Why the Islanders Should NOT Acquire Sean Avery

I think it's safe to assume at this point that Sean Avery will, provided he behaves in Hartford, hit re-entry waivers as the Stars try to tempt another team into picking him up. If that is the case, there is no reason for the New York Islanders -- who currently would have the highest waiver priority -- to stand in anyone's way.

The general consensus around the league seems to be that the New York Rangers will grab Avery when he inevitably hits waivers. Some people, like the Puck Podcast Blog at Fox Sports, think it would be a great idea for the Islanders to step on the toes of their bitter rival and pluck Avery off the wire first. Not only do their arguments lack any sense, but this would be the equivalent of punching your older brother in the family jewels while he has you in a headlock. It's going to do nothing more than make your situation that much worse.

The Islanders' season is lost, save for the likely top-five draft pick they will have earned. They are in full-on rebuilding mode and will likely not be in the playoff hunt next year either. So, the prevailing argument seems to be the following:

What would the Islanders have to lose by claiming Avery? They would add a talented player, something they desperately need, they would prevent the Rangers (their bitter rivals) from getting him, they would get some headlines and some much needed national attention and they would take a step towards establishing some sort of team identity.

If Avery did prove to be a problem in the locker room, would it matter to the Islanders? They are already the worst team in the NHL – by far – so how, exactly, would fans be able to tell that Avery was having a detrimental effect on the team?

Thanks for the questions. Allow me to answer them.

The Islanders could potentially torpedo their own roster by claiming Avery. You might say things are about as bad as they could get right now, but of course, their kids seem to be on the right track (Kyle Okposo, Josh Bailey and Blake Comeau to name a few). Put Avery in that locker room and who knows what damage it could do to their development. The word is that there is already a growing rift between veterans and youth. But good point, why not add a stick of dynamite (Avery) into the mix? With a reputation such as his, nothing could possibly go wrong.

Calling Avery "a talented player... they desperately need" is a bit iffy as well. Are the Islanders desperate for some talented folks? Sure. Do they desperately need him? Only if all you pay attention to is the standings. Nothing is sending the Islanders to the playoffs this year and even if they could somehow snag Victor Hedman and John Tavares in June, they still may not make the post-season next year. Calling a 28-year old head case who has a career average of .25 points per game something they "desperately need" is a hell of an overstatement. In fact, I might classify it as worthless.

And finally, the biggest hurdle to the Islanders claiming Sean Avery: the three years and $12 million left on his contract. Yes, the Islanders have more than enough cap space to house him. The problem? The chances that sometime during the next three seasons the Islanders find themselves in the exact same situation that Stars are in right now. And then the whole league would have a good laugh at the Islanders' expense as they screw up yet again.