The NHL All-Star Game was this past weekend, and people are already calling it one of the best NHL All-Star events in recent history.
For one, the new format made the game appear more competitive and fun for fans to watch. The 3-on-3 tournament format led to fans seeing back-checking, one-timers, big saves and actual effort out of the players chosen for the game.
The All-Star Game was almost boycotted by many fans because one player wasn’t going to be allowed to play. John Scott was one of the four players to be voted in by fans to captain his division’s team for the tournament. Of the four, Scott received the most votes overall. Scott is not a superstar. Scott is a benchwarmer who is brought on the ice to make hits and fight when needed. In the 285 NHL games he has played, he has five goals, six assists and 542 penalty minutes. But Scott won the vote, and he became an All-Star.
Scott was the captain of the Pacific Division during the All-Star Game, but two weeks before the game took place, he was traded from the Arizona Coyotes, a Pacific Division team, to the Montreal Canadiens, an Atlantic Division team. Following the trade, the Canadiens demoted Scott to their AHL affiliate, the St. John’s IceCaps. The thought was, if Scott wasn’t in the NHL, let alone the Pacific Division, he couldn’t be an NHL All-Star.
Then the fans erupted. People took to Twitter, Facebook and blog posts everywhere to voice their disappointment in the NHL. News broke out that both the Coyotes and the NHL contacted Scott, asking him to decline the All-Star invitation. When Scott refused, he was traded.
Scott has been one of the most controversial players in recent NHL history. He lacks the level of skill that most other NHL players have and has been suspended in the past for hits he has made. Scott was one of the most disliked players in the NHL for a period of time. Now he is one of the most respected.
Scott is in the NHL, living his dream every time he steps on the ice. He understands his role as a guy whose duty is to protect his teammates and give them a boost if needed; whether that comes from a big hit or a fight is his choice. People also realized Scott is a family man. He has two daughters that he loves to bring to the rink and a wife who is nine months pregnant with twins. The NHL punished Scott and his family because he was the punchline to an All-Star fan vote.
Due to the pressure put on the NHL by the fans and players from around the league, Scott was allowed to captain the Pacific division. He ended up not only scoring two goals during the All-Star Game, but his team won the million-dollar prize for winning the tournament, and Scott was named the MVP of the All-Star Game.
Dominic LoVallo is the Assistant Sports Editor at The BV. His email is
lovalldv15@bonaventure.edu
