Offside

September 25, 2017
An NHL bruiser fights for the right to be himself in this bare-knuckled memoir. Avery recounts his 12-year career with the Red Wings, L.A. Kings, Dallas Stars, and New York Rangers as an “agitator” tasked with physically and verbally goading opponents to fight so that they would draw penalties or simply get rattled. His boisterous narrative details the strategy and tactics of trash talk and fisticuffs with rival players (“I get a good right hand in... and break the orbital bone of his left eye”), obnoxious civilians (“My right hand goes from hanging beside my waist to the dead center of his face”), and Paris Hilton’s entourage (“Her assistant open-hand slapped me across the face”). His activities resulted in fines, suspensions, and anger-management rehab, and precipitated trades imposed by coaches and league brass scandalized by Avery’s mouth and irrepressible individuality. Counterpointing the mayhem is the author’s blossoming as a Manhattan metrosexual, attending Met galas, interning at Vogue magazine, supporting gay marriage, and clubbing with Scarlett Johansson. Avery has a chip on his shoulder concerning his “hate-filled” reputation, and his anecdotes often skate around aimlessly without finding a point, but his voice is energetic and offbeat and his get-real revelations about drugs, team jealousies, and the lingering damage from a violent sport will hold readers’ attentions.