Sean Avery

When the Rangers were evaluating whether or not to resign Avery the only numbers that should have payed attention to are as follows: 50-20-16 with him in the lineup 9-13-3 without him. That should be the end of the discussion. If for some reason those numbers weren't enough next you should look at his playoff performance in game 3 against the Penguins when he ruptured his spleen in the first period, didn't miss a shift and saw more and more ice time as the game progressed because it was a must win and the Rangers were losing. This literally almost killed him. Next you should listen to the ovation he got from fans every single home game. The label fan favorite really doesn't do it justice. Next you should look to his performance against NJ in the playoffs this year and Atlanta last year. Last year he got so far under the Thrasher's skin they made their whole series about getting back at Avery and not winning the game. The Rangers won their first playoff series in 10 yrs. Avery's uncanny ability was best displayed when in game 3 or 4 one of Atl most prolific offensive players, Ilya Kovalchuk, took a run at Avery and got himself a game misconduct. This year he incensed one of the best goalies of all time, Martin Brodeur, that he wouldn't even shake his hand as customary at the end of the series. The Rangers won the series 4-1. The Rangers average 4 goals a game in their wins and Avery had 3 goals and 2 assists total. They average 4 goals a game against one of the greatest goalies, playoffs and regular season who is also the 2008 Vezina Trophy winner in Martin Brodeur. How can all of that value go unnoticed and not rewarded? I'm going to watch a lot less Ranger hockey next year cuz Averys not there.