New York Rangers News: Sean Avery Frustrated with Officials
by Nick Montemagno on Nov 16, 2011 3:53 PM EST
in New York Rangers News
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Sean Avery still knows how to grab attention and stir things up in hockey games, but since being recalled from the AHL this season, he's been a much more level-headed player than we've seen in the past. In other words, he's been playing within the rules set forth by the league, however he still has encountered unfair bias against him when it comes to the NHL's officials.
I don't think that there's any questioning the fact that commissioner Gary Bettman is a happier man without Sean Avery in his league, but that's something he will have to live with - at least for now. Outside of the Rangers organization, the league views Avery as nothing but a problem, therefore we've seen a lack of impartiality when it's come to making calls against Avery for a while now.
Just last night we saw an example of that when Sean was tangled with Islanders forward Mike Mottau and purposely did not retaliate when Mottau dropped his gloves and grabbed Sean. Still, though, Avery was not only handed a penalty, but was also escorted to the locker room.
When asked why that penalty was called, Sean said this to ESPN:
"Obviously, we know why," Avery said. "I don't know. Why would they send me off? It was a regular penalty."
But a regular penalty for Sean Avery is much different than a regular penalty for most players in the NHL. To be honest, I agree with John Tortorella that the officials shouldn't have made any call on the play, they should've just let it go. But if anyone was to get a penalty, it should've been Mottau. And he did, for unsportsmanlike conduct, but Avery did nothing to warrant being thrown in the box, or in the locker room for that matter, for the same reason.
I guess that's just the league we are fans of, though. Favoring some while neglecting others. That's just fantastic for their image.
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I don’t have a problem with both guys being sent off to the locker room as the penalties happened with less than 2 minutes remaining in the period. Would have liked to see a non-call there, as Tortorella stated.
It was a good game and I don’t think it would have been right to just send Motto off either as his shove at Avery was relatively benign. I know if it was the other way around and we got tagged for a similar play I’d think it cheesy.
I realize this is about Avery, but if you wanted to argue a call Callahan’s slash last night was pitiful.
The Islander should have penalized for having a shitty stick.
Let me know how that works out for you . . .
With the current batch of sticks I am for dropping the breaking of a stick slash from the books
by Leetch4prezofNYR on Nov 16, 2011 5:58 PM EST up reply actions
When Avery was gone, Dubi took over his spot receiving all the bad calls. Remember the non-slash and snowing the goalie penalties in the same game? There have been several non-calls for worse situations, that is why the two penalties were surprising. I guess the refs gave them two minutes to cool off, which obviously did not work.
PRUSTOSTERONE!!!
"Stepan, step in, step out" Timothy Leary
Scott Gomez, the gift that keeps on giving!
Whose arm did Dubi break in the Boston game a few years back?
Let me know how that works out for you . . .
by SimpleManiac on Nov 16, 2011 4:42 PM EST up reply actions
Really guys?
Sent to the locker room because it was a two-minute penalty with under 2 mins. remaining in the period… pretty standard there.
Also, Avery did plenty to warrant it… he didn’t “shove” Mottau, he punched him in the face with a gloved hand… isn’t that an automatic penalty? Avery did retaliate – he retaliated for the clean hit Mottau put on him, by punching him in the face; then Mottau dropped the gloves.
They either both should’ve gotten one, or like Torts said: “let ’em play”. But please don’t delude yourselves into thinking Avery was innocent here.
I agree, there have been plenty of times that he has been untreated fairly by the refs… I just don’t think this was one of those times.
by j-red on Nov 16, 2011 4:42 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
I have a replay. I DVR’d the game. Avery shoved Mottau in the upper chest. His glove came across Mottau’s face, more of a glance. He did not punch him in the face. Butch Goring even said “no punches were thrown.” Here’s my question: Why was Avery forced to leave the ice and go to the dressing room while Mottau was allowed to sit in the penalty box?
By the way, it was Avery who had the clean hit on Mottau. Mottau is the one who came back in retaliation. You need to watch the replay again. You missed quite a bit or are misremembering.
I watched the game… And Mottau checked Avery first.
I was unaware that Mottau was NOT sent to the lockerroom… I thought they both were, so my bad on that.
Fact remains, from the tv angle showed, he clearly hit face, and was clearly trying to instigate Mottau. Both players broke rules, both players penalized.
This Avery as a victim bullshit needs to stop.
by j-red on Nov 16, 2011 6:32 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions
Sorry you are wrong. Avery cleanly hit Mottau. I have it on DVR. I’ve watched it now about a dozen times. Not that I need to watch it a dozen times to determine who hit who. But I was making sure I wasn’t missing something since you seem so definite. But you may want to try and find a replay because you saw it incorrectly when you “watched the game.” You are exaggerating what Avery did. He did not “hit” Mottau in the face. He shoved him in the upper chest area. They showed 2 angles on the replay. His glove did glance across his face but it was a glance, not a hit. Not even a facewash. I am certainly not going to say that Avery is an angel but he is definitely targeted by the refs unfairly IMO. Geezus, he was even unfairly targeted by LAPD. How did THAT turn out?
I may be wrong, it happens. But here’s how I remember it, quite clearly:
Avery moving up ice towards offensive zone, Mottau comes down at him with a clean check. Both players flail, Mottau pushes Aves. Aves turns and shoves/punches Mottau across chest/face. Mottau drops gloves and grabs Avery… whistle blown.
Like I said earlier, they either both should’ve been called, or neither called (like Torts said). Bottom line is, if I’m exaggerating what Avery did, you’re also exaggerating how he was targeted by the refs. Its pretty simple for refs to see this situation and just send both players off.
I thought both went to the lockerrom, but if not, I can’t explain that… Maybe Sean mouthed off to the ref too much. Who knows.
jordy explained it perfect
Not to be nitpicky here but I think what you remember is not as clear as you think, for starters that hit where they both “fell down” actually neither did, motteu stumbled avery didn’t really budge so if you don’t even remember that, you def can’t remember the incident. I’m not defending avery but it was a little much just based on the fact he was sent to the locker room and motteu stayed.
by klh2009 on Nov 17, 2011 11:55 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
That’s the part that bothered me the most and is indicative of the “special treatment” that is inflicted upon Avery. As if he’s Dave Schultz reincarnated.
He’s being emphatically ordered to the dressing room by a linesman. At that point Avery was confused because he didn’t realize he was called for a penalty and seemed to be questioning the situation. Meanwhile, Mottau is resting comfortably in the penalty box as if he was rewarded for being a “better boy.” The only reason Avery should have been the only one ordered to leave the ice was if he was given a 10 minute or game misconduct. It should have both players in the box or both players in the dressing room. End of story.
I don’t think either “fell down”, and never said as much… but I did think they both “flailed” a bit, though Avery less so than Mottau.
Regardless, this is pointless, because our explanations might not link up even if we’re seeing the same thing. I may be wrong on some points, but I remember the play, and am not imagining things.
They both hit each other/collided at the same time. Mottau lost his balance but maintained his feet. But regardless, will you concede that Avery was unfairly treated in that he was sent off and Mottau wasn’t? Will you concede that represents differential treatment? And trust me, that is exactly what happened. Avery was forced to leave while Mottau was allowed to sit in the box. I saw it as clear as day. And how would you explain that? By the way, Matt Cooke is at least 10X worse than Avery in terms of his “questionable” play and yet he doesn’t receive the attention that Avery does.
I already admitted that I was wrong that they were both sent off, and already said that I can’t explain it. Problem is, we have no clue if anything/what Avery said to the refs… there could be another piece missing here.
There have been times that I’ve thought Avery was treated unfairly by the refs, and there have been times that others thought so, and I disagreed. This is one of the latter. I don’t think he was treated unfairly in this situation. I don’t even think this is news worthy, and I’m upset at myself for even getting involved in the discussion.
I agree that Cooke is worse, but think he garners more attention than you’re admitting. He’s been suspended five times, fans across the country hate him – even TSN stated that he is widely regarded as the leagues biggest cheap shot artist, and there was a ton of attention brought to the hypocrisy in the Pens organization for employing him while complaining about Crosby’s situation.
Avery craves attention – he feeds off it. So its never going away. He loves pissing people off. I just don’t understand why we have to highlight every negative with regards to him, instead of focusing on the positives. With this incident, the only people talking about it are Avery and Rangers fans. No one else gives a shit.
Avery needs to focus on playing hockey, and drop the drama. Rangers fans need to drop the Avery drama too. He’s not a perpetual victim. He brings a lot of attention on himself, and we feed it.
I apoligize j red
I read flail and processed fall lol, it was early in the morn in my defense. But I agree with some of what your saying. I can see your probably one of those fans that are just sick of avery which im meeting more and more everyday. Your 100 percent right he loves attention and needs to concentrate on hockey rather the antics. I’m the type that can live with him during the good and bad. The reason I feel like so many ranger fans are so quick to defend him, is because like you said about cooke everyone in the nhl hates avery. When people talk crap about the rangers first thing anyone says is somthing about avery, and then how bad of a hockey player he is, which I strongly dissagree with. Its almost a reaction to instantly defend him. For the most part I agree with all of what you said, but I do think the refs maybe went slightly overboard. But we won the game and that’s all that counts to me.
by klh2009 on Nov 17, 2011 2:18 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
We watched the game on TV, where the hell were you.
by NYR #35 Richter on Nov 16, 2011 6:22 PM EST up reply actions
Point is that Avery did NOT get face. Got him in the chest. If he did, Mottau did the stupid thing and leaned forward too much.
by NYR #35 Richter on Nov 16, 2011 10:10 PM EST up reply actions
dude above, who watched it a million times on DVR even said he caught face. Pretty easy for something like that to look like a punch, no? Especially to the ref in the heat of the moment, who has to make a split second decision, no?
Okay, but you also said it was Mottau with the first hit and that they both got sent off, neither of which are true.
I’ll believe the guy who has seen it, rather than the guy who is remembering it.
"Mr. Madison, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."
LET'S GO RANGERS!!!
I missed the first period of the game
So I can’t comment on this incident. But overall Avery has pleasantly surprised me
"Don't look now, but there's one too many people in this room and I think it's you." Groucho Marx
In Prust We Trust
"Kovalev would work with Tortorella like a kitty would work in a microwave.
A lot of smoke and desperate clawing at the door. It wouldn’t work. It would just be a big, hot mess." -Dig Deep
Follow me @8kpower
by Kevin Power on Nov 16, 2011 4:48 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions
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Could have been in The Onion. Saying that Avery is frustrated with the officiating is sort of like announcing that my 3 y/o is frustrated with her parents for saying ‘no’ everyday. I generally like his game and the spark he brings, but totally understand why he does not get the benefit of the doubt anymore.
by Blueshirts Rock on Nov 16, 2011 5:01 PM EST reply actions
Not getting the benefit of the doubt is one thing, calling “invisible” penalties is another! The refs have gone out of their way to call penalties for the last few years on Avery. If he skates near a player, it’s interference, if he collides with a player, its roughing, etc. Incidents that don’t even warrant mentioning in a game are suddenly wanton acts of dirty play when it comes to Avery.
The deliberate actions by the league referees, directly led to his demotion, by restricting his ability to play the game the way all the others play it.
It almost cost him his career.
Yeah, he has a short fuse, but so do many others in the league. He just isn’t given any slack at all, whereas players who are SNEAKILY dirty are given a free ride. His biggest problem is he doesn’t know enough to wait for an opportunity to retaliate. Players like Chara come to mind. He’s alway there with a swinging stick, or a trip, or a hold, or interference ; he just picks his time and does it when it’s not so noticable. There are plenty like Chara in the league, it’s just absolutely unfair that only one player is singled out.
I give him a lot of respect for the way he’s been playing. Last year ity was painfully obvious that he was held on a VERY short leash, by his coach, as well as the refs ; this year it appears he has figured out that his skill and tenacity are just as important, maybe more important than his ability to annoy the opposition.
All joking aside, he IS a force on the ice, he digs in the corners, he skates very well, he never gives less than 100% on the ice, and he DOES have the ability to score. We kinda joke about the Ranger record with him in the game, but the numbers are pretty cvonvincing!
Give the man his due—-he CAN play the game as well or better thatn many others in the game right now!!! He deseves to be respected as a good hockey player, regardless of how some people feel about him personally. He shouldn’t be judged on anything but how well he plays hockey. What he does or doesn’t do, what he believes or doesn’t believe OFF THE ICE shouldn’t even come into consideration!
With some of the stuff going on more publicly in the other leagues—rape, assault, dogfighting rings—the people that are making Avery out to be the antichrist need to realize that he’s a choir boy compared to some of the shit that’s still allowed to play in professional leagues in North America.
Please note that I am neither an Avery-basher or Avery-supporter, I’m just telling it how I see it. He does get targeted by the refs, and some of it is his own doing, but if refs can’t put their bias aside before they go on the ice, they need to hang up their whistles.
if he keeps playing this way
he will garner more respect from the officials. Last year he was being a D-bag and not scoring or doing anything that was very productive.
@btown46
I'm still just happy he is back...
We won 6 out of the 6 that he has been on the bench and in the locker room. Not to mention he has 2 goals in those 6 games which is very good especially for him. I don’t know why we are whining about this when we’ve seen the officials break the rules to punish Avery like watching a replay to give Avery a penalty… Both of which he deserved but if you don’t see it when it happens you can NOT make the call!
by Ranger McJersey on Nov 16, 2011 5:56 PM EST via mobile reply actions
We've also won 7 out of 7
since Richards started dating Olivia Munn.
In Other News:
The sun rose in the East today…
~R.I.P. Derek
~Those Caps fans sure think they can make some noise.... too bad their team can't.
well said.
As someone who had “moved on” from Avery at the beginning of the season, I’m ecstatic that he is playing well. He CAN be really effective – and this team could really use that on a consistent basis.
But we just really don’t need the effing drama. Lets just focus our attention on the positives with Avery right now, and quit looking for things to complain about.
Water is somehow still wet
R.I.P Derek
Rangers FTW!
by BleedsRangerBlue on Nov 17, 2011 12:33 AM EST up reply actions
My question is why is EC still in the lineup? He’s played pretty much every game and has been just about useless. Is he the “better” player that Tort’s referred to when Aves was sent down? The 4 or 5 Avery has dressed for , he has clearly shown that EC is a chump and should be odd man out. I hope Avery continues to play like this. I hope Sather re signs him for 5 years so I can hear you guys constantly bitch about him…….we do need a guy like him on this team, if nothing else, to throw the other team off.
Absolute Worst Ranger Fan!!!!!!....yet incredibly realistic and usually correct.
In order to get respect, you gotta give respect. Avery has no respect for the refs and never will, therefore he will never get any respect. He treats referees as if they were the refs in the WWF, just constantly getting in their faces. Why would they stand up for him or take anything he says seriously.
This is why I am for either a coach, captain or assistant captain talking to the refs, and only those individuals talking to the refs. This way, a player can play his game and personal vendettas are minimized. Think of how great it would be if Avery never talked to the refs and just did his thing. The refs would have to be accountable to some else. But it is a little late for that.
"The other teams could make trouble for us if they win."
-Yogi Berra
That respect works both ways. That argument can easily be turned around.
"Mr. Madison, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."
LET'S GO RANGERS!!!
It never ceases to amaze me .........
……….the NHL lets Matt Cooke and Patrick Kaleta play and you never hear anything too harsh about them coming from league mouthpieces, but Sean Avery is Public Enemy #1.
I’m so f**king sick of it. I guess its easier for the on-ice officials to call out a stretcher than it is to hear Sean Avery’s mouth. Boo-hoo. They get paid a lot of money to ignore players running their mouths. And if they really don’t like it they can hand out misconducts.
The NHL needs to wake the f**k up already and realize that Sean Avery is a colorful character who rarely if ever tries and hurts other players with more than words. He baits people. He isn’t a saint (see the Ladislav Smid incident) but come on …… P.K. Subban, Aaron Rome, Matt Cooke, Patrick Kaleta; shit even Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby are dirtier players than Sean Avery.
Have any of you EVER seen Sean Avery slew-foot anyone? Ever? Nope.
The NHL needs to take the tamp-on out of its collective vagina and let this guy play his game.
And I’m glad more of us on here are accepting Sean Avery and realizing that, while he will never be the be-all end-all savior of the New York Rangers, he is a positive force on the ice. Because he cares – he plays hard and he cares, quirky bastard that he is.
I wonder, will Sean Avery still get booed at arenas the next time Kaleta head-butts someone; or the next time Matt Cooke wipes another career off the books? Probably, b/c people are nothing but stupid hypocrites.
GRRRRRRRRR…………………..Now I’m all riled up.
Rum and Coke. will take that rile right out of you :)
R.I.P Derek
Rangers FTW!
by BleedsRangerBlue on Nov 17, 2011 12:35 AM EST up reply actions
So will Exlax
Let me know how that works out for you . . .
by SimpleManiac on Nov 17, 2011 10:25 AM EST up reply actions
I have always said there is a difference between a ‘cheap’ player and a ‘dirty’ player. A cheap player will often bend, if not break the rules to gain an advantage but does not intend on hurting players, dirty players will bend, if not break the rules with the intention of putting someone on IR. Sean Avery, cheap; Chris Pronger, Pk, Cooke, dirty.
~R.I.P. Derek
~Those Caps fans sure think they can make some noise.... too bad their team can't.
Since we’re on the “dirty” player topic, don’t get Patrick Kaleta (blatant intent-to-injure boardings) and Sidney Crosby (they should rename the slew-foot the “Sidney” with how often he uses it). Pronger’s cleaned his act up in the past couple of years, and Bertuzzi hasn’t come too close to the “dirty” line in years as well.
This is a big non issue. Avery hasn’t had a bad call against him this year. This one he pushed the guy and got his hand up by the face. The fact that after watching the replay there is debate over wether he hit him in the face or not, shows it was to close to call. Both players were sent off the ice. If Sean was the only one to go the the locker room it is wrong but meaningless.
Avery with about 2 minutes left had a blatant, accidental high sticking that wasn’t called. I know the reff didn’t see it but, If it was last year, even if the ref didn’t see it, they would have called it one the other players reaction.
Avery should keep his mouth shut and continue to play his game. Let his coach and GM fight the battle with the refs. I’m pretty sure he’s on good terms with Shanahan. Keep your mouth shut with the news and call Shanny and ask him to make sure things are “cool”.
Seany being the only one sent to the locker room is not meaningless. It’s a perfect example of him being targeted.
"Mr. Madison, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."
LET'S GO RANGERS!!!
But you’re assuming there was nothing else said to warrant him being sent off. None of us know what the reasoning was behind the ref’s decision – you’re just assuming its because they don’t like him, which is baseless.
And you’re assuming that something else happened, so how is that better?
"Mr. Madison, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."
LET'S GO RANGERS!!!
I’m actually not – I never said “Avery mouthed off and that’s why he was sent off”. I’m just leaving the possibility out there – which is why I’m saying “none of us know”, rather than “the refs just hate him”.
That’s fair enough.
So, it’s a possibility that he mouthed off, and its also a possibility that the ref was bias. We don’t truly know.
"Mr. Madison, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."
LET'S GO RANGERS!!!
I’m not saying it’s fair, but if that is what being targeted is I’ll take it.
What I mean is – Did Avery going to the locker room for under 2 minutes instead of the penalty box give the Islanders any advantage? If during that minute and a half had Avery been in the box would have had the chance to observe an Islanders weakness that would have given him an advantage for the rest of the game? So there was no unfair advantage.
I know for the last few years the officiating has given Avery (and therefore the Rangers) an unfair disadvantage and that gets me mad. This time it may not have been fair. But I’m not sure there was any disadvantage. So I say it is a non issue.
As far as I’m concerned no penalty should have been called for either of them.
And while I am a Big Avery fan. I know he has gotten opponents to drop the gloves with their expectations being Avery would also drop the gloves and fight. Then Avery not dropping the gloves. While this may be legal it is chicken ship. If they are going to allow fighting and players are going make agreements to drop the gloves… be a man and drop them.
Who knows what was said. Was this just the ref trying to take charge of the game?
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