The Los Angeles Kings have traded centre Sean Avery and prospect John Seymour to the New York Rangers for right winger Jason Ward along with prospects Marc-Andre Cliche and Jan Marek.
Avery, 26, has established a reputation as a contentious player with controversial statements and a league penalty minute crown part of his package.
''Sometimes players just take a little time to mature,'' said Kings general manager Dean Lombardi. ''Sean's still young, hopefully he'll continue to do so. He's going to a big stage now. If he continues (to mature), he'll do just fine. From the summer, when I first got there, there wasn't much of a market for Sean Avery. He's made progress.''
The 5-foot-11, 185-pound pivot has toned down his act this season and is on pace for his most productive season. Through 55 games, Avery has 10 goals, 28 points, 116 penalty minutes and is minus-10.
Last season, Avery scored 39 points and led the NHL with 257 penalty minutes. He has 114 points and 855 penalty minutes in 293 career NHL games.
Avery will be a restricted free agent this summer.
Ward, 27, is a 6-foot-3, 195-pound checking winger, who has 10 points in 46 games with the Rangers this season.
Cliche, who played for Canada's gold medal-winning entry at the World Junior Hockey Tournament was a second-round pick of the Rangers in 2005. Playing for Lewiston of the QMJHL, he has 36 points in 35 games this season.
''Some teams were actively pursuing Sean, the New York Rangers were very aggressive,'' Lombardi said. ''From our standpoint, the key is the young player, Cliche, who has impressed us.''
Marek is a 27 year-old forward who is the leading scorer, with 43 points in 42 games, for Metallurg Magnitogorsk in the Russian Super League.
Seymour was drafted in the 7th-round by Los Angeles in 2005 and has six points and 29 penalty minutes in 34 games with the Brampton Battalion of the OHL.