Sean Avery followed a different path to the Ranger locker room this time, taking a road he had never before traveled.
If there were teammates happy enough to see him go to Dallas as a free agent in July, they will be greeted by a different personality today when Avery reclaims the No. 16 Blueshirt upon reporting for his first practice under John Tortorella.
For Avery, claimed on re-entry waivers yesterday, was enrolled in a two-week behavioral modification program designed to control an impulse-control disorder at the renowned rehabilitation center, The Canyon in Malibu, an individual with knowledge of Avery’s treatment told The Post.
“This was a hard-core 14-day treatment conducted in a lockdown environment in which Sean was grouped with patients who were experiencing serious addiction problems,” said the source, who spoke on the condition of remaining anonymous.
“Sean worked on a technique called, ‘mindfulness,’ which is a type of meditation exercise that gives an individual a type of checklist in his mind that allows him time to consider what he is going to say before he actually says it.
“It’s like installing a switch that slows things down.”
Since completing the two-week program after entering Stage 1 of the NHL/NHLPA behavioral health program, Avery has continued to receive counseling, with regularly scheduled sessions with a personal therapist in New York. These sessions will continue for an indefinite period, perhaps for the remainder of Avery’s career, if not life.
“Sean understands that he has a cognitive and behavioral disorder,” the individual told The Post. “The program and therapy are designed to make him a better teammate and a better person, not to change how he plays.
“I know this is something Sean believes in. He uses it as part of his daily routine now. He is happier and more secure in himself. He is committed to this.”
Page Six Sean is back home again, eight tumultuous months after he left to sign a four-year, $15.5M free-agent contract with Dallas. He’s back home again following the debacle with the Stars that culminated with his infamous “sloppy seconds” reference in Calgary on Dec. 2 for which he received a six-game suspension and Dallas expulsion.
When Ranger GM Glen Sather hatched the plan to bring the Notorious Mr. Avery back to New York that was outlined and reported exclusively by The Post on Feb. 6, the Rangers’ head coach was Tom Renney. Now, though, it’s Tortorella, who skewered Avery in December as “an embarrassment [who] doesn’t belong in the league,” while working as a commentator for TSN.
Avery, of course, was aware of those comments when Tortorella replaced Renney last Monday. Still, Avery told a friend that Brad Richards, his former Dallas teammate who won the 2004 Cup in Tampa playing for Tortorella, had told him that Tortorella would be the perfect coach for him. Avery said he’d be excited to get the chance to play for Tortorella, who was certainly open-minded about it yesterday.
“Sean has tried very hard to help himself,” said Tortorella, who will decide after practice whether Avery will play tomorrow night at the Coliseum against the Islanders. “I believe in personality on a hockey club, and I think conflict can be good unless it’s outside the team concept.
“We feel we had the need to get a little more jam in the lineup. I haven’t coached Sean, but I’ve seen him play, and when he concentrates on playing under a team concept, he’s an effective player.”