Is Sean Avery Done As A Ranger?

Sean Avery has seen himself as a healthy scratch ma few times this week, and the agitator may have lost his spot on this team. Initially scratched because of what coach John Tortorella defined as inconsistency, Avery returned to the lineup only to take a stupid penalty against the Islanders late in the game. That penalty led to him being benched again for last night’s win over Montreal, a game in which the Rangers didn’t really need him on the ice.

With the way the Rangers lines have performed, it becomes an issue of who the Rangers would scratch to get Avery back in the lineup. As of right now, there isn’t a single skater I would scratch in favor of Avery. That is nothing against Avery, it’s just other players have outplayed him, and it makes Avery a spectator more often than not heading into the stretch run.

When it comes to next season, it makes you wonder if Avery will even be with the Rangers at all. A trade is unlikely, because any acquiring team would have to absorb his full $3.9 million cap hit. However, a buyout isn’t completely out of the question. Per CapGeek, a buyout would result in a $1.2 million cap hit in 2011-2012, and a $1.3 million cap hit in 2012-2013. While that total cap hit is a bit large, it would be divided amongst the Rangers and the Stars, so the Rangers cap hit would be $600,000 in 2011-2012, and $650,000 in 2012-2013.

I don’t think the Rangers will buyout Avery, but with Brad Richards looming, Chris Drury’s $7.05 million cap hit, and Wade Redden’s $6.5 million cap hit returning for the summer (summer cap is 10% higher than the regular season cap), the Rangers may need to clear more space to have room to sign Richards. Avery may find himself a victim of the numbers game should the Rangers pursue Richards with a blank check. What is more likely is that Avery finds himself as a 13th forward for the rest of this season, and possibly next year. Avery has been great for the Rangers, but it looks like his time in blue is coming to an end.