December 19, 2008 Don't get me started! TFP Columnist Dennis Bernstein hopes this is
the last time he'll have to talk about Sean Avery.
[LOS ANGELES, CA] -- In my capacity as Chairman and CEO of
SCORE! Media
Ventures, my paramount task every day is to build relationships. SMV
contracts with firms to provide recruiting services, a service that is
not unique. The reason why I'm able to succeed where others fail is
that I understand the value of constructing bridges between people.
I'm able to secure contracts not by soliciting but by being referred
to new people through my network.
In the executive suite, business is
done because of not what someone knows, but who they know. I also
understand that although the world appears to be a very large place, I
know that it's getting smaller every day and what goes around
eventually comes around. What sets me apart more often than not is
that I am of my word; if you don’t have integrity in my business you
truly have nothing. It’s the lack of integrity that is a focus of this
piece.
Though I hope that this would be last time I write about Sean Avery,
I’m sure it won’t be. I’m not one to kick a person when they’re down,
but Avery is the one person in the NHL that is deserving of the act.
Last weekend, the Dallas Stars made a move that has been
universally agreed upon was the right one; the organization no longer
needs his marginal services. Co-GM Brett Hull, who will lose that
title directly due to the poor judgment in bringing Avery in as an
overpriced free agent, has admitted his mistake. Hull compared himself
to an intern with respect to on-the-job training; this error was more
egregious because the Stars already had an Avery-like asset in Steve Ott. When Hull revealed that he pushed to bring in Avery to toughen up
this team, it showed that he knew little about the make up of the
Dallas reserve list and less about their on ice demeanor. With Brendan
Morrow as captain, they have one of the gutsiest and toughest players
in the league leading them; with other war tested veterans like Marty
Turco, Mike Modano and Sergei Zubov I’ve never classified them as soft
team. They went all the way to the conference finals before being
eliminated by the eventual champion Detroit Red Wings, so what was
needed was tinkering, not a shock to the system that the disturbing
and disturbed Avery provided.
I won't re-hash the circumstances of the storm that was created at
that fateful morning skate in Calgary but I have spoken to a number of
players who felt that an off ice offense probably didn’t merit a six
game expulsion. The overriding issue from a player’s standpoint was
the fact that it came in such pre-meditated fashion. While that
assessment is on point in my eyes, the act was more damaging because
where of it was conducted. Had Avery’s words been uttered in New York,
Los Angeles (which could have happened because one of Avery’s exes,
Rachel Hunter is engaged to Kings forward Jarret Stoll) or even a
place like Phoenix, it may have never reached the problematic level it
did because of hockey’s low placement on the sports media pecking
order in those markets. But in Avery’s warped perception of value, he
knew it would be more impactful if done in Canada with increased
microphones and cameras around. The NHL has placed him in the category
of possessing an illness and for those who truly believe that, I’d
have them look at the tape again. Avery wasn’t wild-eyed; rather he
had that ridiculous smirk on his face I witnessed way too often during
his Los Angeles days. The clincher for me was not the specific
offensive comment (many players say far worse things in the heat of
the battle on ice) but the “enjoy the game tonight” closure after the
undignified utterance. That’s not sickness, that stupidity and the
last time I checked stupidity isn’t a disease.
For regular fans of this column, they know of my disdain and disgust
for a player that is the antithesis of the great majority of the men
who toil on NHL ice. My feelings aren’t alone as off the record
comments by many who cover the game is at least as harsh as mine. When
asked about Avery and his antics, I usually start my responses with
the same rejoinder.
"Don't get me started..."
So now the Stars don’t want him back and the captain Morrow related
that the Calgary incident wasn’t an isolated incident but rather the
last straw.
"That was probably just the last line," Morrow said. "I
think we did a pretty good job of keeping the rest of that stuff
in-house."
The word is that there were violations of dress code, road
travel and public appearances and knowing the personality they had to
deal with, none if this surprises me.
Since we are capitalists and not communists in North America, it is
Avery’s inalienable right to earn a living. While that statement while
be the first and last time that you’ll see me defend this indefensible
individual, are there any options for him? When he left New York over
the summer, the majority of Rangers’ fans lamented that he should have
been re-signed. In 86 games over two seasons, Avery put up career best
numbers, 23 goals, 52 points and a plus 17 rating and averaged almost
a point a game in two rounds of playoffs last season. Yet when the
time came to re-up on his contract, Rangers President/GM Glen Sather
said, “thank you, no,” showing wisdom that the aforementioned Hull
wishes he had. Since Avery would only be a flyspeck in the massive New
York media market, perhaps a return to Broadway would be a safe haven
for his mouth with the understanding that he would have to be on his
best behavior.
That’s not happening.
The reason why this isn’t a bigger controversy is because the Stars
have decided not to challenge his contract based on the violation of
any morals clause the document may possess. Larry Kelly and the NHLPA
don’t have to step in to mediate and they’re so grateful they don’t
have to defend a member that’s universally disliked by its rank and
file. The reality is that if there the next hockey destination in his
future will be at the AHL level or across the pond on European rinks
(think another angry guy, Theo Fleury). Should he eventually be
rehabilitated, as unlikely as that seems, the process to get him back
to the NHL adds intrigue to the story.
Avery would have to go through waivers to play in the minors and would
have to be recalled through waivers to be traded. If he were to be
recalled, a team could pick him up for half the cost of his contract.
The Stars would have to take half of the cost and half of the salary
cap hit. He’s not on the Stars' roster and does not cost anything
against the salary cap and still is receiving his paycheck. So being
suspended and off the roster, he’s less costly from a salary cap
aspect than if he was jettisoned through waivers. If Avery does not
play this season, the Stars can buy him out in the summer at
two-thirds the cost ($8 million) of his remaining contract and then
spread a cap hit of $1.33 million over six years. He would then become
an unrestricted free agent and could attempt to return to the NHL that
way. This move is likely this summer if the Stars organization’s keeps
their promise not to interfere with the player’s future career plans,
Given the Stars stance throughout this entire L’Affaire de Avery (a
nice title given Avery’s prior comments about French players, eh?),
their character should not be brought into question.
I can’t see this player ever returning to the NHL; the league is
better off with this being the last and final chapter of the sad
story. The amount of energy that’s been wasted on a third line winger
who’s never scored 20 goals or totaled 50 points in a season is
disproportionate to the value of the asset. To which I say, good
riddance.
CALL ME IN MAY
Despite any beefs from hockey fans in Beantown or Motown, the San Jose
Sharks are the best team in the NHL through the first quarter of the
season. They’ve only lost three times in regulation in 30 games;
they’re undefeated at home in 18 contests and rookie coach Todd
McLellan is on track for the Jack Adams Award. Sharks GM Doug Wilson has made
all the right moves so far this season, placing a winning wager on the
exacta of Rob Blake and Dan Boyle in an effort to erase his losing bet
when he dealt for Buffalo (and now Chicago) defenseman Brian Campbell at last
year’s trade deadline. They lead the league in scoring, with the
leader of the pack being Captain Patrick Marleau.
Entering his 10th
season with the Sharks, the former 2nd overall pick in the draft has
never reached the lofty heights predicted for him when he entered the
NHL a decade ago. In what may finally be a breakthrough job, Marleau’s
first quarter numbers are impressive; he’s tracking what would be a
first time 40 goal season and at his present pace would total almost
100 points. The 1A center Joe Thornton, as is his wont, is piling up
the assists and should hit the 100 point plateau if he’s injury free.
There are always those nuggets that the San Jose franchise always
seems to unearth in the later round of the draft. This year it’s Ryan
Clowe, the 26 year old veteran of three NHL seasons and a former sixth
round draft choice in 2001. Clowe suffered through two injury racked
seasons and was nothing more than an afterthought entering this
season. With renewed vigor and a new up-tempo style of play laid down
by McLellan, Ryan has started fast out of the box. At his current
pace, he would smash his career highs and tally 30+ goals with a like
number of assists. San Jose is all about depth along its forward wall
and with Jonathan Cheechoo and Jeremy Roenick presently on the shelf,
production from Clowe and Devin Setoguchi (current co-leader in goals
scored with 15) has help the Sharks forge an eleven game unbeaten
streak. Clowe conveyed wonderment after netting the winning goal on
Monday’s shootout and gave insight to his superb start.
"There’s much
more emphasis on shooting the puck this season. Last year, we played
too much on the perimeter. This year on the power play for example,
the first option is to shoot the puck. Our approach now is to drive to
net and get those bounces that may come from traffic around the net.
With our big bodies up front, we make it difficult for the defense. I
only played 15 games last year, this year I’m playing on the power
play, on a great line and getting a lot of ice time. With opportunity
usually come success," he surmised.
Entering their Monday night tilt in Los Angeles, the Sharks amassed 50
points in 29 games, tying them with the 1929-’30 Boston Bruins for the
best start to a season. By virtue of the 3-2 shootout victory over the
Kings, they set the NHL record for the best 30 game start to a season.
The biggest challenge at present for San Jose is how to motivate a
team that loses less than 10 percent of the time.
Brian Boucher, who
possesses the best job in hockey, that being backup goaltender of a
25-3-2 juggernaut, explains, “We push each other in the room. I’ve
never been a part of something like this. The guys hold each other
accountable and although we’re a fun group, we demand a lot from each
other. I think that has a lot to do with this start. We’ve won games
in every conceivable way, from behind, shootouts and they’re good
character building games because they could have gone the other way.
We’re creating a nice cushion for ourselves in the standings but we
need to keep winning.”
Even Dan Boyle, one of the few owners of a Cup
ring on the team by virtue of Tampa Bay’s 2004 triumph over Calgary is
impressed.
"It’s amazing," he said. "I just love
the attitude we have about it, we’re not overly happy, we’re keeping
level heads and looking forward to the next game."
So how does a coach motivate a team that is doing what they’re
supposed to every night? McLellan, who is more impressive with each
post-game chat, says it’s more about preparation than motivation.
"The
team pushes themselves. As a coach, we have to give them a game plan,
give them structure and hold them accountable. But the motivation
really comes from within the locker room. They know that they’re not
going to see the ‘B’ or ‘A’ game from the other team, they’re going to
see their ‘A+’ game. Preparation is important, leadership is
essential," he related.
So while they’re on pace for a mind boggling
141 point season, it really doesn’t matter if they get 141, 131, or 91
as their final regular season total because it is those two words that
mute all these early season record breaking accomplishments.
Regular season.
No one ever remembers the President Trophy winners in any particular
season and I’d be willing to wager a few quid that if you polled the
house at any NHL game less than half the fans would even know what the
award symbolizes (team that finishes with the best record/most
points). As it stands now and barring any major injuries, the balance
of this season stands to be a long term prep for the Stanley Cup
playoffs for the Sharks. But at the drop of the puck for Game 83, the
same old questions will arise. Can goaltender Evgeni Nabokov carry
this team for four rounds? (He hasn’t.) Will Thornton underperform in
the post season (A terrible habit he needs to rid himself of.) Will
Patrick Marleau evaporate into thin air? (Like his two aforementioned
pals.) The San Jose organization is a role model not just for other
NHL franchises but for any sports organization. They’re fiscally
responsible, built a rabid and loyal fan base, have innovative
marketing ideas and are near the top of the Western Conference every
season. The professionalism that permeates the locker room and oozes
out of the executive suite tells one that a player like Avery wouldn’t
get within 50 miles of the Shark Tank.
But they haven't won. And if they were to face the Detroit Red Wings
in the conference finals, who would be the favorite?
Not Team Teel. Call me in May, SharkNation and we’ll talk about your
team’s chances.
AND FINALLY...
I'm not one to defend the Red Wings and it's not like they need my
help to defend their title. But when observers point out their play
this season, they focus in on the play of G Chris Osgood as the weak
link in the defense of the crown. I even made mention on last Friday’s
version of “TFP Today” that at the time, Osgood and Marty Turco were
tied for the league’s worst save percentage. As an example that save
percentage is as a debatable statistic as plus/minus, Osgood’s .875
percentage has earned him one (1) regulation loss in 18 games. When
you ponder the disparity long enough, it makes sense. For example, if
the Red Wings outshot the Islanders 41-15 and win 6-2 with Osgood in
net, his game save percentage would be .867. I’d compare Osgood to
Gerry Cheevers, the old Boston Bruins goaltender who routinely
bedeviled the Rangers during their playoff battles in the 70’s and
Grant Fuhr, the benefactor of all the Hall of Fame talent assembled in
front of him in Edmonton during the 80’s. Neither Fuhr not Cheevers
had the stellar stats that you'd see from a Martin Brodeur or Mikka
Kiprusoff, but if their team scored 5, they’d only give up 4, if you
needed a shutout, you got one. They did what was necessary to win the
game and just ask any Pittsburgh Penguins fan about the stop at the
end of Game 6 of last year’s Finals to see if the Detroit netminder
stands in the same class.
Dennis
Bernstein, the man behind SCORE! Media and an NHL
Analyst with ESPN Radio, is the Los Angeles
Correspondent for The Fourth Period Magazine and a Columnist
for TheFourthPeriod.com.
