The Rangers are parting ways with Sean Avery, a free agent forward who today signed with the Dallas Stars.
Avery was given a four-year deal worth $15.5 million.
“We are excited about the opportunity to add a player like Sean Avery to our group,” Stars co-general manager Brett Hull said. “His ability to play the game with skill and tenacity makes us a better team and is a great complement to the players we have here.”
The 28-year-old forward is a former NHL-leader in penalty minutes, and his style is effective. In 86 games with the Rangers over the past two seasons, the club was 50-20-16 with him in the lineup and 9-13-3 without him.
In the recent playoffs, the NHL put in a so-called “Avery Rule” after he set up in front of Devils goalie Martin Brodeur and blocked the goalie’s view by waving his hand and stick.
Asked about it the next day, Stars goalie Marty Turco said, “Hopefully, guys understand the integrity of the sport. That’s just something you don’t do. It’s kind of bush league. Hopefully it’s the last we see of it.”
The Rangers also lost out on forward Marian Hossa, who, despite more lucrative offers on the table from other teams, signed a one-year deal with the Detroit Red Wings.
Hossa, believed to have an enormous offer from Edmonton for between $9 million and $10 million a season, and a five-year offer to remain with the Penguins, accepted a one-year deal for $7.4 million from the team that defeated won this year’s Stanley Cup Finals in six games.
Hossa’s choice of Detroit means Jaromir Jagr’s campaign on Broadway may continue. Jagr is in Manhattan this week, awaiting a call from Rangers general manager Glen Sather.
The Rangers remain interested in physical defenseman Brooks Orpik, Hossa’s teammate in Pittsburgh. Orpik, one of the more coveted defensemen on the free-agent market, went unsigned yesterday.
The other highly coveted forward left on the market is Toronto’s Mats Sundin, who isn’t close to signing with anyone, and said today he needs more time to decide where – or if – he wants to play next season.
Hossa rebuffed a chance to re-sign with the Penguins, who were reportedly offering $7 million a season as part of a five-year contract.
The short-term deal will give the Red Wings salary-cap space to extend contracts, improving their chances of keeping Henrik Zetterberg and Johan Franzen off the free agent market in 2009.