So Sean Avery is doing pretty good in New York eh? Since his return to the Rangers, the feisty forward has looked just like the Avery of old, helping the team go 8-4- and 1 over that span. Not only that, but he has 10 points since his Rangers homecoming. That equals his total points in his 23 game Dallas Star career.

Not only has he been producing on the scoresheet, but he is also making good on his promise to act like a normal, sane, human being. This is despite the fact that the media, opposition and the rest of the league are now playing the role of antagonist and trying to coax Avery back into his old ways. This is kind of like the buddy that constantly parties and is always the centre of attention, then gets a girlfriend and never goes out anymore, but his buddies show up at his house uninvited with a case of beer ready to drag their friend out for a night on the town. His buddies know that he's happy, but for one night they wish he would revert to his old ways. A perfect example of this happened last Monday in a game against the Devils.

It was dubbed the "Brodeur VS Avery" Show, but all Avery did was play hard, throw his body around, and help energize his team. For a team fighting for their playoff lives and in need of a spark, this is exactly what the Rangers needed. The Devils tried to get Avery to snap like he used to, but he kept his cool, even when David Clarkson rag dolled him like Andre the Giant used to rag doll kegs of beer. Even though Avery didn't throw a single punch, he was still given a 2 minute roughing penalty. This is where I have a problem. It's bad enough he has to look like a huge coward by not fighting back, but did they really have to give him a penalty on top of that??

The Rangers have three games remaining, and they sit in eigth place, 3 points behind Montreal. If they are going to get to the playoffs, Avery has to be a big part of it. So now everyone is wondering how long will it take before Sean Avery says something, or does something to get him suspended, or possibly kicked out of the league forever?

Some think this may have already happened after the Tim Thomas incident on Saturday, including Don Cherry and my main man Jamie Nye. I didn't have a big problem with it, he didn't "McSorley Thomas", he just agitated him, which is what an agitator is supposed to do. Avery didn't even get a penalty for the stick job, he got the penalty for the rough stuff, after the fact.  (To see the incident, click the picture below.)

I guess my point is this, I have heard the term, a leopard can't change his spots about 15 times since Saturday, and that may be true, but in this case, I think we are looking at a leopard, just trying to act, and be treated like, a leopard.

Gary Nickle is the producer of the Drew Remenda Sports Show