NHL Commentator Mike Milbury found himself in hot water after a controversial comment he made during Thursday's matchup between the New York Islanders and Washington Capitals.
“If you think about it, [the bubble is] a terrific environment with regard to — if you enjoy playing and enjoy being with your teammates for long periods of time, it’s a perfect place,” play-by-play man John Forslund said.
“Not even any women here to disrupt your concentration,” Milbury replied.
Both the National Hockey League and NBC condemned Milbury's comments, for which he later apologized. But now, one notable former NHL pest who generated plenty of controversy himself with off-color remarks wants his gig.
Sean Avery, who gained a reputation for being one of hockey's most controversial players due to both his on and off-ice conduct, trashed Milbury in an interview – and said he'd like to replace him on the air.
“Look, I’m not gonna say I told you so. I’m not that type of guy, but I told you so,” Avery said in a series of Instagram story posts Friday, while holding his young son Nash. “[Executive producer and president, production of NBC & NBCSN] Sam Flood, NHL on NBC, just pick up the phone and call me. I’m a ratings machine, OK? This is what the people want. Don’t feel bad about calling me, it’s fine. I’ll come in, I’ll save the day.
“Mike Milbury? Ha ha. Ha. I told you two weeks ago. I’ve had Mike Milbury trending for two weeks. And now trending for the wrong reasons. That’s your employee. You’re the peacock network. That’s a major network. I’ll put on a peacock hat. I’ll do it for free. I will blow the ratings through the f–king roof. I’ll bring him with me. My swear jar, (Avery’s baby son) Nash, the whole deal. Let’s get it done. What do you want? You don’t even have to put me on a five-second delay, OK?”
Avery got his start in the NHL during the 2001-02 season with the Detroit Red Wings, and was traded a season later to the Los Angeles Kings, where his career began to take off. However, he quickly garnered a reputation for trash talking opponents and questionable play on the ice.
In late 2008, Avery was suspended by NHL after making a crude remark about a former girlfriend, which subsequently ended his short tenure with the Dallas Stars. He finished his NHL career with the New York Rangers, and later worked in fashion as an intern at Vogue and later a model, and as a restaurateur.
– – Quotes via Greg Joyce of The New York Post Link – –
