matchup last spring he could have turned the tide in Dallas' favor.
Whether or not one believes his public apology, he likely has spent most of 2009 contemplating his transgressions, past and present, and wishes he was still on NHL ice, enjoying the camaraderie of the locker room where far more flagrant remarks are made ad nauseum ... although common sense dictates that most don't make such remarks in front of any rolling cameras.
Without delving into Avery's "double life" as a quasi-celebrity and fashion mogul, which has been well-documented, it stands to reason that he finds himself in a much better position to pursue his lifestyle of choice back in New York, rather than deep in the heart of Texas. And no matter where Avery winds up, even if it's out of hockey altogether, the Stars or another club will be on the hook for at least two-thirds of his remaining $12 million salary, so this incident can hardly be considered a financial setback.
So to pose the question once more, how does this qualify as a career-altering punishment?
And if it doesn't, what was the point of making such a big deal out of the situation, other than providing Dallas and the league front office a chance to react in knee-jerk fashion and distance itself from one of their more vocal and outlandish personalities?
If the NHL really had a plan to reform his behavior, they would hit Avery where it would hurt him the most: off the ice.
While reporters often single him out or even bait him into being the lightning rod for controversy that he is, his future club could insist that he make no public remarks or appearances whatsoever, unless specifically approached -– and the talk would be limited strictly to hockey.
Or, if Avery decides to make a deeper foray into the world of fashion, or even if the alleged screenplay about his life comes to fruition, the league could refuse to endorse or assist his projects in any way.
This is arguably a heavy-handed response to a few off-color remarks about his ex-girlfriends' romantic choices, but at least it would be a real and honest attempt at correcting his behavior, which is a far cry from what the league's current ruling will accomplish.
Sure, he'll be banished to Hartford for awhile, in an effort to have him re-focus on playing the game rather than what he might say or do after the final horn sounds.
And yes, since this is only the latest in a long line of reprimands from the front office, he will likely try to keep a low profile in the near future. But with the struggling Rangers looking to turn their losing ways around by adding an impact player, Avery probably won't stay with the Wolf Pack for very long. And anyone who thinks this is the last incident we place in the "Sean Avery & Controversy" file is as foolish as the ones who think true justice was served in the first place.
In reference to the league amending its interpretation of unsportsmanlike conduct to include the "Sean Avery Rule" concerning the jig he did in front of Devils netminder Martin Brodeur during last year's playoffs, the legendary coach and announcer Don Cherry told a Toronto radio station that "I've known this kid since he was about 16 years old ... once a jerk, always a jerk."
And when Avery makes his eventual debut for the Rangers, all that will have happened is the NHL giving a jerk a brand new microphone on a much bigger stage.
