On February 5 in NYR history: Hello Sean Avery

What happened on February 5 in the history of the New York Rangers

On this date in 2007, the New York Rangers traded for one of the most divisive players in the history of the team.   The Blueshirts sent three players and a draft pick to Los Angeles for Sean Avery and a prospect.  While Avery would become one of the most controversial players to don the Rangers uniform, he actually had two stints with the Rangers and this was his first stop in New York was relatively uneventful.

Avery had led the league in penalty minutes the two previous seasons, but had also had been suspended once by the Kings for refusing to do a practice drill.   He wasn’t popular with his teammates and was accused of bullying Dustin Brown.

He finished the 2006-07 season and played the next season in New York with little drama. He was accused of making fun of Toronto’s Jason Blake’s leukemia during a scrum with Darcy Tucker and was fined $2,500.   He didn’t even lead the team in penalty minutes in 2008, finishing behind Colton Orr. In the summer of 2008 he signed a free agent with Dallas.

While in Dallas he got into trouble again, getting into an argument with a fan and then with his “sloppy seconds” comment about Dion Phaneuf for which he was suspended six games by the NHL.  They put him on waivers (sound familiar?) and he was claimed by the Rangers for a second tour of duty in New York.

Though he feuded with coach John Tortorella, he was a  productive player for the Rangers and is best know for creating the “Avery Rule” when he stood in front of Martin Brodeur and intentionally blocked his view during a 2008 playoff game.  The Rangers won that series 4-1 and Avery and Brodeur refused to shake hands and Avery later said of Brodeur, “Fatso forgot to shake my hand.”

By 2011, Avery had worn out his welcome in New York and he was waived.  No team claimed him and even the Connecticut Whale didn’t want him on the team so in March, 2012, Avery retired.

Today’s birthdays

Only 19 NHL players have been born on February 5 and only one has played in he NHL for the Rangers.  One possible future Ranger does have this date as his birthday.

On this date in 2001, Karl Henriksson was born in Malmo, Sweden.  Henriksson was the Rangers’ second round selection in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft and the center is currently is playing for Frölunda in the Swedish Hockey League.

Chris Summers was born on this date in 1988 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  The defenseman was acquired by New York in the trade that sent Anthony Duclair to Phoenix and Keith Yandle to the Rangers.   He spent most of his time in the organization in Hartford, playing six games in two seasons with the Blueshirts.  He was signed as a free agent by Pittsburgh in 2017 and was last seen playing professionally in Germany.

The numbers

The Rangers have played 41 times on February 5 with an unimpressive .431 points percentage and only 14 wins.

Games: 41
Regulation wins: 14
Regulation losses: 19
Ties: 8
Points percentage: .431