NHL Denies Authorizing Production Of "Avery Rule" T-Shirt

The NHL has denied a report in today's N.Y. Post that claims the league has authorized Reebok to manufacture an "Avery Rule" T-shirt. The T-shirt refers to the NHL amending its rule book to outlaw the faceguarding tactics Rangers LW Sean Avery employed against Devils G Martin Brodeur during Game 3 of the teams' Eastern Conference quaterfinal series. NHL Senior VP/Communications Bernadette Mansur: "This was a concept that was brought to our attention and rejected earlier this week" (THE DAILY).

THE REPORT: In N.Y., Larry Brooks cites a source as saying that the NHL "approved the concept and design before soliciting approval" from the NHLPA, which then "asked for and was granted Avery's permission to go forward." The shirt features an NHL copyright mark, the NHL and NHLPA logos and the Rangers' logo with text that reads, "Avery Rule No. 16" in the Rangers' uniform-style lettering (N.Y. POST, 4/23).