NY Rangers forward Sean Avery has been making a name for himself as one of the league’s most pesky players (and arguably the most disliked) and now his name will likely be enshrined for posterity for a rule change.
During Sunday’s playoff game between Avery’s Rangers and the New Jersey Devils, he created a stir by planting himself in front of Devils goalie Martin Brodeur during a power-play, facing Brodeur and waving his stick in the netminder’s face.
The tactic screened Brodeur, who after the game said that he couldn’t see the puck or the play developing in front of him because of Avery’s antics.
It failed to result in a goal, although Avery would score moments later on the same powerplay. You can check out Avery’s little gambit in more detail here.
Commentators were stunned by Avery’s actions, most saying they’d never seen anything like this before in their lives. Brodeur obviously wasn’t pleased with it, the game referee warned Avery and the Rangers bench that it could result in a penalty if he did it again, and even Avery’s teammate Chris Drury shouted at him during the play to keep his stick down.
Avery’s stick wind-milling action failed to draw a penalty at the time because there wasn’t anything in the NHL rulebook saying you couldn’t do what he did.
Screening a goalie is a common practice during a game, but players doing so aren’t facing the goalie and waving their stick in his face. Their backs are almost always turned to the netminder, facing the play as they look for the incoming shot, not only to prevent the goalie seeing the puck and create a scoring chance, but also to avoid injury themselves by getting hit from behind with the puck.
It didn’t take long for the NHL to react. Effective Monday, the league issues the following:
"National Hockey League Senior Executive Vice President and Director of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell today issued the following advisory on the interpretation of Rule 75 - Unsportsmanlike Conduct: "An unsportsmanlike conduct minor penalty (Rule 75) will be interpreted and applied, effective immediately, to a situation when an offensive player positions himself facing the opposition goaltender and engages in actions such as waving his arms or stick in front of the goaltender's face, for the purpose of improperly interfering with and/or distracting the goaltender as opposed to positioning himself to try to make a play."
Now some may argue as to why there was such an uproar over Avery’s actions and question the league cracking down on it.
Regardless of the interference implication or the unsportsmanlike conduct, what Avery did was dangerous, to Brodeur, an opponent or teammate, even to himself.
Avery couldn’t see the play developing behind him, has no idea where the puck is nor does he know where the position of his teammates or opposing players are around him, as he was mainly focused on Brodeur.
With his back to the player and waving his stick around in that manner, he risked injuring Brodeur despite the netminder’s protective equipment, and could’ve clipped a teammate or an opponent in the face or head with his stick.
Avery was also putting himself in danger of being struck from behind with an incoming shot, which could’ve seriously injured him if it struck him in the head or back of the neck, despite the helmet he wore.
It’s good to see the NHL jump on this quickly, and obviously they had the blessing of the NHLPA implement this rule change so quickly. No one wants to see this become an established practice throughout the playoffs by waiting to change this rule in the off-season, especially if it were to result in a game-or-series winning goal.
Can you imagine the uproar if Avery or another player were to pull the same stunt resulting in a Stanley Cup winning goal? It would dwarf that of Brett Hull’s controversial “foot in the crease” goal from the 1999 Cup Finals, which was an embarrassment the league front office has no wish to repeat.
If Avery harbored hopes of his name going down in NHL history, he got his wish. This will forever be known as "the Sean Avery rule".
Now..I am an avid Rangers fan and I agree to this to a certain extent. As everyone in the league-fans, players, coaches, officials, etc- know, Sean Avery is an agitator, an irritant, a pest, an annoyance. Avery is just trying to get into the opposition's head and cause them to lose focus and confidence. But I am glad to see the NHL react right away. Besides the reason of it being Unsportsmanlike Conduct, it's also a safety measure to insure, like you said, that someone is aware of the play around them, that they don't get hit in the back of the head from a puck or a stick they never saw coming.
Great Job to the NHL for ensuring that the integrity of the game as well as the safety of the players becomes a priority... well done.
No respect for the game, any of its players or the fans. This guy is a clown and doesn't belong in the NHL, rather he should be banished to Ingerland just like Crackheadtheo. Too bad, because he has the skill set to play. Obviously, he must have had the world's worst hockey parents and the league should have a little "chat" with the fella. Daddy didn't hold him properly and now he's a putz.
Hi Lyle:
Brodeur has a big stick and it's easy to break someone's ankle with it. Should he have to? No, one of his teammates should have taken the task and fixed the guy good. Or is this guy tough and no one on the Devils will face him?
I know if it was me, I'd spear him big time or break his ankle
Hi,Cobra. As I understand it, the Devils were trying to kill a penalty and I don't think any of Brodeur's teammates were really aware of what he was doing at the time. At least Brodeur was trying to get Avery to knock it off, and since he and Avery have a bit of a history that's probably why he was doing what he did. I don't think he would've tried it of Brodeur were a more aggressive goalie like Ron Hextall, Billy Smith, Gerry Cheevers or yourself, Cobra, in your playing days.
gotta love a sport that has name of players for it rules...
"the rob ray rule"- cant take your jersey off yourself or your kicked out of the game and assessed an instigator penalty.
"the brett hull rule"- though cannot screw over the Buffalo sabres or you will be assessed a general managers role in the dallas clubhouse
(actually that ones not that bad of a deal, no wonder everyone screws over buffalo... when does Darcy Regeir get to be the GM of Dallas?)
With all due respect, the rule doesn't seem to actually stop half of what Avery was doing. The word "and" would seemingly indicate that he would have to simultaneously a) be facing Brodeur/away from the play, as well as b) waving his stick around or something similar.
If he is not doing both, then the officials should not be able to call a penalty for such action. Incitement may still be applicable, but by the letter of the rule, the NHL is failing to prohibit part of the behavior it has labeled to be offensive.
Actually, the 10 minutes unsportsmanlike misconduct applies here. There was no reason why the referrees could not have tossed him out for a tenner. I like Avery's grits; I hate his antics.
The sad thing is, Avery doesn't need to stoop to these ridiculous tactics. He's actually a very good player. If he'd put as much energy into playing the game instead of trying to be a "super-pest", he'd be a very effective player.
Avery should put more energy into being an effective player? He's scored three playoff goals already, and for all those who hate Avery and use Drury's mid-play comment as evidence of Avery's radical play, I'm pretty sure AVERY has scored THREE TIMES MORE goals than Drury has scored for the Rangers this series. Now that's effective.
Last edited by smitty1479 on April 14th at 8:16 PM.
Smitty, I fail to see your logic of pointing out the fluke that Avery has 3 goals in this series. I suppose by pointing out that Drury has a Cup and is 4th in GW playoff goals among active players proves Drury is "effective" since it totally trumps anything Avery can hope to accomplish in his career? That somehow validates his viewpoint?
Matthew Barnaby scored a hat-trick in the playoffs once. Does that mean he was right when he yapped and yapped at the Flyers that year until he woke up Lindros, and the Flyers laid a thumping on Buffalo?
No offense, but your logic does not resemble our Earth logic.
Cobra knows how much the game has changed (classic interview between you too last year, btw). It is still a game of honor among the players, compared to other professional games today, but not nearly what it was. It is continually amazing what team members allow to happen to their teammates now - unless they are paid to do it in most cases.
1) While we would concede that any sentence that has 'dumb' and 'Avery' in it risks being duplistic, we will still state that we are not in favour of the NHL's new "Avery rule."
2) Did his tactics work? Hard to say, but Avery DID score not long after the incident. There are conflicting stories that team mates such as Chris Drury and Brendan Shanahan told Avery to cut it out during the play, but they did not confirm this afterwards to reporters. All TV commentators made note of the unusual manner in which Avery was trying to distract the opposing goalie. Almost all were in agreement that the Avery mannerisms were 'de####able/reprehensible'. There was almost universal condemnation of Avery and his tactics among writers and non Ranger fans alike.
3) So as a result of this uproar should we be surprised that Gary Bettman and his lap dog poodle Colin Campbell decided to 'interpret' the rule to make any future moves like this illegal? In reality there was no such rule, but the league had to act quickly to try to stem the tide of negative publicity that Avery had unearthed. While we don't particularly like Avery. Many may recall how we included him as our 'starting center' in our all-prickmost-hated-teams. However we detest when the NHL knee-jerks into changing rules. He never made contact with Brodeur, and he was not in the goalie crease. If what Avery did was a penalty the TWO referees in attendance Sunday didn't think so. It looked infintile/stupid, and dangerous to he and to anyone around him, but unless he actualy hits someone it doesn't appear to be against the rules.
Last edited by fauxrumors5 on April 15th at 5:40 AM.
I agree whole heartedly that Sean Avery is a talented player, who pushes the envelope at times, and should tone down the antics. I'm a huge Rangers fan, and I found the event humorous. Avery and Brodeur have a history, I wasn't surprised to see this happen, and until recently, it was not illegal. But good for the NHL for clarifying the rule. It was good for a laugh, thankfully nobody got hurt, and now hopefully we don't see it again.
How can you approve the league making a rule within 12 hours of the Devils complaining ??? I dont know the details, but how is it that the league can make up a new rule without approval from the NHLPA or anyone else in the middle of the playoffs ?!?!??? This is why the league loses respect of the fans. New rules whenever they want, cant wave your hands or stick when facing the goalie, but what if your back is to him, its ok ? This Avery rule 75 has such a HUUUUUUGE grey area.
I honestly cant believe that you're using "danger" as the reason this rule needs to be put in place. His stick waving didnt touch anyone (it was a 5 on 3, and theres more space obviously). If he wants to put himself there, let him. I truly am baffled by your reply on this Spector.
Why is it that no one has mentioned this: Brodeur sticked/speared Avery in the groin and then moments after, Brodeur jabbed and hit Avery in the face (with his stick hand), and there was no penalty on either play. I've seen tons of articles and blogs on this topic and no one mentions Brodeurs actions. Everyone bashes Avery, but no one seems to care that he sticked a guy in his groin and jabbed at a guys face.
I believe the NHL rulebook is written in pencil or invisible ink.
Where was the rulebook when Sutter threw his stick on the ice at the end of game 2 ? Where was the rulebook to give Brodeur a penalty for sticking Avery in the b@lls and then hitting him in the face ? Why doesnt anyone mention this ?
Last edited by Messier94 on April 15th at 11:37 AM.
It would have been nice to see what would have happened had Scott Stevens still been playing. Avery would probably be in a coma right now!
Just goes to show you how the mighty have fallen. Avery did what he did because there is no one on the Devils that scares him.
As for the rule, seems kind of odd to make such a change in interpretation at this juncture. I say let Avery be an #### and maybe he'll get a slap-shot in the back of the neck!
Sorry guys, but I have no problem with what Avery did. First off, the Devils were killing a 5 on 3 which gave Avery the time and space. Marty Broduer is quoted as saying that he could not see the puck or the play developing due to Avery's actions. Isn't that the point of screening the goaltender? Did he put himself in jeopardy, yeah probably.. but so does every meathead forward who goes to the boards with his back turned and head down (see Patrice Bergeron). I'm ok with the NHL prohibiting this in the future, but let's not blast Avery for doing the things he does best... be a pest.
Oh yeah... and I guess it worked because he scored a moment later.
I understand the reaction around the league, but Avery was very clever here. What if he had kept his stick down, but faced Brodeur and shadowed him completely? What if he just waved at him a lot with his free hand? Is that breaking the new rule? The NHL's reaction here is definitely weak. Furthermore, I'd suggest that for Avery to continue to be effective, he should keep pushing the proverbial envelope.
In response to Messier94.....What a joke! Are you for real? I can only imagine if Clarkson did the same to Lundquist how your response would read then. If I owned an Avery jersey, I would cover up the name with ducktape in embarassment. Typical Rangers fan to be defending this clown. Avery is lucky he didn't get more than a stick to the groin. As for the NHL making this rule within 12 hours, good for them. They will probably need to make a couple of more rules before the end of this series due to this clown's actions.
to NJ Devil: No, I am not joking. I really dont think that what Avery did was THAT bad. He didnt touch anyone & wasnt in the crease. When Ryan Smyth did the same thing to Cam Ward 2 years ago, everyone praised Smyth (granted Smyths back was to Ward, but its SAME idea, screening a goalie).
I've expressed elsewhere that I wouldnt have a problem if any other player did the same thing. I might not like it if someone did it to Lundqvist, but I wouldn't whine and b.!tch for a rule change, and I wouldnt even call it bush league. What is bush league is spearing someone in the balls, which you and the league obviously dont think is a penalty. You actually condone that !!! How pleasant.
Get back to me when Brodeur stops diving.
Last edited by Messier94 on April 16th at 6:12 AM.
Let me remind all of you that this is NOT a rule change, simply an adjustment to the interpretation of the rule. Swearing can be grounds for getting an unsportsmanlike penalty if the referee decides it, however a ref has to show some consistency when making such calls and since Avery's actions were original to say the least, the refs did not make any call.
All Campbell did was to issue a memo to his refs and the press stating that this type of action was grounds for unsportsmanlike conduct, he did not invent a new rule! Even Avery's teammates (Drury for one) thought his actions were questionable, or at the very least was concerned for his safety.
Like I said before, Avery could have recieved s shot in the back.
I understand its not a "new" rule. It is an ammendment to an existing rule. Does anyone care that this was previously done by Ryan Smyth ? Its so funny to hear everyones negative opinion mostly because its Avery.
Cup Junkie: The only thing Drury said to Avery was to keep his stick down to avoid getting a high sticking penalty. THATS IT. Read deeper before believing "the associated press".
Game 2, Madden and Sutter were cursing at the officials like madmen; Sutter even threw a stick on the ice and didnt get called for anything.
Obviously there is no consistency. It's as if the NHL rulebook is written in pencil or invisible ink.
I said Avery's teammates thought his actions were quetionable. If that were to mean what you said about the "high-sticking" then fine, we sort of agree, and you are correct with concern to consistent officiating. The refs don't have the easiest jobs out there and when left to interpret the rules it becomes even more difficult.
Personally I'm opposed to any rule changes in mid-season or playoffs. Besides this was a 5 on 3 situation which does not happen too often,his antics did not work since the Devs were able to clear away the puck into the Ranger zone, and besides Avery was more useful when his stick was on the ice as when he scored shortly after.
This has gotten alot of attention because it is Avery and Brodeur, one super-pest, and one future hall of famer.
I agree Avery should have kept his stick down, other than that i don't have an issue. Screening is part of hockey. If a player is outside the crease, it's fair game. Brodeur took cheap shots at Avery, and nobody says anything. Avery doesn't touch Brodeur, and get's called bush league.
There have been plenty of questionable play on both sides of the ice, i've seen elbows come up, sticks come up, guys taking runs at other players... call the game fair, and lay down the law if it gets out of hand.
Avery didn't break any rules. He interpreted one his own way, now the league simply "clarified" the rule.
Furthermore the Devils are only whining because they trail as of now in the series. Sutter acted like a child, bashing the refs and throwing a stick? Grow up. Tom Renney is a class act... can't say the same about his cross Hudson counterpart.
To paraphrase Lloyd Bentsen "I know Ryan Smyth. Ryan Smyth is a very good friend of mine. And Sean Avery is no Ryan Smyth!"
There is a VAST OCEAN OF DIFFERENCE between how Ryan Smyth and Tomas Holmstrom engage goaltenders and the circus act that Avery put on Sunday night. (Okay, late afternoon here in California.) What Avery did reminded me of what Steve Kasper used to do when he was "shadowing" Wayne Gretzky: ignoring the play, just focusing one-hundred-percent on the player and doing everything in his power to impede and obstruct him. At times it can be effective, but it isn't hockey.
I've no objection if a player wants to plant himself just outside the crease and put their bum in the goalie's face. Nor if a player waves his stick in the goalie's line of vision, for that matter. What's key is that the player in question remains focused on the developing play. The mortal sin for me in the Avery case is he disengaged on the developing play, took his hands off his stick and focused exclusively on Brodeur.
Also to be absolutely clear, I've no objection to a goaltender protecting his turf with a well placed stick to the ankle (or elsewhere to the body, if deemed necessary). That's part of the price you pay for playing in front of the net.
If you don't like the taste of lumber, stay away from the blue paint.
Last edited by Matt_McCallum on April 16th at 10:58 AM.
Looks like the theme of Common Sense really stuck here. Good to see. Some folks are looking at it like Avery embarassed the hockey world. Did he? Nah. He's just immortalized within it. Quick moment of hilarity, which may or may not have affected Brodeur's concentration and definitely resulted in a rather inefficient 5-on-3, but nothing particularly damaging.
Final thought on the issue: Devils fans, we know you loved Scott "The Newark Elbow" Stevens, alright? Deep down even some of us Rangers fans like him too, in a sort of sel####estructive way. Bottom line: in the new NHL, he'd be a bigger goon than Chris Pronger. While he'd have cleaned Avery out, chances are good he'd have to wait for his penalty to expire first. Not to mention the whole pot/kettle/black thing.
play should have been blown dead.he was waving his stick above the shoulders in some ones face.blow whistle make him stop acces delay of game penaltie.yes he did not touch him but still is high stick that could have indangered anyone.refs blew it .when i saw it i knew what to do right away.refs did not do there job protecting players in that inpaticular game.if they blow whistle to make him stop they are forced to hand out delay of game.
I think the league was correct in stopping this kind of thing, since someone could get seriously hurt in a game where that little black disc goes FAST. However, I hope Marrrtttyyy got the message that the Rangers don't think much of him as a goalie, and do NOT respect his diving or whining. I also hope that, if Marty wants to play the puck outside of his crease, that he will shed his goalie gear and put on a regular uniform....if there is one BIG enough, and play forward. I think Shawn and the boys would love to get him up close and personal!!! Go, Rangers
Hey NJ Devil: our Avery clown is going to the next round, your FAT goalie diving whining clown is going home to spend his money. YOur team was a joke all season to us, and only won 2 games out of 13, so the clown show starts at the Prudential center, starring Marrrrttttyyyy and your no talented Clarkson crew. Get a life!!!! We'll get the CUP!!
stop crying about the avery issue you little girls. this includes bloggers and so-called "analysts". avery made no contact with brodeur. he simply waved his arms. who cares if he was facing or not facing broduer. do you people have dementia or complete memory loss? shultz, lemuiex, brown, domi, kocur, etc. smashed everyone on the ice. they did a whole lot more than wave their arms. all you nancys cry about avery, yet when lundquist got barreled into by the devils, lost his stick, was knocked out of the crease, no one said anything about that issue of "sportsmanship". and the devils scored because of it. all of you haters would just love to have avery on your team. simply jealous. what's next, no yelling at players on the other team. you people are pathetic. it's hockey people, not ballet.
I don't think it's a smart thing for Avery to do, mainly because I agree with all the folks who point out the real possibility of taking a slap shot to the cervical vertebrae. That's life and death right there...every bit as serious as a skate slicing a throat. So I agree with the league's fast response.
But barring all that I don't feel it's any more unsportsmanlike than a guy sticking his big rear end in your goalie's face. And, as sdsnyr94 pointed out, this all happened during a 2-man advantage...probably about the ONLY time an offensive forward would have the leisure to even try this sort of thing. So it's hard for me to see how Avery's new ploy would become a regular occurence (unless 5-on-3's become commonplace?). If this would have been a standard 5-on-4 or even strength, we'd be blogging about what sort of liquid lunch Avery had from his hospital bed today, because any defenseman worth his salt would see to it personally.
Anyone ever hear of an old baseball player from the '40s named Eddie Stanky? Avery appears to be a man after Eddie's own heart. Check out the "Stanky Maneuver"...
I'm Lyle Richardson, also known as Spector, Foxsports.com 's "Prince of Pucks".,which is based on the fact I live in Prince Edward Island, Canada and I couldn't think of a better byline. I've been an NHL hockey commentator since 1998 on my website, Spector's Hockey, and I'm a contributing writer for Foxsports.com , The Hockey News and Eishockey News. I'm also a regular on The Faceoff Hockey Show and a frequent guest on "The Late Crew" on The Team 1200 Ottawa.
