Avery to Hartford

This release has been released:

FRISCO, Tex. - The Dallas Stars announced today that the club has assigned left wing Sean Avery to the Hartford Wolfpack in the American Hockey League. The Stars placed Avery on waivers on Saturday, Feb. 7, which he cleared on Monday, Feb. 9. Avery, 28, was signed as a free agent by the club on July 2, 2008, and skated in 23 games for the Stars, posting three goals and seven assists for 10 points with 77 penalty minutes.

A couple of interesting points about all of this. Avery was in Dallas for about six hours on Monday. He had a physical with a doctor so that the Stars can make sure he is completely healthy. That's important in case he gets hurt in the minors. It's also important for sending him through waivers (for reasons of the CBA and insurance).

 In talking to people here, it appears Avery had no interaction with anybody on the Stars in his time in Dallas, only with the doctors. He also supposedly is already on the practice ice in Hartford this morning, and the New York media is already there, and the Rangers PR people. So read into that what you like, but it sure looks like the Rangers are angling to make him a Ranger once again

_Mike Heika