Is Sean Avery Done As A Ranger?
Sean Avery has seen himself as a healthy scratch ma few times this week, and the agitator may have lost his spot on this team. Initially scratched because of what coach John Tortorella defined as inconsistency, Avery returned to the lineup only to take a stupid penalty against the Islanders late in the game. That penalty led to him being benched again for last night’s win over Montreal, a game in which the Rangers didn’t really need him on the ice.
With the way the Rangers lines have performed, it becomes an issue of who the Rangers would scratch to get Avery back in the lineup. As of right now, there isn’t a single skater I would scratch in favor of Avery. That is nothing against Avery, it’s just other players have outplayed him, and it makes Avery a spectator more often than not heading into the stretch run.
When it comes to next season, it makes you wonder if Avery will even be with the Rangers at all. A trade is unlikely, because any acquiring team would have to absorb his full $3.9 million cap hit. However, a buyout isn’t completely out of the question. Per CapGeek, a buyout would result in a $1.2 million cap hit in 2011-2012, and a $1.3 million cap hit in 2012-2013. While that total cap hit is a bit large, it would be divided amongst the Rangers and the Stars, so the Rangers cap hit would be $600,000 in 2011-2012, and $650,000 in 2012-2013.
I don’t think the Rangers will buyout Avery, but with Brad Richards looming, Chris Drury’s $7.05 million cap hit, and Wade Redden’s $6.5 million cap hit returning for the summer (summer cap is 10% higher than the regular season cap), the Rangers may need to clear more space to have room to sign Richards. Avery may find himself a victim of the numbers game should the Rangers pursue Richards with a blank check. What is more likely is that Avery finds himself as a 13th forward for the rest of this season, and possibly next year. Avery has been great for the Rangers, but it looks like his time in blue is coming to an end.
By Brian, March 19, 2011 @ 2:01 pm
Short answer, No, at least not yet.
Avery is at best a 3rd line player although there have been times throughout his career that he has played on higher lines and had success. The problem here is that when he is on his game he can provide a tremendous boost but he only seems to bring that on rare occasions. At the very least, Sean Avery provides this team with important depth – although inconsistent he is a good skater, under-rated passer and stands up for teammates which comes in handy when playing imposing opponents such as the Flyers, Pens, Bruins etc. I see no reason why he can’t be held on to as a injury-replacement/sub type player when a guy like Prust is out of the lineup. Although the buy out cap hit isn’t terrible I just think the Rangers are better off holding on to him as a depth player than buying him out. Let him leave when his contract runs out after next season.
The real contract that has become a burden is Drury’s – if the Rangers can eliminate that one then they should be fairly set to be able to pay all 6 key RFA’s, sign Brad Richards and have some left over to sign a role player or two.
By tmd39, March 20, 2011 @ 8:21 am
With the current lineup, who is going to stick up for a teammate? Twice on Friday Montreal ran Henrik without an answer from the Rangers. Yes, Sauer was willing (PK running away, under the pretense of taking his helmut off, while Pierre McGuire is yelling the PK isn’t scared of anyone was too funny), but we don’t need defensemen sitting for 5 minutes. Prust is too valuable on the PK (plus he’s hurting) to do it. So today in Pittsburgh, vs. a Penguins team that leads the league in fighting majors, the Rangers will dress a lineup with no protection.