Avery is done in Dallas

The worst-kept secret is now official: Sean Avery's time with the Stars is now over. The release was just sent out that Avery will continue to seek his help and the Stars are moving on without him. As I said, foregone conclusion at this point. The more newsy part of this is that the Stars will not challenge Avery's contract; so he'll get his cash. We'll get Brett Hull on a conference call at 10 a.m. so we'll update after that.

Here's the release:

Frisco, Tex. -- The Dallas Stars today announced that forward Sean Avery will not return to the NHL team. Representatives for both Avery and the Stars said they would continue to work together in support of Avery during “this critical time” for the player. All parties said there is a clear understanding that a return to the Stars is not in the best interest of either the hockey club or Avery.

“Sean needs to focus on his own well-being while the Stars hockey team must focus on playing hockey and competing for a playoff spot,” said Stars Co-General Manager Brett Hull. “Everyone understands that Sean will not return to the Dallas Stars. We all need to move forward.”

Stars management also said the team would not seek to challenge Avery’s contract under the conduct clause included in the Standard Player’s Contract. The agreement’s Paragraph 2 (e) directs all NHL players “to refrain from conduct detrimental to the best interest of the Club, the League or professional hockey generally.” Avery was suspended by the NHL last week for comments he made prior to a game with Calgary.

“The message here is: no distractions. Sean can focus on resolving his personal issues,” said Hull, “and the Stars will have closure on this episode. The team needs to put its energies into winning.”

The Stars said the team will continue to honor Avery’s contract while exploring all options for his hockey future consistent with the terms of his counseling.

“We do care about Sean and want what is best for him,” said Hull. “We’ve agreed to do what we can to help find him a place to play hockey once he addresses his personal issues.”

Comments

[Colt]

I'm afraid I don't know squat about hockey. I'm from Texas. Not much hockey was going on when I was growing up. I do however applaud any pro sports team that parts company with a overpaid, big mouth, thug, like Avery.
The Dallas Cowboys should tear a page out of the Stars player conduct manual. If there is one.

[Lizabeth]

Wouldn't it be nice if the Cowboys & the Mavericks had this same attitude about their ignorant ill behaved players? Maybe we could start to teach our kids that inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated.

[Charles Coleman]

Sing along, now, to the tune of "Winter Wonderland"..."Mister Owens, are you listenin'..."

[Steve]

Good riddance, I wonder what the Stars were thinking when they picked him up. Another bad contract signed off by Tom Hicks. Go figure.

[That's Right]

So he said she was sloppy seconds...at least he didn't call her a "BITCH", "WHORE", or "SLUT". Oh, BTW, I am a women and could care less about what he said. The people who really know this women know his comment is false. An the people who know him, knows he runs his mouth a lot.

[Earl]

Good. I am glad to see it turn out this way. If he cleans up his act, or at least pretends to, some other teams may become interested and the Stars can hopefully make a decent trade out of it.

[Meges]

This whole deal has been doomed from the start and now it's the Stars that have to pay.

Avery has had "anger management" problems for years and they knew what they were getting when they signed him (Team still too "vanilla" for you Hully?)

NOW they're stuck with his huge contract while Avery gets to decide if he wants to play again and gets paid whether he wants to play or not.

And seriously - why do people act so surprised? Who didn't know something like this would happen?

Whatever way you look at it Avery wins and the Stars lose both in money and in reputation!

[Joe]

The Stars messed up by signing this guy! His attitude isn't why I hated this signing though. The Stars don't score enough plain and simple. Hull should have called up Marian Hossa. I'd like to see if they will take a shot at Ilya Kovalchuk in the future.

[Lycomb.Young]

Dallas Stars are just showing that hockey is as ridiculous and hypocritical a business as it is a sport.

They've set a damned high bar for the conduct of future players. I don't think anyone expects them to observe it consistently.

[hip czech]

lizbeth - with all due respect, parents don't need to wait for anyone in pro sports to give any of us the okay to "..start teaching.." our kids anything.

We should start when the child is born. And never stop, don't you think?

Colt - thanks for being honest enough to say up front that you aren't a hockey expert. You're way ahead of most.

Joe - take a shot at Ilya? With what money? Maybe Obama will print some for a hockey bailout? P.S. Hossa wanted to play for one team, and he's on their roster.

Lycomb - the "bar" you speak of has been around for a long time in Stars Land. It hasn't been raised. Just enforced.

Meges - agreed that the Stars should have not let Sean get all of the money coming to him. In certain ways he breached the contract. It's hard for Stars players to have a fighting spirit when they see that mgmt doesn't.

I don't agree that anyone could have known that this would actually come to pass. You and I knew that it could happen though.

That's Right - (whom apparently likes to get high before commenting here),You are funny. Or at least your grammar is. Your manners? Well, that's another post.

Charles - funny. Would you agree that T.O. probably listens as well as Avery?

Steve, Earl - I'm with you both. Good comments. Not that my opinion means anything, but at least you two make sense.

Finally, for Ms. Myers - I like that "headline" for this post: "Avery is done in Dallas" seeing as Avery has done Dallas... you, make me laugh. And can't we all use a laugh or two right about now?