It was a week ago today that the Rangers placed Sean Avery on waivers, with John Tortorella explaining that, “The players that are here are better than Sean Avery.” He wasn’t claimed, however, and now Avery has reported to the team’s AHL affiliate in Hartford. (As Puck Daddy notes, perhaps it’s fitting that the style-conscious Avery will now play his home games in a complex that once included a shopping mall.) Avery’s played for the AHL team before, back when it was known as the Hartford Wolf Pack and he was technically still a member of the Dallas Stars organization, prior to rejoining the Rangers in the wake of his “sloppy seconds” comment. Both the Rangers and Stars, by the way, freed up some $1.9 million in cap space, though it also means that the Stars are now dangerously close to the salary floor. [Rangers Report Blog/Journal News]