Stars forward Sean Avery is serving a six-game suspension. Stars forward Sean Avery is serving a six-game suspension. (Frank Franklin II/Associated Press)

Dallas Stars executives met Wednesday to discuss what to do with outspoken Sean Avery. But unlike the man himself, they remain tight-lipped on the situation.

Stars owner Tom Hicks, president Jeff Cogen and general managers Brett Hull and Les Jackson spent most of the afternoon weighing their options and later told reporters that nothing will be announced until Avery's six-game suspension ends Saturday night.

Avery, 28, will be eligible to return to the lineup when Dallas hosts the Phoenix Coyotes next Tuesday.

"We talked it out," Jackson said prior to Wednesday night's 5-3 loss to the Coyotes.

"Everybody had an opinion. Sometime next week, we will have something put together."

Avery was suspended Dec. 5 by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman for making a crude comment about players engaging in relationships with his ex-girlfriends as the Stars prepared to play the Calgary Flames last Tuesday.

Presumably, he was referring to actress Elisha Cuthbert, who is dating Flames defenceman Dion Phaneuf, and model Rachel Hunter, who is engaged to Los Angeles Kings forward Jarret Stoll.

Avery was prohibited from playing in the game, won 3-1 by Dallas, and ordered to attend a hearing at the NHL offices in Manhattan, where he explained himself to Bettman.

'We have to focus on hockey'

Stars head coach Dave Tippett, forward Mike Modano and netminder Marty Turco expressed outrage over Avery's antics, and indicated the temptuous forward might no longer be welcome in the dressing room.

"That is an issue that management is dealing with," Stars defenceman Stephane Robidas said. "We have to focus on hockey."

Dallas can extend the suspension levied by the NHL, offer to send him for treatment for personality issues, place him on waivers or trade him.

Avery might be difficult to unload, if only because he has lots of personal baggage and a contract paying him $3.5 million US this season and 4 million US in each of the next three seasons.

Avery has posted three goals and seven assists for 10 points with 77 penalty minutes in 23 games this season.

The native of Pickering, Ont., has totalled 68 goals and 177 points with 1,144 penalty minutes in 402 games over seven NHL season with the Detroit Red Wings, Kings, New York Rangers and Stars.

With files from the Associated Press