Avery awaits verdict

Decision on length of suspension near

Sean Avery surged past camera crews and reporters Thursday, choosing to save his comments this time for NHL commissioner Gary Bettman during a three-hour disciplinary hearing.

The Dallas Stars forward was suspended indefinitely on Tuesday just hours after he used a crude expression to describe former girlfriends now dating others while speaking to reporters.

Hockey's most notorious pest came to league headquarters in midtown Manhattan to give his version of the latest events that landed him in big trouble. Now it's up to Bettman to determine just how long Avery will be kept off the ice.

The NHL said that announcement would be made today.

"I haven't made a decision yet," Bettman said Thursday during his weekly radio show broadcast on NHL.com. "I want to take the opportunity to spend a little time thinking about what transpired at the hearing and everything that I was told and that needs to be considered.

Dressed in a gray suit and wearing big, dark designer sunglasses, Avery didn't say a word as he made his way from a car to the league office and back.

He was joined at the hearing by his agent Pat Morris, Stars general manager Brett Hull and players' association player affairs director Glenn Healy.

NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell was also in attendance, but Bettman is handling Avery's punishment.

Although this is Avery's first suspension in his seven-season NHL career, he often has courted controversy with his comments or unorthodox behavior on the ice.

MELROSE RETURNS TO ESPN: Barry Melrose will return to ESPN as a hockey analyst on Jan. 1.

Melrose, who was fired as coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning last month, will appear on SportsCenter and ESPNEWS. He'll often be paired with analyst Matthew Barnaby.

"I am very, very excited about coming back home to ESPN where I have had so many great years," Melrose said. "I look forward to analyzing people being fired rather than being the guy fired."

Melrose had worked full-time at ESPN since 1996 before leaving in June to accept the Lightning job. He was fired 16 games into the season.

CAPITALS RECALL AUCOIN: The Washington Capitals recalled forward Keith Aucoin from Hershey on Thursday and assigned forward Graham Mink to the AHL club.

Aucoin leads the AHL in points (36) and assists (27) through 24 games. Aucoin, 30, previously played in 53 career NHL games, all with the Carolina Hurricanes.

SABRES PLACE RW KALETA ON IR: Hard-hitting Buffalo Sabres forward Patrick Kaleta is out indefinitely after being placed on injured reserve Thursday because of a head and neck injury.

BLUE JACKETS TORRES TO HAVE SURGERY: Columbus Blue Jackets left wing Raffi Torres was set to have arthroscopic knee surgery Friday. He will be sidelined two to four weeks.

CANADIENS UNVEIL STATUES: The Montreal Canadiens unveiled statues of four of their most legendary players outside the Bell Centre on Thursday.

Hall of Famers Howie Morenz, Maurice "Rocket" Richard, Jean Beliveau and Guy Lafleur are depicted in bronze outside the Canadiens' downtown arena.