Sean Avery's "screen" on Martin Brodeur

[joisyan]

I just read that as of today, there was a rule written specifically for the way Sean Avery acted infront of Brodeur.

(as it reads from Yahoo sports)

“An unsportsmanlike conduct minor penalty will be interpreted and applied, effective immediately, to a situation when an offensive player positions himself facing the opposition goaltender and engages in actions such as waving his arms or stick in front of the goaltender’s face, for the purpose of improperly interfering with and/or distracting the goaltender as opposed to positioning himself to try to make a play,” Colin Campbell, the NHL director of hockey operations said in a statement.

what are everyone's thoughts?

"if in ain't broke don't fix it?"

or were you taken back by what he did?

or do you just think it's funny like me? haha

i definately agree with an unsportsmanlike penalty being given but...it's a little outlandish to make the rule the very next day

[MBurke]

1) It looks silly and childish
2) This is probably not the prominent reason behind the NHL doing it, but it's a huge safety concern.

If other players caught on and this kind of "screen" became commonplace, it's only a matter of time before a young player turns his back to a shot to screen the goaltender, takes one off the spine or the back of the head and suffers severe injuries or even death.

[RichardGraham]

Hi Tim,

I thought it was humorous and stupid and childish, all at the same time. Avery used to be a Los Angeles King, and he left under a cloud. I have a suspicion that he will have a very unhappy life once he is eventually out of the NHL, and I hope that I am wrong.

For me, the bottom line is that he's setting a very bad example for younger players coming up, and I think he probably deserves a suspension of some sort to make him aware that this kind of behavior reflects badly upon both himself and the NHL.

[thompson1ner]

so by the wording of that rule, he could have technically done that same thing and it be legal if he had just turned around and not faced broduer

[PGHhockey]

Yeah, but it defeats Avery's purpose if he turns around to face the play. He can't follow Marty's eyes at that point.

He looked like some ex-high school basketball star that's all coked up and playing streetball, trying to intimidate a shooter.

Funny stuff...

[eXpress19]

How can you say he deserves a suspension when there was no rule in place to outlaw his actions? He was brought to New York to disrupt the other teams top players and that is exactly what he is doing. He is getting in Martin Broduers head, hence the reason Avery has 3 goals in 3 games. This is his style and this is the reason the Rangers have been so dominant over the Devils this season. Sure he looked stupid and childish doing it, but did it work? I think so seeing as how he scored like a minute later...

Just my thoughts.

[DCbullets14]

I dont see a problem with what Avery did. Avery found a way of stretching the rules to his advantage. At no point did he interfere with Brodeur or prevent him from making a save. I thought it was a great screen he got the goalie out of position and forced the devils players to watch him instead of the play.

Last year my team had a similar incident at an AAU tournament. The team we were playing had a guy camp out in front of the net using both hands to cover our goalies mask (without touching him). Its easy to neutralize the advantage this screen provides.....STAY OUTTA THE BOX

Your job while in front of the net is to make it hard for a goalie to see the puck and make saves. Avery stayed out of the crease and didnt break any rules. I dont feel it is right for the NHL to change the rule mid playoffs.

Im just hoping Avery can find a way to stretch the offsides, icing, and 5 on 5 rule. Then we could make some progressive changes to the sport.

[RichardGraham]

Hi Matt,

I guess you're right that my suspension idea was cracked. However, I think this action by Avery crosses a line. It would be similar to a baseball catcher wearing a long spring-loaded contraption on his mask that put a beer can in front of the batter's eyes... lol. Effective, perhaps, but not true to the spirit of the game.

[joisyan]

hey thompson, i agree 100%. i would put money on it, that we'll see avery doing almost the exact same thing (maybe not with his stick) infront of brodeur in the next game, but he'll be facing the play

[siberian khatru]

While I am usually not at all an advocate of retaliatory fighting in the NHL I hope the Devils send Clarkson out tonight to teach Avery a lesson. One great thing about hockey is its unwritten code of conduct. Going against it by standing in front of a goalie facing a two man power play and being a schmuck deserves a good ass-kicking and I hope Avery gets it.

Sure, what he did wasn't against the rules but it was a bush league stunt that has no place in the NHL.

[quick_dry]

I didn't think what he did was so bad - maybe as a ref or nearby player I wouldn't be so happy with him waving the high-stick around, but I don't see a huge differece between deliberately moving your back/ass all over the place to block a goalies vision, and blocking his vision with another part of your body.

[Hockey_Freak]

I just read that as of today, there was a rule written specifically for the way Sean Avery acted infront of Brodeur.

(as it reads from Yahoo sports)

“An unsportsmanlike conduct minor penalty will be interpreted and applied, effective immediately, to a situation when an offensive player positions himself facing the opposition goaltender and engages in actions such as waving his arms or stick in front of the goaltender’s face, for the purpose of improperly interfering with and/or distracting the goaltender as opposed to positioning himself to try to make a play,” Colin Campbell, the NHL director of hockey operations said in a statement.

what are everyone's thoughts?

"if in ain't broke don't fix it?"

or were you taken back by what he did?

or do you just think it's funny like me? haha

i definately agree with an unsportsmanlike penalty being given but...it's a little outlandish to make the rule the very next day

This rule was ALWAYS there, the interpitation of the rule was changed. And rightly so. What Avery did is BS. But that's Avery. Cheap. There is no need for that type of play, and I for one would have loved to see him catch one to the back of his head. Play the game, stop playing games. He would have been more effective facing the puck, this was a personal thing with Brodeur nothing more.

[quick_dry]

He would have been more effective facing the puck, this was a personal thing with Brodeur nothing more.

Doesn't his effectiveness depend on what his role in front of the net was?

If he was there to provide a deflection, then yes, face the puck.

If you're there to screen and distract the goalie, then you're better off facing him. You can position yourself in front of him much more effectively. Plus if you're quick you don't have to pivot to stuff in a rebound.

Definitely want to make sure your D man on the point keeps his shots low though.

[whjs416]

well im going to dissagree im a ranger fan and averys one of my fav players if the devils want to just let him stay in the front of the net uncontested thats there fault. there should not be any penalty if hes not interfering. i dont see anything wrong with it hey it worked avery got a goal soon after. go RANGERS!!!!!!!!!!

[Hockey_Freak]

well im going to dissagree im a ranger fan and averys one of my fav players if the devils want to just let him stay in the front of the net uncontested thats there fault. there should not be any penalty if hes not interfering. i dont see anything wrong with it hey it worked avery got a goal soon after. go RANGERS!!!!!!!!!!

The goal had nothing to do with what he did. And proves my point, he didn't need to pull that crap in order to get a goal. How would you feel if someone did it to Lundquist ? I think you'd be singing a different tune, a tune that's also known as the Jaromir whine ( the C on his jersey stands for crybaby) Your opinion comes as a Ranger fan, not quite objective. The penalty is unsportsman like not interference. In fact just about everything Avery does is unsportsman like.