[Lippsman]

Avery's life coming to big screen

Former Rangers enforcer Sean Avery is coming to a big screen near you. According to the Hollywood Reporter, New Line Cinema is turning Avery's tale of a professional hockey player who serves a stint as a summer intern with the fashion magazine Vogue into a romantic comedy.

The NHL bad boy, who signed with the Dallas Stars after two seasons in the Big Apple, traded in his skates over the summer to answer phones, assist editors on fashion spreads and serve as guest editor of MensVogue.com.

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Rangers: Door open for Shanny

Glen Sather, Rangers' president, general manager and . . . doorman? "The door is open," Sather reported in an e-mail response to the Post's inquiry regarding the status of the still-unsigned Brendan Shanahan. "However there are complications that need to be worked out." Now merely six days away from Rangers training camp medicals, it's unclear what those complications might include beyond a contract negotiation that either hasn't begun in earnest or is not going well

The Rangers haven't added or subtracted a player since the first half of July. Their cap position hasn't changed in two months. They have between $2-3M to spend, depending upon the number of players they carry, and the identities of the 10th through 13th forwards. And no, Mats Sundin has nothing to do with this. So if the door is open for Shanahan, it seems that money would be the only complication.

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Zednik looks good in return

Seven months have passed since Richard Zednik almost died after a carotid artery in his neck was accidentally severed by the skate of teammate Olli Jokinen. Zednik missed the final 24 games as he recovered from the horrific injury, but today, he is upbeat and ready to resume his career.

Zednik returned to South Florida from Slovakia this week, joining many of his Florida Panthers teammates for their daily informal workouts in Coral Springs. In his second practice Tuesday, Zednik looked ready to play. Zednik broke out on numerous occasions, his trademark speed and quick shot bringing mock cheers from his peers. The good-natured ribbing was welcomed. It was normal. And it can only mean one thing. Richard Zednik is back.

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Hossa one-and-done in Detroit?

Marian Hossa arrived at Joe Louis Arena on Monday morning for his first -- and quite possibly -- only season with the Red Wings. With the salary-cap rules and the Wings' obvious desire to sign Henrik Zetterberg to a new long-term deal, Hossa is likely to be one-and-done in Detroit. He has become the NHL's version of the hired gun. Pittsburgh acquired him at the trade deadline last season and he helped them reach the Stanley Cup Finals. Now he's moved on to the defending champions.

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Sundin meets with Canadiens

That Mats Sundin met with the Montreal Canadiens over the weekend for a courtesy call is no surprise. Nor is the fact that he allegedly told them he is no closer to a decision. There are those close to Sundin who figure the former Leafs captain might wait until mid-November to see how the talent-thin Toronto team is faring. In any event, he is said to be contemplating the Leafs and one other team -- likely the Habs or New York Rangers -- if he opts to come back.

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Selanne, Schneider linked to Sundin

While Mats Sundin continues to sit on the fence concerning his future, Teemu Selanne has hinted strongly that he is poised to return to the National Hockey League. Selanne, 38, has been participating in informal on-ice workouts with a handful of Anaheim Ducks in southern California

Doesn't sound like the type of activity reserved for someone intent on retiring, does it? Selanne, who has not officially announced his decision to date, did go as far as to tell reporters last week he would like to start training camp. With his Ducks already more than $2 million US over the salary cap, general manager Brian Burke must find a way to shave payroll in order to fit Selanne in. The most mentioned name is defenceman Mathieu Schneider, whose cap hit for this season is slated to be $5.625 million US.

The Sundin Saga could very well be intertwined with the Selanne situation. One theory making the rounds is that those interested teams who lose out in the Sundin sweepstakes might use their available money to pursue Schneider. Given that Sundin said he likely would not have a final decision prior to the start of the regular season concerning if or where he was going to play, they might be in limbo for a while.

If teams wait on Sundin instead of being proactive and going after Schneider, it might be a mistake down the road. Sundin does not even know if he is going to play at all, as he has made perfectly clear over and over again.
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Schneider fit to be a King?

The New York Post reported last week the Ducks might be interested in veteran free agent winger Brendan Shanahan, 39, but the Ducks don't even have the salary cap room yet to bring back Teemu Selanne, their own veteran free agent winger. Ducks GM Brian Burke says there's no truth to that report. And Shanahan is expected to return for his third season with the New York Rangers. It's no secret Burke has been shopping veteran defenseman Mathieu Schneider ($5.6 million salary) so the team can re-sign Selanne, a future Hall of Famer, before training camp opens in mid-September.

The Kings, who are well under the salary-cap floorof $40.7 million for 2008-09, should acquire Schneider -- a former King who still lives in Manhattan Beach -- so Commissioner Gary Bettman will allow them to play this season.

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Laraque likes Stortini's style

For all those folks who question Zack Stortini's fistic style and wish he'd just step and fire the punches, let Georges Laraque be the judge. He figures Stortini deserves a huge helping of praise for standing in there with The Boogie Man, Derek Boogaard, and all the other large NHL sluggers. "If you fight a guy who's stronger than you, why would you want to go toe-to-toe and get killed?" said Laraque, the former Edmonton Oilers beat cop, who'll now be looking out for Saku Koivu and Alex Kovalev with the Montreal Canadiens.

"When I fight Boogaard, I'm not standing back and throwing punches. I mean, his reach is like a mile long. Even though I'm six-foot-three and I have a reputation, I'm coming inside on him. You don't fight for the people ... if Zack wants to go in and hug, that's smart, because Boogaard's reach is so big. "I admire Zack because he's an agitator and he fights ... it's not easy doing both. But he knows he's not a true heavyweight.

He's trying to fill a role and he does a good job at it. Man, he had 25 fights last year. Even in my rookie year as an Oiler, I never did that. I fought 16, 17 times, tops. People should admire Zack for doing what he's doing. If everybody had his heart. ..."

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Russian league drops Jacket case

The dispute between the NHL and a newly formed Russian hockey league over forward Alexander Radulov appears headed for court. The Continental Hockey League (KHL) withdrew its appeal on five other player transfers -- including Blue Jackets prospect Nikita Filatov -- at a meeting yesterday between the International Ice Hockey Federation and nine member countries, but couldn't resolve the Radulov case.

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Kings deny Khabibulin interest

Have no fear, says Los Angeles general manager Dean Lombardi, the Kings will make it to the NHL's salary "floor" of $40.7 million in player payroll before opening night. However, the financial formula will not include, contrary to rumors in recent weeks, taking high-priced goalie Nikolai Khabibulin off Chicago's hands, or dealing away budding superstar forward Anze Kopitar.

[bigboydan]

Sean Avery was a solid pickup for the Stars this offseason.

[THE_LOCKSMITH]

Montreal just traded for Robert Lang, looks like Sundin won't be playing there