With the New York Rangers tight against the salary cap and a roster brimming with capable forwards, Sean Avery may have made the organization's decision one player easier.
↵The 31-year-old was arrested in California for battery on a police officer after he shoved an officer at his Hollywood home around 1 a.m. Friday. Los Angeles Police Department Lt. Jorge Pardo said that a neighbor complained of noise from a party at the winger's home, and an officer was sent over.
↵Avery answered the door, shoved the officer and slammed the door. He was reportedly cooperative from that point on, but arrested nonetheless. His bail was set at $20,000.
↵He was released from jail at about 11:10 a.m. EST, according to the Daily News' Jesse Spector. Spector doesn't think it will affect his future with the Rangers, saying, "Just ask Nikolai Khabibulin, among others." Khabibulin was arrested on three charges related to drunk driving.
↵Either way, Avery was quite possibly becoming a spare part on a team that has beefed up its forward corp this offseason, and he needed to impress in training camp and return to his antagonistic form -- which he wasn't for large portions of last season -- to get playing time. This incident will certainly not help his case.