You know him, you loathe him, welcome back ...

Flash back to April 14, 2006: Avery is kicked off the Kings, not allowed to go to Phoenix for a game and will sit out the rest of the season. Avery had an argument with assistant coach Mark Hardy during practice the day before and later met with Kings general manager Dave Taylor and interim coach John Torchetti.
"We moved on without him at this point," Kings spokesman Mike Altieri said of Avery. "He was informed by our coach and general manager yesterday that his conduct has been unacceptable and we're moving forward without him."

Go back to September, 2005: Avery makes derogatory comments about French-Canadian players after then-Coyote defenseman Denis Gauthier hit the Kings' Jeremy Roenick in an exhibition game. Avery issued an apology after receiving a reprimand from the NHL.

Now, a quick review of the offseason:
Torchetti isn't back as the coach.
Taylor is fired as GM.
Dean Lombardi is hired as the new GM.
Hardy is let go along with the rest of the coaching staff.
Marc Crawford is hired as the new head coach.
Avery is invited back -- for $1.1 mil, one season, tethered to the penalty box.

“I’m excited about returning to the Kings for another year and a chance to play for the great fans in LA," Avery said today in a press release issued today by the Kings. I’m looking forward to getting back to work with my teammates and, through our hard work and determination, having the opportunity to reach my ultimate goal of winning a Stanley Cup.'

In the games he was allowed to play -- 75 of 'em -- he had career-highs with 39 points, 15 goals and 24 assists, plus a league-best 257 penalty minutes, the second straight season he has led the NHL in that category.

You want a real fight? Try taking a picture of him somewhere with his actress squeeze, Elisa Cuthbert.

This is how you may see them on Rodeo Drive, when it's a little chilly outside, when someone mistakes her for Kimberly Bauer from "24' ...

And that's a typical reaction you'd find in a newspaper the next day, one that publishes such things.

Good to have the two of you back for those Kings family picnics....