Should Avery Be Suspended?

via Darren Dreger’s twitter:
DarrenDreger
Two-handers below the waste are acceptable, so Avery dodges discipline. Big break for the Rangers, he’s been one of their best this season.

I’m actually surprised considering it’s Sean. Although I wouldn’t be surprised if Avery gets his minutes cut a bit in the next game.

One thing left as is they were not both at his ankles and they were not both while Komisarek was even looking at him. The first chop was to the back of his legs and the second was after he and Komi jawed some more and then he went for the ankles. Personally i think it is a joke to say because it was to his lower body it isnt suspendable. The Rangers catch a break and instead of being punished Avery gets away with it and learns nothing. That is how people get hurt, because you cannot tell me there was no intent to injure on those chops.

Looks like it’s a non-issue now, but Larry Brooks and Bob McKenzie had a good back-and-forth on the issue:

BM:

Many asking about Avery’s double stick chop on Komisarek: Not suspendable. Cammalleri’s bigger crime was stick in facial area of Nino.

Listen, whacking a guy on back of legs is as old as the game itself. Now if you pole axe and injure, sure, suspend. But otherwise, penalty.

In Avery’s case, should have given him a double minor, one for each chop. A four-minute PP, that’s how you get that crap out of the game.

LB:

@TSNBobMcKenzie Should have been a double minor…maybe even 5 for slashing…

BM:

@NYP_Brooksie Agreed. A double minor or a major is the proper “deterrent.” In-game penalties better than suspensions because team feels it.

LB:

@TSNBobMcKenzie Could not agree more. Problem is that refs are hesitant to call majors, putting team down a man for 5, so its left to Colie

I would have been ok with a 1-game suspension, but am thrilled he will play Monday.
Having said that, he is a marked man on Thursday in Toronto.

. . . was dirty and even vicious. I love what he brings to the Rangers, but his slashes on Komisarek were waaaay over the line. And an embarrassment to professional hockey. (Too much like “professional” wrestling.) I will be surprised if he gets no suspension.

And I don’t know how much acting Komisarek was doing. Those things hurt! Ever happened to you? If not, try coming home at like 3 a.m. with liquor on your breath and perfume on your collar and see if your wife or GF doesn’t take your stick — your own stick! — and lets you have it. It’s right up there with a skillet to your head and a boot to your crotch. Enough to make you keep your sticks in storage someplace, as I do.

T

It was weak chopping to get under his skin
it worked
it wasnt awfully dirty like Ive seen in the NHL recently

Why did nobody mention that Avery was slashed first? He took one, then gave one back. So the whole ‘double-minor; one for each slash’ thing is just stupid, because Komisarek would have to go off then too, which was clearly never a thought in the official’s mind. Why didn’t the linesman point out that Avery took one to the leg first? Oh right, it’s Avery. We just point out what HE does, nobody else.

Avery should have been suspended hands down, he tried to injure Komisarek and a whack to the ankles is the way to do it.

Avery slashed at his ANKLES for Christ’s sake! It’s not like he was trying to injure the guy.

This is actually hilarious. The only intent in Avery’s baseball swings was to injure. The fact that you think that swinging at a guy’s ankle is not an attempt to injure is laughable. Wonder what you’d think if Jarkko Ruutu took a swing at Staal or Gaborik’s ankle.