AVERY ARRESTED AND JAILED FOR BATTERY ON A POLICE OFFICER


New York Rangers forward Sean Avery was arrested at his home early Friday morning for battery on a police officer in Hollywood Hills, California.

Bail was set at $20,000, and the Associated Press reports that Avery remained in jail as of Friday morning.

According to NBC New York, Avery was having a party at his home when noise complaints from neighbours twice brought police to investigate.

On the officers' second visit, the report said that Avery allegedly argued with police and pushed an officer out of the way to go back inside his house.

The report added that Avery closed the door and refused to speak to officers. After additional police were called to the scene, Avery eventually did come out and co-operated and was arrested for battery of a police officer.

A Rangers spokesperson said that they will discuss the matter with Avery and have no further comment at this time.

The NHL is also investigating the situation, but isn't commenting at this time.

Following another series of conflicting reports on Sidney Crosby's status for the start of the upcoming season, Penguins general manager Ray Shero addressed the status of his captain late Sunday night.

Said Shero, via Rob Rossi of the Tribune Review, Crosby has still had symptoms as a result of the concussion that prematurely ended his 2010-11 season, but nothing that's forced him to shut down his offseason workouts. He also pointed out that he's yet to have a situation this offseason where he's needed to be cleared to play.

It had been a quite a while since the Penguins made any statement regarding Crosby, but after Josh Rimer, the NHL Home Ice Producer for Sirius XM Radio, reported that he heard from three different sources that the Penguins captain may not be ready for the start of the season, the conversation picked back up.

It's certainly nothing to downplay that Crosby is still apparently having some symptoms, but it's also worth noting that, at this point, it has little to do with his availability for the start of the regular season which is still nearly two months away. A lot can change in that time period (good and bad).

Penguins center Sidney Crosby has been continuing with his usual summer workout routine and is progressing well in his recovery from a concussion he suffered in early January, according to Penguins general manager Ray Shero.

Crosby, who began his summer program of off-ice workouts after meeting with Dr. Michael Collins of UPMC on June 1 and has since added on-ice sessions to his training regimen, will be evaluated again about a week before training camp begins in September to determine his playing status.

“I think (Sidney) has progressed really well this summer,” Shero said, who talked to Crosby over the weekend. “He’s happy with his progress. Training camp is a month away, so there’s no expectation for me that he won’t be ready or will be ready. … He’s doing his usual routine. He’ll probably be in a week before camp starts, and we’ll evaluate him then to see how he’s doing.

“All in all, it’s been a good summer for him getting back home and really getting back into his workout routines on and off the ice, so we’ll see what the next month brings us for training camp and of course, Oct. 6 for the regular season.”

Crosby, who turned 24 on Aug. 7, has been working with his longtime trainer, Andy O’Brien, in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

“The good news is that (Crosby) continues to work out and has worked out hard this summer," Shero said. "When he went back, he had a progression planned with his trainer, Andy O’Brien, that he’s gone through. So we’ll see where we are come training camp.”

Shero said that Crosby has experienced some occasional symptoms, but emphasized that those have come as a result of how hard the Penguins captain has pushed himself -- which is good news in itself -- and that they are to be expected with an injury like this.

“He pushed himself pretty hard this summer, which is the good news,” Shero said. “He’s never had to get to the point where he’s had to shut himself down or anything.”

While Crosby is in good spirits and is making positive steps in his progress, Shero also emphasized that the team will not rush the star center in his recovery.

“The thing for me and for the organization is the bigger picture with Sidney Crosby, making sure that he is 100 percent cleared and ready to play when he does come back,” Shero said. “He’s not going to be pushed to come back to practice or play.

“I want to make sure a year from now, three years from now, five years from now that he’s still the best player in the league and take the appropriate steps and back him, and go from there.”