Oilers Might Have a Few Words for Avery

Edmonton television reporters and cameramen sheepishly eyed Sean Avery in the corner of the Kings’ dressing room Thursday.

Finally Avery waved at them, “Come on, let’s get this over with.”

They approached, and still no one said a word.

Avery smirked and, using his “live from the scene” voice, said, “So, playing against big Georges [Laraque] tomorrow night?” He then paused and almost pleaded, “Come on, ask me anything you want.”

Avery has become so accustomed to media gawking that he can almost conduct these interviews solo. This, though, was a little different.

The Kings’ game against Edmonton tonight is the first between the teams since the rhubarb at Staples Center on Oct. 11, when most of the Edmonton Oilers and Coach Craig MacTavish confronted Avery.

The anger followed a 3-1 King victory, during which Edmonton’s Georges Laraque, who is black, accused Avery of calling him a “monkey” during the second period. Avery has denied making the comment, but it was still viewed as just another Avery moment, of which there have been many.

The undercard in this game could be another meeting between Dustin Brown, the Kings’ 21-year-old forward, and Edmonton defenseman Chris Pronger. Brown clobbered the future Hall of Famer in that Oct. 11 game and after Pronger got up, he jawed at Brown for more than a few seconds.

“If the opportunity presents itself, I’ll do it again,” Brown said matter-of-factly.

Luc Robitaille came out of that game with a broken bone in his leg after being slashed by Oiler goaltender Ty Conklin.

But the focus remained on Avery on Thursday.

So everyone at Rexall Place in Edmonton tonight will be eyeing Avery and Laraque to see if another sideshow develops. Thursday’s prep work for the game was just another day at the office for Avery, who draws a media crowd any time he sets foot on Canadian soil.

Avery has become adept at handling these please-say-something-outlandish situations, contrary to his shoot-from-the-lip reputation, and even admitted he relishes the attention.

“If I don’t stay in the newspapers, how else am I going to get all the pretty girls?” he said, grinning.

The only curt moment Thursday came when he was asked about Laraque’s comment from earlier in the week, that Avery talks but does not back up his words.

Avery bristled, saying, “I just squared off with [Vancouver’s Ed] Jovanoski [Monday]. Guys obviously need to do a better job at watching some ... games. I fight for my teammates when they need me to, but I’m not going to fight some guy who plays only four minutes a game. That’s a waste of my time.”

Still, it might come to that tonight with Laraque, the Oilers’ tough guy who averages a robust 5:53 a game. But Avery maintains that he has never earmarked this game.

“The only thing [about coming to Edmonton] I’ve been concerned about is whether I could grow my beard thick enough to protect me from the harsh Western Canadian winter,” Avery said.

Avery again denied calling Laraque a monkey, saying, “No, no, I dealt with this two months ago.”

Laraque has remained just as adamant. He was unavailable for comment Thursday, as the Oilers did not practice. The Oilers have been silent this week, except for Laraque’s comment about Avery not fighting.

Back in October, Laraque’s teammates were so convinced the “monkey” comment had been made that they went looking for Avery, who was walking along Staples Center’s lower level to his car. The Kings’ Derek Armstrong, George Parros and Mike Cammalleri came to Avery’s side and no punches were thrown.

Avery has deflected questions about the incident with humor, “To be honest, I was more worried about missing my dinner reservations that night.”

The Oilers filed a report with the league, but officials were unable to corroborate the alleged remark. The matter was dropped, but not forgotten. Hockey public opinion sided with Laraque.

It was not Avery’s first brush with controversy this season. In September, derogatory comments he made about French Canadian players who wear visors brought a reprimand from the NHL and an apology from Avery.

“I think the important thing to remember here is this was an alleged incident,” King Coach Andy Murray said of the Laraque issue. “But we discussed the matter with Sean afterward, which was about our 20th conversation with him at that point.”

The Kings have made an effort behind the scenes to curtail Avery’s outbursts, led by the team’s vice president of communications Michael Altieri, who lends an ear when Avery speaks to the media. Lou McClary, the NHL security man for the Kings, is along on this trip to watch over Avery -- as he was on the Kings’ last trip through Canada.

And Murray has all but become Avery’s press agent.

Murray said the fight against Jovanoski came after a vicious hit on the Kings’ Eric Belanger -- yes, Avery was defending the honor of a French Canadian player who wears a visor. And of Avery’s handing the puck to Tom Kostopoulos for an empty-net goal against Calgary on Wednesday, Murray said, “Sean could have easily scored himself; that personified his unselfishness.”

But, “Avery has a certain reputation now,” Murray said. “It’s tough to shake that no matter what you do.”

Of course, it’s tougher still when you lead the NHL with 127 penalty minutes -- Chicago’s Todd Simpson is a distant second with 97. Avery did go four games without a penalty, a season-high streak that ended Friday when he received a 10-minute misconduct against the Mighty Ducks. And as for off-the-ice antics, Murray said, “Sean hasn’t said anything in eight or nine games.”

In words, no. In photo ops, well, there was the obscene gesture Avery made to a photographer three weeks ago in Toronto as he and actress Elisha Cuthbert were walking together.

According to Murray, lost in all the controversy is Avery’s value to the Kings. He is a fast skater with some dangerous offensive skills -- he has seven goals and 17 points -- and has the ability to goad opponents into penalties.

Yet, reporters Thursday were there for the man, not the player.

And Avery obliged.

“I’ve been this way since I was 5,” Avery said. “I didn’t just start talking when I got to the NHL. It’s probably too late to change. Maybe there’s a program I can go into.”