Avery Has 3-Hour Hearing With NHL Commissioner

"I don't know," Hull said. "That is something that is going to have to be addressed within our organization."

Dallas Stars forward Sean Avery leaves a meeting with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman Thursday, Dec....

Dallas Stars forward Sean Avery leaves a meeting with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman Thursday, Dec. 4, 2008 in New York. The NHL suspended Avery indefinitely on Tuesday, Dec. 2 for making a crude reference to former girlfriends while talking with reporters. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

(AP)

Avery left the New York Rangers after 1 1/2 seasons this summer and signed a four-year, $15.5 million deal with the Stars. Dallas might seek to cut ties with him as soon as possible.

"He is a good kid, he is a good player and it shows in the salary he commanded in the summer," Healy said. "I have no doubt that if the Dallas Stars have no interest in Sean's services, a team will. He showed in this city what he can mean to a hockey club."

Healy added that the tone in the meeting room was professional and not based in anger.

"We've got to get along," he said. "We've got to share the same interests, we've got to grow the game, and we're going to do it together. We're going to do it the right way. Today's process is good. The player gets his voice heard.

"He made all his points really clear. He is a good kid that made a mistake. It was the wrong forum, and he used the wrong words."

Avery was denied a chance by teammates to apologize to them, and his message of contrition on Wednesday was distributed by his California-based publicist and not by the Stars.

"I would like to sincerely apologize for my off-color remarks to the press yesterday from Calgary," Avery said. "I should not have made those comments, and I recognize that they were inappropriate.

"It was a bad attempt to build excitement for the game, but I am now acutely aware of how hurtful my actions were. I caused unnecessary embarrassment to my peers as well as people I have been close with in the past.

"I apologize for offending the great fans of the NHL, the commissioner, my teammates, my coaching staff and the Dallas Stars management and ownership. As many of you know, I like to mix it up on and off the ice from time to time, but understand that this time I took it too far."

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