Brenden Morrow admits he has said he hates Sean Avery. In public.

The Stars captain does a weekly radio show and recalls a few times when he said on the air that he was bothered by the antics of the player who has been voted most hated in the NHL in multiple player surveys.

The day after Avery signed a four-year, $15.5 million contract with the Stars, Morrow wasn't entirely ready to back off those comments.

"I have said 'hate,' and I imagine if we wouldn't have signed him, I would have said I still hate him," Morrow said Thursday. "But he's a teammate now, and I'll admit that I don't really know him other than what I see on the ice. So now we need to get to know each other and work together as teammates."

Morrow said it is now his job – and the job of his teammates – to let Avery know what's acceptable.

"There are things here that we will talk about," Morrow said. "We feel we have something special going on here, and we feel we are a good team. And I have no problem with what he does as a player or how he works hard or gets people upset. But some of the stuff that makes the individual more important than the team, that's not something we want to see here."

Avery has been fined for actions on the ice and words off the ice. When he waved his stick in the face of New Jersey goalie Martin Brodeur in this year's playoffs, the NHL responded by prohibiting such behavior.

Morrow said he has not talked to management about Avery or talked to Avery. He said he expects those conversations to take place soon. Stars winger Steve Ott, the team's resident agitator, said he is fine with Avery coming to the Stars. Ott, who has been compared to Avery on many levels, said he believes Avery can fit in.

"We have a good room, and I think he can add to that," Ott said. Avery said Wednesday he likes to "manipulate the line" between good and bad and said he feels he has matured and grown in understanding how far he can push things.

"Maybe that's not always proper for the hockey gods or the traditionalists," Avery said Wednesday, "but I like to play hard, and I don't think that's going to change. That's what makes me me."

Briefly: The Stars signed right wing B.J. Crombeen, left wing Francis Wathier, defensemen Maxime Fortunas and Garrett Stafford and right wing Landon Wilson. All will be given a chance to make the team, but all are on two-way contracts, meaning they will probably provide minor league depth. Wilson, 33, is the son of associate coach Rick Wilson and is on a path to become a veteran mentor at the minor league level. ... Stu Barnes said he expects to meet next week with coach Dave Tippett and co-general manager Les Jackson about his future with the franchise. Barnes, 37, is contemplating retirement but said he hasn't made a decision. ... The Stars' annual prospect camp will be held in Frisco next week. Players will work out on the ice Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.