Stars' Sean Avery suspended for 6 games for crude remarks

Avery was disciplined for crude comments he made about former girlfriends who are currently involved with other NHL players. Bettman, in a media teleconference call today, said, "What needed to be clear was this type of conduct is unacceptable. It is not representative of what our players do."

Bettman was peppered with questions about whether the Avery case was treated more harshly than some on-ice incidents, in which players caused injuries with hits that were deemed to require supplementary punishment. In a recent example, Kings forward John Zeiler received a three-game suspension for hitting Colorado defenseman Adam Foote from behind in a November game. Foote suffered a back injury.

Bettman called such comparisons "apples and oranges," and said that "players in the league are held accountable for conduct on and off the ice. The circumstances can vary situation to situation. We looked at this instance, what transpired and the warnings that we had given."

Avery had been previously warned about his conduct by Bettman and Colin Campbell, the league's vice president and director of hockey operations. Avery's previous transgressions also were taken into account, as he has been involved in numerous on-ice and off-ice incidents in the last four years.

Bettman said that Avery seemed "remorseful and wanted a professional anger management evaluation."

Avery will be required to follow the recommendations of that evaluation even if that means missing more than the six games. Failure to comply could lead to further discipline by the league.

"He would be dealing with me again," Bettman said. "Sean is who he is. His history is his history. With repeat offenders, we always hold them to a higher standard. We're less cryptic and a little more direct. I don't think Sean has any doubt that it wouldn't be good to be back in front of me in this situation."

Kings forward Dustin Brown, whose mild speech impediment made him a target of derisive comments by Avery when they were teammates, laughed when told that Avery will undergo anger management evaluation.

"Everybody makes a big deal out of it. I know Aves. The more people talk about it the more he'll do stuff like this," Brown said. "I learned that early on when he was here. The more attention you give him, the more he'll go. It's not my business."

Tom Preissing, the team's representative to the NHL Players' Assn., said the union had not discussed any potential follow-up action. Emphasizing that his comments reflected his own opinion and not those of the players association, he also laughed upon hearing that Avery will undergo anger management evaluation.

"He could have got a couple of games, and he could have gotten 50. I can't remember there being anything to set precedents for it," Preissing said.

He also said he was struck by seeing interviews in which Avery's Dallas teammates were critical of his behavior.

"I think the bigger issue there is what he's done to himself and the Dallas organization, which I think always prides itself on being a real tightknit team and real close organization," Preissing said.

"No place is the right place to do it, but to do it there is probably even worse. I think it might be worse when he gets back to Dallas."