Rumor: Chicago willing to give Sean Avery $4m/year

I've heard a rumor from somebody within the Rangers organization that the Blackhawks is willing to offer Sean Avery around $4m if he is does not re-sign with the Blue Shirts. The rumor came from a very respectable source, which is the only reason I'm even bothering with this (did I just sound like Eklund?).

In my opinion, there are many teams that could harbor the unique talents Sean Avery brings to the table. Chicago, however, is not on that list. In fact, they aren't even on the same pad of paper.
A young team on the rise is about roundest hole for the square peg that is Avery. What would it accomplish to bring him into that locker room? The reason Avery works in New York is there are guys like Brendan Shanahan who can sit him down and keep him in line. Three Stanley Cups and 600 goals carries with it a load of respect. Then there's Jagr on the bench as well. Add Sather in the front office and you've got guys who know how to win. Who has that in Chicago? Denis Savard? A brilliant player, but a coach very much still in the early phases of his career. GM Dale Tallon is in a similar situation. Bottom line is there is no elder statesman in the Hawks locker room to keep Avery from going overboard.

Unless Jonathon Toews can turn into Steve Yzerman come September, Avery would run roughshod.

EDIT: In talking with a friend he mentioned how much I hate Avery. I'd just like to add that Avery could be a great addition on the ice to any team. I've said before that he is one of the most versatile forwards in the NHL. He'll fight, he can skate, good shot, accurate passer, good sense. 1st line winger, 2nd line center, 3rd line checker, a guy who will drop the gloves. He'll do it all.

My issue is with his personality and whether it is a good fit for a young team, the Kind of team he was jettisoned from in LA.

Hey Geno, step up!

Who is that man wearing #71 for the Pittsburgh Penguins over the past week? It certainly doesn't look like current Hart Trophy finalist Evgeni Malkin. There has been a list of reasons why Malkin has underperformed in the Stanley Cup Finals so far. He's tired, he's nervous, is he injured? His passes have been erratic, his stickhandling sloppy, his mental game cloudy. He's making rookie mistakes, miscues that should have been beaten out of habit in juniors for pete's-sake. If the no-look drop-pass didn't work the first five times, why would it work the sixth, Geno?Sometimes he's most noticeable in scrums after the whistle. While it's always good to see some fire, the Pens need Malkin to use that heat to light the lamp.

Malkin needs to find away to get over whatever is ailing him and get back to his MVP form. The Pens squeaked by Detroit to force a final game at the Igloo and if they want to come out with their best shot at Game 7, #71 has got to be as ubiquitous as he was in the earlier rounds.

There is little doubt Malkin can be a good playoff performer. He's shown that against the Senators, Rangers, and Flyers. But in order to join the ranks of the elite, Malkin has to wake-up and push past the obstacles in his way right now and find a way to lit himself up. He's got the gears all the greats before him have had, he just needs to find out how they fit together and get the machine running.