NHL Unveils Additional Avery Rules

The NHL released a series of other new rule interpretations in the wake of their ruling against Sean Avery's screening tactics Sunday night:

Rule 5.1: Eligible Players - A team shall be composed of 20 players (18 skaters and two goalkeepers) who shall be under contract to the Club they represent.

Amendment: "An exception shall be provided to the New York Rangers, who will be allowed to dress 19 players and one agitating, trash-talking celebrity-dating, widely-hated jerk who cannot seriously be called a player even though he is tied for the league lead in playoff goals."

Rule 39.4: Situations Subject to Video Review - (viii) The video review process shall be permitted to assist the referees in determining the legitimacy of all goals (e.g. to ensure they are "good hockey goals").

Amendment: "Add to item (viii) - All goals scored by Sean Avery shall be disallowed since it is not possible by definition for someone like him to score 'good hockey goals'."

Rule 53.3: Bench Minor Penalty - Should any player, goalkeeper, Coach, or non-playing person on the players’ bench or penalty bench throw anything on the ice during the progress of the game or during a stoppage of play, a bench minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct shall be assessed.

Amendment: "This rule shall not apply to the Coach of any team playing against Sean Avery's team because no doubt any such throwing of objects is justified due to Avery's presence, even if Avery does not have a direct bearing on the reason for the object-throwing."

Rule 62.1: Spearing - Stabbing an opponent with the point of the stick blade, whether contact is made or not.

Amendment: "Even if contact is made, spearing shall not be assessed if it is committed by the Greatest Goalie Who Ever Lived against Sean Avery, because Avery no doubt did something to deserve it, even if it was doing something that wasn't against the rules until that rule was amended the next day."

Rule 64.1: Diving / Embellishment -- Any player or goalkeeper who blatantly dives, embellishes a fall or a reaction, or who feigns an injury shall be penalized with a minor penalty under this rule. A goalkeeper who deliberately initiates contact with an attacking player other than to establish position in the crease, or who otherwise acts to create the appearance of other than incidental contact with an attacking player, is subject to the assessment of a minor penalty for diving / embellishment.

Amendment: "See amendment to Rule 62.1 on Spearing, and add to the list of players allowed to dive anyone wearing a number lower than Eric Lindros's and greater than Jaromir Jagr's who plays in a home building nicknamed after an Arctic shelter for a Club nickamed after a flightless bird of the Antarctic."

OK, you get the picture. We can go on and on. Just as the Devils are droning on and on about Avery's antics, with nary a word about his series-leading goal total or Martin Brodeur's reprehensible response (spear to the groin). In a sense, this brouhaha is a good thing for Avery and the Rangers -- instead of preparing for a reprise of his full-court press in the next game, the Devils have to be wondering what he's going to come up with next. It says here: what's next is nothing -- Avery will place himself strategically around the crease, in scrums, or wherever and do nothing while the Devils get all over him. But distraction will have to suffice as the desired result because you know there will not be any penalty calls in his favor.

To read more about the new Avery rule and the Devils' endless response to it, see the Daily News, Journal News, Newsday here and here, Times, Post, Record, Star-Ledger, and AP. Pundits, pundits everywhere, and (surprisingly) even a couple who are in Avery's corner, though the overwhelming majority are not -- local area opinions can be found in Blueshirts Blog, Newsday, Prospect Park, NY Sports Day, SNY, NY Sun, MSG.com, and THN.com's Ranger blog, a positive out of town report can be found at SI.com, and all the predictable drivel can be found here, here, here, here, and here (we're not sure if some of these guys are playing a joke on us or their interviewees, but there are an awful lot of pots calling the kettle black).

There is other Ranger and Devil news today, believe it or not -- see the Daily News, Blueshirts Blog, Post, Record, and Ledger. We've gotten reports from Ranger fans in the Philly area who were blacked out of Game 3 on the wonderful Versus network, which is owned by Philly-area Comcast -- here is a note that has no explanation for the gaffe but a promise that it will not recur. In Hartford, the Wolf Pack were bolstered by a slew of call-ups from recently ousted Charlotte -- see Howlings here and here. At WP.com, Bob Crawford has the Pack's week in review and weekly report as the team gets set for the AHL playoffs.

UPDATE: With Avery and Tom Renney refusing to address the issue, there is no additional news from practice today on the incident or the subsequent ruling, according to Blueshirts Blog, Blue Notes, and Rangers Report. A couple of Rangers weigh in with their opinion on the subject, including Chris Drury relating what it is he told Avery as it was happening (just relaying instructions from the referee for Avery to keep his stick down).

Comments

[Paul R_ _ _ _ _ D]

that was great I needed a good laugh, I think i want to get one of those Avery rules t-shirts.

[Jed Orts]

so we know avery brings up marty's divorce from 2003. i wonder what else he tells him. i would love for him to be mic'd up one night haha

i hope the rangers have addressed what big bad brent the tough guy did, throwing a stick on the ice like a little girl making a big statement showing them who is boss, and what marty did to the league. i'm still waiting for the day that marty snaps and just swings his stick at avery like a baseball bat (and probably won't get penalized because the refs will be looking the other way). avery will probably just sit there laughing at him, pissing him off even more haha

these last couple of days have been dragging!!

[Andrea]

Half the players quoted (hello, Gary Roberts) must've been annoyed that they hadn't thought of it themselves. Honestly, Don Cherry is shocked, SHOCKED? Puhleeze.

Maybe the refs could've whistled an unsportsmanlike and explained to the benches later, but to stop the presses and rewrite the rule? Who's a stooge now? Bill, Colie and Gary. Nyuk nyuk.

Finally, last night on SNY, Gary Apple was debating the ruling with pro and con guests and in the middle of a heated discussion about how the NHL has to sell hockey and Avery's Antics don't help, Apple CUT THEM OFF to get to the Knicks' (losing) score.

And THAT's how the locals help sell hockey.

[NYRanger4Life]

I took this from a post on another blog-
please call in to complain about sutters stick throwing incident:

I just called the NHL NY offices to complain about Sutter. Ask for the fan line.. the guy answering the phone was real nice and understood why I was so mad. he says the matter is under review by the league.

NHL Phone number
212-789-2000

[LisaMY]

Very funny, Dubi. Thanks. Rangers fans need to keep their
sense of humor intact, or else you'd end up grinding your teeth over the happenings of the last couple of days.

Wow. I can't believe Cafepress.com has an "Avery Rules" t-shirt on sale already. That was incredibly fast.

Regarding "the Avery rule" itself. I asked before, hasn't the NHL made a problem for itself and the officials? Why come up with a new rule in the middle of the playoffs? Shouldn't this have waited until the off-season? And, as if the officiating wasn't suspect enough, now a new rule has been thrown at them on the fly to interpret. Or is that, to screw up? How much guidance have the officials received on interpreting this rule during gameplay? It'll be very interesting to see what happens at the next Rangers game and the Rangers are awarded a power play, and Avery plants himself in front of the Jersey Diver. As a matter of fact, I wonder how many power plays the Rangers will get from here on?

[Jess]

I just wanted to draw your attention to a couple of things that few have mentioned:

First off I think I have made it clear I am no Avery fan but sorry to say this Avery was not the first to pull this stunt, Ryan Smyth of the Avs has been doing this for years.

Smyth was never the extreme that Avery took it to but the beloved Capt. Canada never got his integrity questioned.

Second and I think this one is key: Someone else asked how the NHL can claim they are protecting the integrity of the game when they are changing the rules in the middle of a playoff series?

Third if you have not read my own report I really want to direct you to the bottom of it and see for yourselves why it is a waste of time complaining to the NHL about the state of officiating.

Bettman thinks the refs are doing a great job.

[LisaMY]

NYRanger4Life

Thanks for that. They'll be hearing from me. :)

Andrea

Honestly, Don Cherry is shocked, SHOCKED? Puhleeze.

It's amazing how many hypocrites have come out from under the rock. Gary Roberts? Don Cherry? Gimme a major break? I waiting for Scott Stevens to come out and say that what Avery did is a disgrace to the game. Funny, but I don't hear anybody talking about the unpenalized hit on Patrick Marleau that left him bloodied. But that's hockey, right?

[Brian]

Check out the new "Avery Rules" T-Shirt with the NHL interpretation of the rule below.

http://www.cafepress.com/cp/prod.aspx?p=shopdecayny.254845150

[LisaMY]

Jess

Well, then I guess I won't be calling the NHL. Nevermind.

But can I still call them and ask them if they have Prince Albert in a can? How about Don Cherry in a jar? Bwahahahaha!

[Lumberg]

Can we PLEASE move on from it?

[Jason]

Jess,

is there any video of Ryan Smith? I'd love to see it.

[Chris QCT]

So let me get this straight... Everyone agrees that the have 'never seen a play like that before.' But in the next breath they say that's why hockey does not sell? How in the world can you blame something that no one has ever seen before?

ANYWAY! Back to hockey....

IMO, the game turned on dumb penalties that the NYR took. Nothing more, nothing less. And in particular, Tyutin's closing his hand on the puck. I like the game that Tyutin plays, but if I am not mistaken he has shown jitters in the Playoffs each time he has played. He is still young, so I hope that all goes away in the future.

[Brendan]

Give me an effing break. Hypocrites the lot of them. They are up in arms because it's Sean Avery and because it's the New York Rangers. The most hated player and the most hated club.

[Chris QCT]

Sorry... by 'each time he plays' I meant to say each season. I've noticed him having jitters at times in all 3 post seasons so far.

[rangerbill94]

I love the new rule. It clearly allows a player to stand, face-to-face, with the goalie as long as he doesn't wave his stick or hands or make contact. Gee, I wonder if the goalie makes contact, is that a penalty?

Dubi, I thought I was sarcastic but you raise sarcasm to a whole new level. Great work, e-mail it to the league office. Somehow, I just don't think they will enjoy it as much as we Rangers fans do.

[i]

Avery has done his job to a T ( hence a T shirt), and I hope he continues to do it for the NYR .

[And This One Will Last A Lifetime]

Lest we forget that the NHL has already decided to re-interpret the rules during the playoffs? Brett Hull's No Goal? I would suspect that had a lot more to do with degrading the league's legitimacy than anything Avery has ever done.

Oh, I think the 3 work stoppages that have taken place in the past 15 or so years didn't help either.

[rangerbill94]

Chris QCT

I just love your logic. Simple and can not be attacked!!!

Also, I have yet to see a replay of the Tyutin closed hand. This topic came up about 10-15 years ago and Peter Puck did a piece on it. A player is allowed to hold the puck in his hand as long as he doesn't close his hand around it. So a puck could be in the palm of the hand and then thrown out of that hand and so long as the player didn't "close" his hand, that is legal. If somebody looked at the replay and saw him actually close his hand in a fist-like way, then I'm not sure the call was right. Elias looked like he caught the puck, and in the process of deopping the puck in front of him, closed his hand such that the puck didn't fall out. Very technical, so a clear replay is something I would like to see.

[Andrea]

Cherry is the Pits! THAT must be a t-shirt somewhere, right?

Anyway, anyone here going to be on the pre-game bus tomorrow? I'm hoping to bring my nephew on it.

[Nic]

luke!? whats the deal with the anti canuck comment!?
not cool

[Nic]

bredan your no better
remember folks its a canadian game......your welcome!!
just because useless tits like don cherry and company are canadian doesnt mean you cremate everyone who has a canadian passport!?
i dont get this?!
Avery, Dawes, Shanny, Staal, Betts, Orr, Girardi, Struds, and Vally are canadian!? so what gives!?

[captjameson]

Nic, pay them no mind. sticks and stones...i'm sure Dubi will address it by deleting their posts. we don't play that game here.

btw everyone, i am posting so i didn't blow myself up trying to jump start my lawn tractor. however it didn't work and it wouldn't accept a recharge so i'm out $40 for a new battery.

[Greg L ( born and raised in Canada ) 100 percent Rangers fan!!! ( my province never had a team)]

yeah , luke dumb comment.

[Greg L]

Is Sean Avery being a detrement to the team? I think he adds the ingredent we need to be on the edge , so what , avery starts stuff and he backs himself up. Its kinda weird how we got Gomez , Drury , Jagr , Straka , ect .. all mild mannor players , calm ,respectfull , highly classy players , role models , Then we got Avery ..., can anyone remember the last player we had that could score like Avery , was small and fast too , He was more on the edge than Avery ( beating on a mascot!!) Now Avery hasn't done that ....yet. Love him or hate him , I don't care , he badley wants to win the cup for us and it makes wanna sighn him tommorow to shove it in everyones face , but most of all make Avery feel really appreciated cuz without him our record aint so good. Glen Sathers reward at the end will come and Avery will reap the benifit , really now , how could sather sign him before the playoffs and have avery get jinxed and become a bust. Great tactic for Sather. The dog will get his bone , resting in the Stanley Cup.

[Greg L]

Remember this name Ranger Fans ....Carey Price ( Just a rookie) I can not quote exaclty what he said , but it went along the lines of ..anyone ( referring to avery) doing such tactics ( the avery rule) is just a player who is un sure of himself , and is off his own game , trying to get the goalie off his....WHAT THE HELL? Carey Price you didn't see avery score a goal!!!!??? he is NOT off his game , hes on his game , you idiot , thats why hes doing it!!! I can't WAIT til we play The Montreal Canadiens and Avery can show this punk kid to watch his mouth , punk can't talk s**t about any vet thinkin hes all that??? Bring it on Price , Averys waiting!

[Pavel]

Who cares? Price is a nobody.

[akayama49]

Dubi: The finest bit of hockey satire i have ever read! your piece today is an instant classic. It should be as widely disseminated as possible. I'm sure the in between periods guys on the versus show would love to highlight such a piece, but even if their scared to, I'll bet Letterman or Leno would do a feature on it following a video clip of Maestro Avery's performance.

Let's come back to earth and beat the Devils on Wednesday night with our best 60 minute effort yet. GO Rangers.

[smitty]

last player the Rangers had like Avery was Esa Tikkanen, but since only Tikkanen speaks Tikkanese neither the league or any of its players got too worked up about it...seriously, he could skate, hit, score, PP, PK and trash talk, rarely put his team down with stupid penalties, BUT did not fight, let alone fight as well as Avery...
we could use another Tik right now, some more grit combined with talent...

[Jameson]

Cracks me up that Avery's Antics are somehow disgracing the game or making a joke of the game, yet changing the rules mid-post-season is just perfectly fine.

Also, like it was already said, hilarious that they say what Avery did has never happened yet 30 seconds later it's a reason for the game not being marketable.

I hope Avery continues to tear it up and this series is over by game 5.

[Jameson]

Greg L,
You're right, the last time we had anyone close to Sean Avery was probably Matthew Barnaby or Theo Fleury. Barnaby could score, but wasn't nearly as good as Avery. Fleury was a lot of fun to watch but unfortunately his off the ice issues just caught up to him while he was in NY. And the times that Barnaby and Fleury were on our team are unfortunately some of the darker days in franchise history.

[Greg L]

nope smitty wasn't tikkanen , but i do like tikkanen , loved him! Hate to say it Rangers fans ...averys in trouble again....dam dam , i sure hope nothing happens cuz there talking league suspension!!!!! Avery flipped the bird today at a camera crew and mouths expicite words as he looked away..i geuss nation wide tv had the tape now , they can't suspend him in the playoffs for this??? sick !!

[Greg L]

yes Jameson , theo fleury , flipping the bird to the crowd in fishtick land , haha . He was fast , could score , had alotta heart. Barnaby ...good one , great example!! Not a scorer like Sean and Theo but he did have his moments. Back then Rangers were struggling bad , which makes this year sooo much better.

I think Ranger fans have put up with alot of ups and downs .I watched the last game of the season before the lock out and The Rangers were on tv , i watched it even though we missed the playoffs. Watching them play for Pride . Watching the Rangers play , with pride is what it all about...being proud to be a Ranger and also being a Ranger fan and proud to be ... win or lose!!

This year we are so serious that we will not be denied . The Rangers are a sound team form top to bottom , can't say that most teams in this playoff , can say that.

[njaco1215]

im guessing only some cable companys in the philly areas got blacked out. im in the philly area and was able to watch the game on VS. now im back to being stuck with the debbies feed on centerice.
hopefuly the loss is the kick in the rear that gets them through the series

[Mark W.]

Anyone else not getting their Center Ice feed from Cablevision?

[Mark W.]

By 'not' I meant not working, sorry.

[i]

anyone see this one...http://www.metronews.ca/vancouver/sports/article/40087

[Ryan]

Boy, are the Capitals choking.

[Marc]

any catch Keith Jones' rant on Avery?

what a total blowhard. shut the hell up. hes not supposed to screen Bro-duh like that because he has stanley cups? or because he has never scored more than 15 goals in a season. He said it is taking away from Gomez and Drury and the " real stars ". He must have missed the fact that Avery has and equal amount of goals with Crosby, Ovechkin, and Malkin combined.

[JBytes]

The Caps already played their playoffs! Other than scoring the winning goal in Game one, OV has been invisible.

I hope this Sather rumour doesn't become another distraction for the team.

[Dennis]

The mullet melrose had a rant on how watching avery made him ashamed to be a hockey fan and it made me sick. melrose flips more than a gymnast and should really get off broduer's jock before he ends up making his induction speech into the HOF (unless that's what hes hoping for)...melrose lauds avery as being an important cog in the rangers run one day and calls him an embarrassment to the game the next. what a fake!

[Indy Rangers Fan]

Anyone hear any word if Versus is going to get fined for the fine language hear nationally by the Devils player talking trash behind the Ranger's net in game 3? It was nice and audible, but my only guess is that he couldn't find anything really good to say other than "you're a f#&&-g B$#*tch and F#$*)ing P#*$*&Y" over and over again. I think Versus needs a 3 second delay and a mute button. I personally enjoyed it, but anyone with a young one around watching playoff hockey like I did with my dad growing up probably wouldn't appreciate it. 2 cents.

[Indy Rangers Fan]

I still think Bettman has it out for the Rangers, game 3 was atrocious. Takes a lucky goal for the devils to get a win, hope Staal doesn't take it to heart. bummer, LGR!

[Paul R _ _ _ _ _ d]

if that rumor is true about slats could that be why he hasn't signed Avery?

[Matty "Cute but Psycho, things even out"]

Well while it seems that mainly outsiders are against Avery for what he did some of his teammates didn't feel too hot about what he did ... specially Vally, but then again he's a goalie so I wouldn't expect him to have liked it,

“It’s not in the spirit of the game. It worked and it’s effective. But it’s a gentleman’s game much like like golf. I wouldn’t have been happy if that happened to me. I probably would have reacted a little differently. Sean would have been picking his teeth up off the ice if it was me.”

In other news I was very happy reading Rangers quotes today as most tried to ignore the Avery incident and the officiating and took it upon their shoulders to make their own breaks and play better ...

I specially liked that Tom Renney when given an opening to give an excuse like Sutter, credited the Devils for making their own breaks ... Henrik likewise was given an out about the "lucky" Devils bounces and said "It doesn't matter how they went in, it's my responsibility" ... I love him more ...

I feel good about tomorrow, I feel that Sunday's game should've reinforced to our boys that they need to be smart, disciplined, and play with purpose in their own zone not sloppiness ...

[Matty "Cute but Psycho, things even out"]

Indy Rangers Fan,

I don't believe that Versus can get fined because they are a cable network unlike had it happened on NBC ...

[BlueClue]

Interesting take from a Canadian Publication, "The York Report" on Sather and Avery on Brodeur.
Some Canadians seem to be objective an impartial atleast..

http://www.metronews.ca/halifax/sports/article/40087

>>>Glen Sather is a leading candidate to become the new president and general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, a source in the club’s front office told Metro yesterday.

“Sather has been interviewed for the position more than once and he’s definitely one of the favourites,” said the source, who requested anonymity. “You might hear denials about this right now because the search is supposed to be hush-hush, but there’s no doubt Sather’s viewed as a hockey wizard by the organization and, if things progress as I think they might, he could be the guy.”

Interest is mutual, the source said. Sather, 64, has served as president and GM of the New York Rangers since 2000 and was the mastermind in the 1980s behind the Edmonton Oilers, arguably the top dynasty in NHL history.

>> Speaking of the Rangers, forward Sean Avery may have been goofy with those attempts to interfere with New Jersey Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur the other night, but the NHL was far more bush-league in deciding yesterday that similar antics will draw penalties in the future. I mean, you just can’t arbitrarily alter rules as you go along … I don’t care what anyone says about Avery. I’d take him on my team any day<<<<

[Jess]

Capt. Jameson

i am posting so i didn't blow myself up trying to jump start my lawn tractor. however it didn't work and it wouldn't accept a recharge so i'm out $40 for a new battery.

Rats as in the pool I had you as being blown 25 feet in the air and not to mention I was looking for a good price on a lawn tractor.

Thanks for not helping pal.

I

http://www.metronews.ca/vancouver/sports/article/40087

Yea I have been hearing that along with now Sather to Vancouver rumors as well.

To be honest I would think Sather would prefer the Canuck position since it is closer to his home in Alberta.

If Sather could not handle the tens of thousands of "assassins" known as Ranger fans, how will he handle the Leaf fans who are much worse.

If he stays in NYC then he can coast while the 3 headed machine (Cam Hope, Schoeny and Gord Clark) does all the work.

There is also one other factor that Sather will have to deal with and rumor has it that MRS. Sather wants him just to retire as they do not need the money (reportedly she made a fortune herself in real estate).

I doubt this would be any kind of distraction for the Rangers but could actually help down the road if Sather left.

Smitty

we could use another Tik right now, some more grit combined with talent...

Keep an eye on David Skokan then as he reminds me of Avery with some of his antics.

Marc

any catch Keith Jones' rant on Avery?

No I prefer my hockey news from actual folks who are not former disgruntled ex-players who did nothing with their careers.

Dennis

The mullet melrose

Hey now no insulting Mullets as they are smarter than Melrose. Seriously all you need to do with Melrose is remember to look at your calendar.

If the day is odd then he hates anything Ranger.

If the day is even then he hates anything Ranger.

If there is a job opening with the Rangers then Melrose is on his knees with plenty of chapstick.

Matty

I don't believe that Versus can get fined because they are a cable network unlike had it happened on NBC

Actually the FCC does regulate the behavior of cable networks as well. It will take them several months of investigation to realize that Rupp said what he said.

[Ant]

filthy gonna take take 2-1 lead ova caps.Thats sucks

[Ryan]

This Flyers play-by-play guy almost makes me appreciate the announcers in the VS telecasts. I'm fairly sure that an offsides call would be able to excite this guy. At least Clement is level-headed and fairly objective. The Caps beat themselves tonight. Ovechkin has looked completely toothless and unsure of himself. I've never known Ovechkin to pass over shoot, but he chose that option often tonight.

[Paul R _ _ _ _ _ D]

I got Banned from hokeybuzz for telling the devils blogger sam the devils are the bes woo that he has his head up broduer's ass. I have said much worse, mostly today and thats what they get me for WTF