Rangers trade Ward, land (gulp) Avery
Look out tomorrow, Devs.
In a move that will leave many fans scratching their heads, the Rangers have acquired controversial and bruising winger Sean Avery, who led the NHL with 257 penalty minutes last season, from Los Angeles for right wing Jason Ward and two prospects.
One guess: Because Avery is not a center, there could be something else brewing.
Avery, 26, has 10 goals and 18 assists in 55 games and 116 penalty minutes and will be a restricted free agent this July. He currently is fifth in the league in penalty minutes.
The Ontario native, who has been dating actress Elisha Cuthbert, is expected to join the team tomorrow before the Devils game.
His track record is interesting, for sure.
In a preseason game in 2005, when Jeremy Roenick received a concussion from Phoenix' Denis Gauthier, the 5-9. 185-pound Avery said: "I think it was typical of most French guys in our league with a visor on, running around and playing tough and not backing anything up," In another incident, Edmonton's Georges Laraque, who is a black Canadian, claimed that Avery called him a "monkey" during an Oct. 11, 2005 game and was fined $1,000.
Ward, 28, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, has been scratched in six of the last eight games. He has 10 points in 46 games in his second season with the Rangers. Ward was a first-round pick of the Canadiens in 1997.
The prospects are Marc-Andre Cliche, a second-round pick in 2005, and forward Jan Marek, 27, who is playing well in the Russian Super League.
The Rangers also acquired junior prospect John Seymour, a seventh-round pick by the Kings in 2005, in the deal.
In other news, it's generally been assumed around here, but Rangers coach Tom Renney came out and said it before last night's game against the Red Wings: "Jaromir Jagr stirs our drink, it's as simple as that."
** Marek Mailk (shoulder) will practice Wednesday with contact. "Hopefully, he'll make his way through that," Renney said.
** Whether Henrik Lundqvist will face the Devils tomorrow in the Meadowlands depends on two things: "If we play a smart game and Henrik feels good, my tendancy is to come back with him, but I have no problem with Kevin, (Weekes)" Renney said.
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Comments (17)
The trade of Ward is great, but they also gave up Jan Marek and Marc Andre Cliche? What is the sense of that. Marek is having a great season so far and Cliche has some potential. I just don't see the sense of trading those two guys away. Why couldnt they have given Marek Malik instead? haha Oh and a hell of a shot from Marcel Hossa in the 1st.
Didn't Avery get himself in trouble a couple of years ago for refusing to practice because his team wasn't in playoff contention? Anyway, I can see why Slats went after someone like him. Probably to add some feistiness to the team that Kaspar added last season. Not that Avery was the right guy for the job.
Watching Jagr coast all game is completely embarassing.
avery is niether a quality player nor a quality person. not the move i was expecting.
I've given up on these guys - completely given up on them. So much for all the Jagr/Shanahan salivating. So much for Tom Renney demonstrating to any objective observer that he deserves to keep his job.
This year's team seemingly can't wait to prove that last year's season-ending collapse was no fluke. The whole organization needs to be pushed off a cliff and just possibly rebuilt around any survivors. 'Cause here we go again with losing and losing and losing...and more losing.
another terrible loss. I count at least 12 points given away this yr... 12 points......they are not a smart nor tough team.......
Lundqvist blew this one tonight, but got little help on the 4th goal..
Marek will never be an NHLer. Cliche was the reason LA pulled the deal. Avery is gritty and will hit better than Ryan "I'll Fall After a BodyCheck" Hollweg and Jed "I'll Check the Boards Instead of the Man" Ortmeyer.
Ranger Fans are truly a 'special' breed of people! Is there any way to make you people happy?
It is not a blockbuster, it is not even the piece of the puzzle they needed but, let time tell! Orr gets waived in the next few days, if not tomorrow and another trade follows.
You are all the same people that were yelling don't get Forsberg...don't sell the farm! Now, it's why did you get Avery?
As if Marek and Cliche were the next best thing since someone sliced bread!
OK, just took a look and I am not saying that he is a Superstar or anything like that but, stats wise this is where Avery fits in the Rangers amazing Roster!
Goals: Tied for 6th with Matt Cullen
Assists: 6th
Points: 5th
PIM: 1st (by 40)
Not sure how good this is with everyone saying he draws the most penalties.
So he is on pace to have a career year. Also, just read somewhere else that he may play center...Clement mentioned tonight that Shanny may have had some input from playing with him before. Will at least be interesting to see where he gets in.
Sather and Maloney must go...we take enough penalty minutes and now they add this schmuck?...5th in the league in PM???, just doesen't make any sense..and speaking of not making any sense: nice going Slats and Maloney for ruining the chemistry we had last year and not resigning Rucchin and Moore...kudos for signing (stealing) B. Shanahan from Detroit though. WE need Leetch back...we need to make HIM captain so to put some life back into the Rangers....and we can use a Capt. to lead the PP too....think it's time to start using your heads Slats and Donny...we're not playing like last year because you disrupted the chemistry we had...nice going!
Leetch?
Are you serious?
Do you watch Hockey
COME ON NOW!
the whiners are amazing.resign Rucchin and Moore when they were here all they did was whine how they could not score.
they have underachieved and blown(not lost) at least 5 games they should not have under any circumstances. The Devils(whom I do not like) blow one game like this every 3 years and steal points all the time The Rangers just play stupid hockey.
Well said Stuart!
I was feeling sorta down about the Wings game and then read the post on here about someone wanting Leetch to come back... and then make him captain. Yeah, his time as team captain in the past was great, right? He led them to allllll those playoff appearances, right? There's only 1 TRUE captain on the Rangers right now... and his name is Brendan Shanahan. The rest of that team- - with the exception of Straka for offense and Ortmeyer for the PK -- are useless parts.
And btw, Sather's leaving only when he wants to. Dolan's already said he can stay as long as he likes. It's amazing, isn't it? Neil Smith wins division titles, president's trophy's, and the f'ing Stanley Cup with the Rangers in a 5-year span. Glen Sather misses the playoffs 4 times and gets swept in round one.... and he can stay as long as he likes.
Another good one Robby!
Yes, someone said Lundqvist blew the game last night. Yes he gave away that one shot but, this team has let Henrik down all season.
As for the comments about Hollweg and Ortmeyer. They are two of the biggest puzzle pieces on the team. More heart in their jock straps then 75% of the guys on the team!
Jagr's 'C' is ceremonial. Shanny runs this thing behind doors. Damn! Watch the games, he even runs the bench!
Dolan is a joke! He does not care about Hockey, He does not care about the fans, He does not care about Winning! He cares about the $$$$ in everything he does!
There was a rumor in Business section of Newsday a few weeks back. I believe it said a company Liberty Media (may have the name wrong) was interested in buying Rainbow media the division of cablevision that owns the Garden and the teams. Anything to that ?
Avery is the type of agitator the Rangers have lacked since they traded Barnaby. Having a guy like him, a player who is tough and not a liability in scoring (see Colton Orr and Ryan Hollweg) may give teams pause before taking liberties with Jagr and Prucha.
I expect the team to employ two different styles on the first two lines, with Jagr, Straka and Nylander going with their Euro style and a second line of Avery, Shanny and Cullen employing a more vertical North American style while Prucha, Betts and Ortmeyer provide energy and some scoring.
What the team still lacks is a defensive presence on the blue line outside of Aaron Ward. Someone in the Colin White mode who can be used to shut down the opposition's top lines.
BRIAN LEETCH SEMI-RETIRED.
NEW YORK TIMES: Lynn Zinser reports Brian Leetch is living in semi-retirement, although he hasn't closed the door yet on a potential return to the NHL. He said he still received calls from teams with offers to play, but none had felt quite right, including a possible return to the Rangers", writes Zinser.
Spector's Note: If Leetch were serious about making a return, he would've done so now. He's retired, he just can't admit it to himself yet.