Roster Season

It’s all about next season’s roster in the NHL right now.  From the draft to free agent day, the league’s all about signings, waives and trades.

Jamie’s put together a complete qualifying offer list, with updates.

Latest tough guy moves: Avalanche Re-Sign Scott Parker, Coyotes Trade for Brian McGrattan

A mullet grows in Florida

Rumored for some time, the Lightning have gone ahead and hired Barry Melrose as coach.  The former talking head will be taking that head, avec les cheveux, to Tampa.

Fomer power forward and Coyotes assistant coach Rick Tocchet, along with recently retired center Wes Walz will join become part of Melrose’s staff.

Making Melrose’s job a little easier: Vinny Lecavalier reportedly signed a 9-year, $77 million contract with the Lightning.

Some local reaction:
Hair He Comes
At Melrose Place, Folks Are Abuzz About Barry’s Lightning Move
New Lightning coach Barry Melrose brings tempered toughness
Melrose returns to true calling

Ear of the beholder

There’s been a lot of buzz about Sean Avery‘s Vogue internship.  I never thought it was so outrageous.  He’s doing something he likes during the offseason.  Plus, Manhattan’s always a nice place to walk around and Fashion Week makes it even nicer.  Hell, my own wardrobe is part-generic, part-NY.  If you’re wondering what that means, basically if it’s all NY and trendy, it needs lots of quantity and lots of updating, meaning dropping way too much cash on clothes - unless you’re a pro athlete, then it’s easy.

Avery’s guest editing Men’s Vogue this week.  He’s written a piece about what it was like starting his internship and what he’s learning.

While it’s not a bad article overall, he tries too hard to separate himself from sport:

I don’t watch sports. I don’t read about sports… I don’t hang out with other athletes… Some people question whether I’m straight; others give me compliments. Some women find it a turn-on. My teammates are very supportive and cool about my interest in fashion - sometimes they even ask for my advice on what to wear. But I’d be lying to you if I said that I don’t take some verbal abuse from opposing players for the clothes I wear, or for my interest in something - “fashion” - that I think sounds a little frightening to narrow-minded blockheads.

Later on he describes his job as “pure fun”.

His verbal abuse comment is simply ridiculous as that’s part of his own job on the ice.  Considering he has a no holds barred reputation when it comes to topics (race, family, etc.), saying his opponents are “narrow-minded blockheads” makes you wonder what class he’s in.

As for the sexual orientation part of it, I was going to leave it be until I saw this title from Outsports, a gay-focused sports site: Sean Avery, still gayer than me.  So, uh, there you go.

Back to his hockey career: John Dellapina of the NY Daily News is reporting the Rangers are set with letting Avery skate away as a free agent.  The problem here is salary, not exactly an uncommon issue around this time.  Avery’s agent is selling the Rangers their own record with and without Avery in the lineup:

“Their record is 50-20-10 with him in the lineup and 9-13-3 without him in the lineup,” Morris said. “And he can skate, which is needed in today’s hockey. He can hit. He can fight. He can score. He plays with passion. He would like to remain a Ranger but is prepared to leave if Glen feels differently.”

Given Avery’s off-ice interests (fashion, night life, hot ass), there aren’t many other cities Avery would be comfortable in.

Videos added

Kris Newbury vs Steve Downie Dec 14, 2007
Ryan Parent vs Jay Rosehill Dec 15, 2007
Dennis Bonvie vs Darroll Powe Dec 16, 2007
Nate Guenin vs Adam Henrich Dec 15, 2007
Grant Potulny vs Ryan Potulny Dec 21, 2007

Some reads

Gillies Prefers Gym To Golf
10 facts about expected Lightning coach Barry Melrose
Schenn brothers driven to succeed
Capitals choose defenseman with Bears connection
No Niedermayer decision yet
Peter Chiarelli says Bruins eyeing free agency splash
Russian league still open to signing NHL players
Criticism is water under the bridge for Beach
A Hockey Team Built on Showmanship Is Sidelined Indefinitely