Eric Duhatschek
Globe and Mail Update Published on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2008 7:42PM EST Last updated on Tuesday, Mar. 31, 2009 8:32PM EDT
They met on Wednesday afternoon, all the principals in the Dallas Stars' front office, to discuss the playing future of Sean Avery.
Soon after owner Tom Hicks returned from a two-day NHL board of governors' meeting in Florida, he sat down with co-general managers Brett Hull and Les Jackson, along with team president Jeff Cogan to decide if Avery has a future with their organization.
Avery is in the middle of a six-game suspension he received from NHL commissioner Gary Bettman for derogatory comments directed towards Calgary Flames' defenceman Dion Phaneuf and actress Elisha Cuthbert on Dec. 2. Avery was also directed to seek anger management counselling as part of Bettman's ruling on the case.
Avery is eligible to return to the Stars for a Dec. 16 game against the Phoenix Coyotes. The thinking was that the Stars would make no firm decision as to Avery's future until much closer to his return date, at which point the counselling may be under way.
Hicks suggested in Florida that Avery was a "troubled young man" that needed help. Stars' coach Dave Tippett as well as several prominent Dallas players have all suggested that it will be difficult to welcome Avery back in the line-up, after the distraction caused by his various antics thus far this season.
Avery is in the first year of a four-year, $15.5-million (U.S.) contract he signed with the Stars as an unrestricted free agent last July. The contract is guaranteed.
In an e-mail, NHL players association executive director Paul Kelly said that his organization was in contact with both Sean and his agent and is "continuing to monitor the situation very closely."
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