Sean Avery: the mouth that continues to roar

Sean Avery's trash talking never won him any popularity contests with his peers through the years, but he always managed to avoid the legal arm of the NHL.

That changed on Tuesday when the Dallas Stars forward made inappropriate comments toward Calgary defenceman Dion Phaneuf and his girlfriend, Canadian actress Elisha Cuthbert.

The remarks got Avery suspended indefinitely, and he met with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman for a hearing in New York on Thursday, where he could face further discipline.

Here is a timeline of Avery's other controversial moments:

October 1998: Playing for the Owen Sound Platers of the OHL, Avery is held back from going after Windsor's Jeff Kugel, who attacked one player during a brawl and chased another.

July 2005: Avery blasts NHLPA executive Bob Goodenow for his handling of the negotiations throughout the NHL lockout, saying the players "wasted an entire season."

September 2005: During a pre-season contest, Kings centre Jeremy Roenick suffers a concussion following a hit by Phoenix Coyotes defenceman Denis Gauthier. In defending Roenick, Avery takes a shot at Gauthier by telling reporters, "it was typical of most French guys in our league with a visor on, running around and playing tough and not back anything up."

October 2005: Avery denies directing a racial slur at Oilers winger George Laraque, who is black. He claims the enforcer "fabricated the whole thing."

November 2006: Avery is slapped with a $1,000 US fine for criticizing the NHL on its diving penalties.

April 2006: Using profanity, Avery confronts Anaheim broadcaster Brian Hayward after the former NHL goalie accuses him of refusing to fight Ducks enforcer Todd Fedoruk.

November 2007: Avery and Leafs forward Darcy Tucker exchange words before shoving begins during a pre-game incident at Madison Square Garden in New York.

October 2008: Avery continues his feud with Hockey Night In Canada's Don Cherry on The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos, saying the colourful commentator knows little about hockey.

October 2008: In an interview with ESPN, Avery slams the NHL for not properly marketing its stars and calls Calgary captain Jarome Iginla "boring."