The whole saga lasted two days… In case you missed it, former NHL pest Sean Avery officially signed a contract with the ECHL’s Orlando Solar Bears as part of his effort to make an NHL comeback. He hasn’t played a professional hockey game since he retired back in 2012, but he’s evidently serious about getting back out there and making a name for himself once again.
However, on Friday, the Solar Bears made the announcement that they had released Avery, just two days after signing him to a deal that saw him it the reserve club.
He did not appear in any games for Orlando.
Maybe the ECHL didn't want so many former NHLer getting in the mix. When the announcement was made that he was now a member of the Solar Bears, we saw a former NHLer looking to make a comeback as well. When chatter started getting out that Avery could sign in the ECHL, former NHLer Matthew Barnaby dare to state on Twitter that if Avery signed with the Solar Bears, he would have to sign a deal within the same division. He even jokes about the little ice-time he’d get. When the Solar Bears signed Avery, they called out Barnaby for his next move, and the former NHL enforcer answered with a picture of his shoulder pads out of storage!
Then on Thursday, it was former NHL enforcer Georges Laraque who started trending, begging an ECHL team to sign him just for one day in order to beat up Avery on the ice. It even led to the Solar Bears’ ultimate rivals, the Florida Everblades, sent Laraque an offer, wondering if he was free to take part in the game against Orlando on March, 12th.
No need anymore, Georges!