Avery’s misconducts
/Andrew's Dallas Stars Page
Sean Avery ended up with two game misconducts Saturday night, which means he is two-thirds of his way to a one-game suspension. If he gets a third game misconduct he’s looking at some timeoff because NHL rule 23.3 states:
In regular League games, any player or goalkeeper who incurs a total of three (3) game misconduct penalties in the “General Category” and exclusive of other designated categories, shall be suspended for the next League game of his team. For each subsequent game misconduct penalty, the automatic suspension shall be increased by one game. For each suspension of a player or goalkeeper, his Club shall be fined one thousand dollars ($1,000).
Avery’s first game misconduct was for being engaged in the second altercation on the ice. That’s why he and Dan Hamhuis both got the boot. This one is rule 47.7, which states:
47.7 Fighting After the Original Altercation - A game misconduct penalty shall be imposed on any player or goalkeeper who is assessed a major penalty for fighting after the original altercation.
Notwithstanding this rule, at the discretion of the Referee, the automatic game misconduct penalty may be waived for a player or goalkeeper in the altercation if the opposing player was clearly the instigator of the altercation.
The second game misconduct for Avery for protesting the call, which can be upgraded all the way to a game misconduct if the violator is particularly determined with his protest. This little tidbit appears in a couple places in the rule book:
Game misconduct penalties shall be assessed under this rule for the following infractions:
(i) Any player or goalkeeper who, after being assessed a misconduct penalty, persists in challenging or disputing the ruling of an official..
I am not worried about this unless he picks up another misconduct and gets suspended, then it hurts the team.
I think he is still getting acclimated to the Stars. It takes time. It just doesn’t happen in camp and a few preseason games. I wouldn’t read a lot into the first few games for Avery or the team.
As for his contract, he has a standard player contract with a limited no-trade clause. As long as he lives up to his contract there’s not a lot the Stars can do other than the options they have with other players with big contracts who don’t pan out.
Mark, this is really beginning to concern me. Do you think that this type of thing is something Avery has planned to avoid playing. I know that would be crazy but look who we are talking about. Maybe the honeymoon is over and he wishes he’d never attended the wedding. Is his contract constructed so that if crazy things like this happen too often the GMs can take action against him? He is letting the whole team down by doing these stupid stunts of his. Maybe he is trying to establish his position as an alpha male but if it continues he may be in the pound. I will be the first to admit that I really thought he would work out here this year and that Hull would keep his thumb on him. It is scary to see it going downhill so early in the season. Does he have some fashion function he needs to attend in NY and needs the time off?
Anyway, what’s the deal with his contract and his conduct?