Anger Management 2: Starring Sean Avery
Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Posted by Kerrzy

Six games, plus the embarrassment of looking like a creepy jealous ex-boyfriend on TV sets across the continent.

At least, that’s what I took from the comments Sean Avery made after the Dallas Stars’ morning skate at the Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary on Tuesday. His Stars were getting set to take on Dion Phaneuf and the Flames that night, a game won by Dallas.

"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."

Avery was referring to Elisha Cuthbert, who found a new Flame in Dion after her split with the NHL’s biggest pest. He was suspended by the league within hours, pending a hearing with Commissioner Gary Bettman.

The league gave Avery six games, including the two he missed before his hearing with the Commish, and the Dallas forward* agreed to undergo an anger management evaluation and take counseling, if needed.

Is that enough? Is that too much?

If he made that comment to Dion Phaneuf, face-to-face on the ice, Phaneuf would have taken care of the punishment. He didn’t say it on the ice, though.

Approaching a group of reporters and telling them you’ve got something to say is also a lot different than a reporter leading you into a question where you say something you might not mean.

Because of that, I’m going to say it’s a good suspension.

Avery’s mouth has gotten him in trouble before and he’s had to meet with the league on more than one occasion recently, so it was really only a matter of time until he was disciplined for something. I like the idea that they’re trying to get him some help too, though.

I wonder what Elisha had to say about all this…according to the Associated Press, she’s also been linked to Mike Komisarek of the Montreal Canadiens. Avery also dated Rachel Hunter, who’s now engaged to Jarret Stoll of the LA Kings.


*When I say “Dallas forward,” in reference to Sean Avery, I assume they still consider him part of the team. Some players have said to reporters, off the record, that they hope he’s done with the club. Owner Tom Hicks is reportedly pretty riled up about the whole thing too.

Will Sean Avery be this year’s Ray Emery, minus the Hummer? Our first chance to see any signs of that is December 16th, the night Avery is eligible to return.