Often times after seeing a movie I will turn to my girlfriend, my fists clenched in rage, my teeth tight and say, "I hate that actor so much!" She knows the routine and rewards my stupidity, "He must be doing his job. He was the villain."Sean Avery is doing his job: He is the perfect villain. And he's also a damn good hockey player.
As a Devils fan who bleeds red and black (the black part worries me), it pains me to admit how good Sean Avery is. While I don't think they are getting an extra bronze plate ready for him at the Hall of Fame, I think his skill and hockey sense are extremely underrated.
Avery is like the slime from Ghostbusters II. He feeds on negative energy. Knowing this, at the beginning of the Devils series I said, "Please, just ignore Avery! The more attention you pay to him, the better he plays eventually becoming a subterranean river of ooze beneath Manhattan! Listen, I say!!!"
But how do you ignore a guy who constantly runs your franchise goalie, scores in every game, and seems impervious to any amount of gratuitous beatings you give him? You can't! Not since Claude Lemieux and Esa Tikkanen has the NHL seen such a pest, and I mean that in the most complimentary of terms.
Avery's impact is so severe he has incited a change in the NHL Rule Book DURING THE PLAYOFFS! Call it classless, call it bush-league, call it brilliant, it was noticed. During most games that is one thing Avery is, noticeable.
When Avery came to New York it was hailed by most as the worst trade-deadline deal of the year. Avery had basically been run out of both Detroit and LA so why in the world would Glen Sather deal for him? Well, he hits, fights, disturbs, scores, passes, skates well (one of the few forwards that can skate with Scott Gomez). Need a fourth line banger? Avery can do that. A second line scorer? Avery can do that. Penalty kill, power play? Avery. First line winger? Avery. Agitator? See new interpretation of NHL Rule 75 (The Sean Avery Rule). What's not to like?
Oh right, he can supposedly be a complete jerk and prima donna. That? Possibly. But when has being a prima donna stopped NY fans from embracing players? We're talking about a franchise who traded for Jagr and Bure and signed Lindros and Messier. All incredible players, two locks for the Hall, two very likelys, but also accused prima donnas.
Avery's persona fits into three NHL cities: LA, Miami, and NY. One only needs to Google "Avery Intern Vogue" to see ample proof.
NY fans love prima donnas alright...As long as they win! And the bottom line is the Rags have won with Avery a lot more than they have when he's injured.
Avery came to the Rangers and did something immediately that changed the Rangers. He shot the puck. No looking for Jagr every second of the PP, put the puck on net. Since then he has irritated like sand down the crack at every opportunity and become one of the Rangers most valuable assets. There I said it.
So what is the difference between the Sean Avery derided in Detroit and LA and the Sean Avery worshiped at MSG? Maybe Rangers brass and well respected veterans *cough-Shanny-cough* sat Sean down and laid it bare. "Look kid, we think you can play and we think you can be an effective agitator for us, but you need to know the where the line is and tip-toe on the right side of it. Do that and you'll have a great time. Fail to do so and you will be sent to Hartford. Not to the Wolf Pack, just to Hartford. Maybe Danbury."
Has Avery crossed the line? Maybe, but he has also gained enough trust and friends as well as adoring fans with his play that it appears to be forgiven.
So, I've said it: Sean Avery is a damn good hockey player.
But, is he good for the NHL? More on that later.
