Avery easing his way into camp
/Andrew's Dallas Stars Page
Stars forward Sean Avery had some pretty simple goals as he joined his team for the opening of training camp in Frisco. It's basically keep it simple and take it slow.
"I didn't skate much this summer, so I wanted to come in and get my legs going, get my hands going," Avery said after Saturday's scrimmage and practice. "I wanted to meet some of the guys, get familiar with everything and get ready for the season. I think training camp, when you've been around for a while, is different than when you are twenty. I don't want to rush anything. I just want to get legs going, my hands, my head and take it from there."
Avery, the ex-New York Ranger who signed a four-year, $15 million contract with the Stars in early July, is expected to bring a lot to the team with his mix of ability and tenacity.
"He's got a lot of vinegar in him," said Stars captain Brenden Morrow. "He'll bring that intensity that our team needs. We're not going to be an easy team to play against and he brings a lot of those qualities to our team."
Avery, who scored 15 goals in 57 games with the Rangers last season, has a good skill set too and the Stars see some untapped offensive potential. Avery showed some of that in Saturday’s scrimmage, taking a pass from Stephane Robidas and ripping the puck past goalie Matt Climie.
The versatile Avery is expected to give the Stars' coaching staff a lot options as to where he ends up fitting into the lineup.
"Sean Avery is a very good player and we think he is going to enhance our mix," said Stars coach Dave Tippett. "It will take some time to see where he best fits or who he best fits with, but what I like about him is he has great energy and great enthusiasm. As a coach who coached against him I never liked him because he was a good player on the other side. Now we've got him on our side and I think he'll be very good for our group."
Early in camp Tippett has had Avery spending a lot of time on lines with Mike Modano and Brad Richards. That's the trio Tippett used in day one of the camp when veterans practiced together and those three hooked up together at times in Saturday's scrimmage as well.
"It's certainly the best line I've played on. Richie is a great player. Mo is a great player, who has been around a long time," said Avery. "My job is going to be to go up and down the wing and do a little bit of the grunt work. I'll chase down pucks and make sure I get it to them as much as possible, and then get open. It will be a fun line, but who knows what happens. It's something about chemistry and it feels pretty good so far."
Avery said it's been pretty good so far as he gets used to living in the Dallas area. Some off-ice chemistry with Richards is helping in that regard.
"It's just familiarizing myself with the city and my whereabouts," Avery said. "Me and Richie are in the same building together, so if I find a spot we need to go to I tell him and vice versa. It's working out good."
