Rangers Analysis: Is Sean Avery being held back, or is it self imposed?
by Jim Schmiedeberg on Nov 6, 2009 12:00 PM EST
in New York Rangers Analysis
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PrintThere have been a great many debates on a great many subjects that have taken place in the opening month of the Rangers regular season, and today we're going to throw a new one into the mix:
What's wrong with Sean Avery?
It's clear to everyone watching the team on a regular basis that this is not the Sean Avery that we've grown to love. We've seen only rare glimpses of the Avery of old, like the stick grabbing incident the other night against Vancouver.
But where's the old Avery? Where is the guy who gets in "Fatso's" face, waving his stick? Where is the Avery that always gets the last shot in after the whistle, or taps the goalie in the back of the head with his stick as he skates by? Our favorite metrosexual agitator seems to have lost his way in the early going.
Sean suffered a knee injury in training camp that kept him out the first few games of the season, and a flare up that caused him to miss a game last week, but I don't think that is to blame for the lack of agitation in his game.
We discussed this a little bit on Blueshirt Banter Radio last night, but I wanted to open it up for discussion with everyone. The way I see it, there are two possible reasons for the lack of "Sean Avery" in Sean Avery's game:
More after the jump.......
Tortorella has put the reigns on him:
When John Tortorella became the head coach of the Rangers on February 23rd, 2009, much was made about what the relationship would be between him and Avery. While working for TSN, Tortorella referred to Avery as a "selfish ass", and said he had no business being in the NHL. Upon taking the job with the Rangers, Torts backtracked on his earlier statement, and said he was willing to give Avery a second chance, and on March 3rd, Avery was claimed on waivers from the Dallas Stars.
Tortorella often talked last season about Avery "knowing where the line was, and knowing not to cross it." Avery seemed to understand that after a tumultuous stop in Dallas, he had been given a second chance in New York, and was making the most of it. However, after Games 3 and 4 of the playoffs against Washington, which saw Avery take 6 minor penalties and a ten minute misconduct, "The Grate One" was benched for Game 5, which turned out to be the worst game the Rangers played in that series, with the Rangers being shut out 4-0, John Tortorella not knowing where the line was himself, crossing it, and getting suspended for Game 5 after throwing a water bottle at Caps fans.
Avery said after the playoffs ended that he supported the suspension, and that John Tortorella was the coach he wanted to play for. But did the benching leave Sean feeling like if he plays his style of game under Tortorella he will be punished for it? Avery has also seen his ice time diminish recently, only the fourth liners are getting less ice time than Sean.
Sean Avery has a bulls-eye on his back, and is gun-shy about it?
Let's face it, a guy who plays the game of hockey the way Sean Avery does is going to be preceded by his reputation. This would be true no matter where he plays, but even more so under the bright lights of New York.
We've all seen numerous penalties called on Sean that were simply called because of who he is. This is not to paint Sean with the brush of an angel, but I don't think I am divulging any state secrets by saying Sean Avery is a lightning rod on the ice, and rarely gets the benefit of the doubt when it comes to extra-curricular activity. It's only human nature for that to affect a player, and have him pull in the reigns, and play a more conservative style of hockey that does not suit him best.
The problem is, when Avery isn't being Avery, he's really a pretty average winger. When he is being Avery, he can be a difference maker in a game; we've seen him do it. Whatever the reason is, the Rangers and Sean Avery can only hope to find a balance and get Avery back on track.
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Just talked about it in the previous thread….
Avery
Is anybody a little concerned with Avery?
It seems to me as though he is not as aggresive and agitating as he used to be. I think he was a lot better in his first stint with the Rangers and even last year.
It looks as if he is just trying to play a regular game, which in his case makes him less effective. Maybe he is afraid of taking penalties and getting benched by Torts?? Any thoughts?
by MattPwrcf1 on Nov 6, 2009 8:55 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
I’m concerned with Sean for a couple of reasons – what you already mentioned is part of it.
Could that be caused by the fact that he’s not one of the Top 6? Don’t know…..but it wouldn’t surprise me….
I think he’s wasted on the 4th line – and totally unmotivated.
Depth is a good problem to have – but Avery needs to get more minutes.
by dbmaven on Nov 6, 2009 9:02 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
hmmm maybe you’re right, he did play under 6 minutes last night.
I just absolutely loved it when Avery was out of control , running around hitting everything that moves and trash talking at the same time. All that really used to work and got the opposing players of their games and they ended up taking penalties. He did cross the line sometimes though, but now it seems that the "milder version of Sean Avery" IS a little too mild…
yeah sorry, you guys jumped the gun on me, lol. Ranger fans always ahead of the curve.
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by Jim Schmiedeberg on Nov 6, 2009 12:39 PM EST reply actions
I thought so too
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by Jim Schmiedeberg on Nov 6, 2009 1:24 PM EST up reply actions
i actually wandered over here to investigate exactly this topic. avery’s ATOI is about to make him useless to my fantasy team (5:56 last night!). who are his linemates? is torts juggling the lines or does avery have a permanent spot on the 4th line? he notched two power play goals against toronto. was he only out on the PP because the game was out of reach, or is he still getting PP time? are there comments from torts or avery himself about his PT this season? thanks in advance for any input.
also, i posted this blingee over at japers’ rink during an impromptu competition on halloween eve. since it’s the same pic as used in this post, thought i’d share with you guys/gals:
side note: when i think of sean avery, i think of his wars with brodeur, and i think of a terror in front of the net on power play. even if torts can’t find a spot for him on the top 2 lines, i’d think he could balance his 3rd/4th-line even strength time with a hefty chunk of PP minutes to keep him focused and to take advantage of his skillset.
It goes back to torts, he has him on a really short leash. come on now 6 minutes a game will get him nothing. in my opinion he should be seeing pk time and a lot of lisins minutes. getting him back to 14 minutes a game. i think torts wants aggressiveness but snaps on someone when they fail to make an aggresive play. i want to see more avery time.
by louielounz1 on Nov 6, 2009 2:13 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Lisin has been the better ES player
There’s no reason Sean should take his minutes.
Avery killing penalties is a funny thought. There’s also no reason he should be doing that with the PK guys they have, but I think it’d be awesome to see that once in a while.
Sean should probably get some time on the 2nd PP unit, but he needs to be paired on that unit with guys that will shoot, since his main strength is being a menace in front of the net. Problem is, the shooters are all on the 1st unit, so even then I’m not sure how effective he’d be.
The truth is that despite Sean’s outstanding history with the club, with the additions they took on Sean’s speed and energy have been replicated in several spots throughout the lineup by people with more offensive skill and less baggage. So he’s really just not needed as much as they needed him in the past, and his ice time reflects that.
And of course…Sean is a LW, and if Prospal plays wing on the first line, Sean is no better than the 3rd best LW on the roster, and if Higgins gets rolling the way we think he can, Sean’s the 4th best LW. (yes I know Sean can play center, but unless you’re dropping Anisimov to the 4th line and moving Boyle to RW, there’s no place at center for Sean either)
Now before we get out of hand – only yesterday’s game did Sean really get the shaft as far as ice time. In Vancouver he had ~10 min of ES ice time (3rd line minutes) and against Boston he got 12.5min ES time (2nd line minutes). A myriad of things could explain yesterday, from injury to doghouse to lots of special teams minutes.
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I wouldn't mind seeing Aves get some 1st line time.
Playing with Prospal and Gabs. It would get him more chances, and make some more space for the other guys. Remember when Avery skated with Jagr a couple years back, and had a similar effect? Avery actually is a very skilled player, much moreso then he gets credit for. He is a good skater and he has some finishing ability. Get him some ice time he makes things happen.
"It's like the old phrase goes.....The balls in your court now Mr.Church, so you take that ball, you dribble it up the court and....................................... get a layup"
- Keith Hernandez
It isn't really fair to say Lisin's been the better ES guy.
I bet that wouldn;t be the case if he were getting 7 minutes a game with the 3rd line, who as we know have had issues generating offense. Stick Avery with Prospal and Gaborik instead of Lisin and let’s see who is better ES.
"It's like the old phrase goes.....The balls in your court now Mr.Church, so you take that ball, you dribble it up the court and....................................... get a layup"
- Keith Hernandez
Just going by numbers
Lisin’s played against a higher quality of competition thus far and the team is producing nearly a goal more per 60 minutes when he’s on than when Avery is on the ice.
Also for the record…Anisimov has the 3rd highest GAON/60 for the team (behind Prospal and Gaborik). So it’s not like that line isn’t producing. It’s the 2nd line (centered by Drury) that can’t produce at even strength.
Yes, Lisin has a slight edge in the quality of his teammates thus far, but one can argue the reason Lisin moved up is because he was generating offense from the 3rd and 4th lines.
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by George E. Ays on Nov 6, 2009 6:42 PM EST up reply actions
Well, seeing as how anytime Avery throws a clean body check
he is given a penalty for some reason, and guys are allowed to literally swing their stick and check him in the back, basically break any rule as long as it is broken against Avery, and they are allowed to get away with it. I think Torts, and Renney in years past has to make this a public issue. Just because it is Sean Avery doesn’t mean that the normal NHL rules don’t apply for him. It is really ridiculous. Aves will be okay.
"It's like the old phrase goes.....The balls in your court now Mr.Church, so you take that ball, you dribble it up the court and....................................... get a layup"
- Keith Hernandez
avery where are you ?
it could be 2 things either he is playing hurt on his knee or gary buttman is blackmailing glen sather to a point where avery is getting it from sather to play a diffrent style . i don,t think torts has anything to do with it. screw that if avery has to play like a lady byng candidate then the rangers are going to be a a average team they need seans grit and reckless style cause that throws the other teams top guns into fits i say to you sean don,t be afraid to be what you are a good hockey player and if you can,t play your game then i would play in another league until the n.h. l. gets rid of that joke of a commisioner mr.buttman sorry you are not cindy crosby….
i think its simple. hes not playing enough. no reason he should be getting 6 mins when drury and higgins are getting 12. no reason at all. id love to see him on the first line with prospal and gaborik. first off he is a skilled player and ive seen him make some great passes. second of all if hes distracting the goalie everytime gaborik shoots it will go in. and third with the skill prospal and gaborik have id lvoe to see averys grit and speed on that line… people forget about how fast he is.
move him up to the first line.
avery prospal gaborik
higgins dubi cally
anisimov drury lisin
byers boyle kotalik (he racks up mins on the PP)
i think those lines are fair. to be honest i also wouldnt mind seeing AA playing with prospal an gaborik. he seems to just have that natural skill
LET'S GO RANGERS!!!
well for starters you can drop Drury from that convo
you cant replace Drury with Avery since only one of them is a center. Second of all Higgins has been great the past four or five games. No need to hurt his already weak confidence.
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by Joe Fortunato on Nov 7, 2009 8:16 AM EST up reply actions
I think its gotta be the bullseye on his back
and Torts realizes it, so putting him out there can be a detriment. He just can’t be who he is when refs call the slightest penalty on him (in a league where the sligthest penalty is called on anyone…its increased for Avery).
DO WHAT JERRY HAIRSTON DO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Avery's on a short leash
Avery’s problem in Dallas was that Tippett was a player’s coach. Tipp never got on him for anything until he made the sloppy seconds comment. With Tortorella, Avery’s on a short leash. He can’t afford to do anthing that will cost the team.
I’ll admit that even though I think Avery’s a douche, he’s still a good player when he’s not doing stupid things. If he just sort of tones it down a little and focuses on playing, it could work wonders for his playing time. I t worked for Steve Ott, so it would probably work for Sean Avery.
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by Brad_Richards_Rocks on Nov 7, 2009 4:56 PM EST reply actions
The only reason Torts has him on a short leash...
is cuz the refs and the NHL seem to have him on a short leash.
That’s why. I’m sure Torts would love to let Aves be the same guy he was last year for the Rangers and leading up to that.
Its cuz the refs watch everything he does and if he does any of the stuff that makes him so good, it’s been hurting the Rangers.
DO WHAT JERRY HAIRSTON DO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by FreeBradshaw on Nov 8, 2009 10:41 AM EST up reply actions
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