Sean Avery Now a Star: a Dallas Star

New York Rangers LW Sean Avery has just signed a four-year $15.5 million contract with the Dallas Stars. The 28-year-old from Pickering, Ontario, Canada is considered to be an NHL enforcer and one of the most hated players in the NHL. In 57 regular season games with the Rangers last season, Sean Avery scored 15 goals and 18 assists. In the eight playoff games he played in, he scored four goals and three assists.

Sean Avery is perhaps most famous (or infamous) for his interactions with New Jersey goalie Martin Brodeur (winner of this year's Vezina trophy). On April 13, 2008, while the Rangers had a two-man advantage, Sean Avery proceeded to distract Brodeur by waving his stick and hands in front of the crease. Such behavior was technically legal at the time, but it was deemed unsportsmanlike. Following the game, the NHL issued an ex post facto rule that clarified such actions as unsportsmanlike.

Following the conclusion of the Rangers/Devils series, Martin Brodeur refused to shake Avery's hand. Consequently, Avery would call Brodeur a "fatso" for such an act of bad sportsmanship.