It’s a good thing that contracts aren’t awarded based on 11 games.

Posted by Tuba Guy from Royal Oak, MI on 03/03/08 at 04:39 PM ET

Does seem a bit rich for an Avery type. He’s entertaining though, just not often enough for the right reasons.

Posted by Lake from BC on 03/03/08 at 06:01 PM ET

Avery’s making $1.9 million this year.  If you assume that the Rangers would offer him a slight raise (and that they wouldn’t be so angry over a couple hundred thousand bucks), you have to wonder how much Avery is asking for.  Because according to Rangers Report, Avery said: “We’re extremely far apart on each other’s views of what I am worth as a player.”

So far with the Rangers, Avery has been a pretty solid citizen, but that’s probably because of Shanahan and Jagr.  They dominate the dressing room and he respects them both.  As Rangers Report mentions, one or both of those players probably won’t be around next season.  Avery has shown signs of being more mature, but he still obviously has his outbursts and needs a strong presence in the locker room to keep him in check.  If Jagr and Shanahan leave, who will that be?  From what I’ve heard, Drury is kind of a quiet guy.  Gomez is about the same age as Avery and I don’t know how they interact.  Maybe Coach Renney could do it.  Who knows?

Signing Avery will always be a risk, and his going public with his contract problems proves that.  He needs to wisen up and realize that he’s lessening his value with his antics.  Then maybe he’ll get a contract that pays him what he thinks he’s “worth.”

Posted by K24 from NYC on 03/03/08 at 07:38 PM ET

Let’s bring him back to the Wings!  We could use someone like him and Babcock is one of the few coaches that could keep him in line.

Posted by Hippy Dave from San Francisco by way of Detroit on 03/04/08 at 01:52 PM ET

You willing to pay $4 mil a year for him?  That’s what he’s asking for.

Posted by K24 from NYC on 03/04/08 at 10:58 PM ET