By all rights, John Scott had no business being part of the NHL All-Star game. He's a 6-foot-8, 260-pound enforcer - a dying breed in the league. He's collected all of five goals and 11 points in an NHL career that has now spanned eight seasons and 285 games. Scott, who has appeared in just 11 games this season for the Arizona Coyotes, found his way into the All-Star event via an online campaign aimed at garnering the fan vote. It was, of course, inspired by irony. Hipster-esque, if you will. It was a tongue-in-cheek jabbing of the league over an annual event that has seemingly become more and more meaningless as the years pass.
Apparently, the league and commissioner Gary Bettman don't enjoy the thought of being ribbed by bloggers. TSN's Bob McKenzie reported Friday, in the wake of Scott's trade to the Montreal Canadiens, that the big forward had actually been asked by both the NHL and the Coyotes to "bow out of" the All-Star game previously.
John Scott was previously asked by both NHL and Arizona Coyotes to bow out of NHL All-Star Game. He refused. Trade likely takes care of that
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) January 15, 2016
With his trade to the Habs, who will send him to their AHL affiliate anyway, Scott's All-Star bid is over.
McKenzie expanded on his report of the league intentionally nixing Scott's ASG appearance late Friday afternoon.
"His inclusion in this trade, in my mind, was absolutely orchestrated to solve the All-Star issue for the league," McKenzie said, per Chris Nichols.
In the end, there's likely to be only short-lived backlash over the league's decision. Was it ridiculous of Bettman & Co. to try and stop Scott, as McKenzie is suggesting they did, from attending the All-Star game, as a captain no less?
Yes.
Is it just as ridiculous that the 33-year-old Scott was set to appear at the All-Star game in the first place?
Yes.
