All-Star notes: Bettman welcomes Scott; Stamkos’ and Bishop’s skills

He was originally sent down to the minors by the Arizona Coyotes, called back up, then traded to the Montreal Canadiens, who then promptly dumped him in St. John’s, thus technically making him ineligible for the All-Star Game.

“I think the most important thing for me this weekend is just to kind of enjoy the whole thing”, Scott said Friday.

“I think it’s the best possible outcome right?” There’s a chance it might even be the last National Hockey League game he ever plays in.

This time around, the National Hockey League chose to change the format to a 3-on-3 tournament with teams representing the four divisions and fans were asked to vote on the four captains.

The NHL finally confirmed that despite the unique situation, John Scott will in fact be taking part in the All Star game.

“I’m nervous to be around these superstars”, Scott said.

Trotz helped build hockey in Nashville, coaching the Predators from their expansion start in 1997, and he earned a trip to this All-Star Game thanks to the Washington Capitals. “You talk to anyone who’s played with him, he’s got a great personality”. “Third- and fourth- liners don’t get much love”, he said.

Scott’s heartfelt story on The Players” Tribune about his selection entitled “A guy like me’ demonstrates a depth of personality and a warmth not usually associated with hockey’s enforcers.

“They should do something if they dont want this to happen again, ” Scott said. Teammates lifted him on their shoulders while fans chanted “MVP!” and then Scott was announced as the victor and presented with a Honda Pilot Touring SUV.

“Obviously, the fans decided it was important to vote for him, and we respect that”.

“It’s neat”, he said. If not, I can always go to work.

Of course, it won’t have Alex Ovechkin, which is disappointing from a purely All Star-centric view because it takes a guy out of the weekend who has basically been reason enough to tune in every time he’s attended, a player who really gets what it means to make the event about fun and the fans. He has scored 15 goals, one off the team high, and has 33 points, one fewer than Jonathan Huberdeau’s team-leading total. The guys from Florida know my sticks are pretty whippy.

“Even with Johnny being a tough guy, there’s not a nicer guy around”, Burns said. Players on the championship team will divide $1 million.

The fact that Jagr would rather drag his 43-year-old body to Nashville for a weekend of media commitments, a skills competition and a meaningless 3-on-3 tournament than miss a regular season game tells you everything you need to know about why Jagr is still playing at an all-star level this season.

Scott’s tumultuous ride to the All-Star Game is coming up to it’s end, and throughout all of it he’s been a consummate professional. “He just said, ‘We are happy you are here”.

Weber ripped a blast of 108.5 miles per hour past year in Columbus, about seven miles per hour faster than Winnipeg Jets defenseman Dustin Byfuglien, and could top that with the adrenaline from the loud crowd on his side.

Does he expect opponents to take it easy on the old man Sunday? “I felt I needed to say what I wanted to and The Players Tribune gave me that opportunity”. “I’m in the Hardest Shot and something else. I guess I’ll have to just wing it”. Now he’s captaining a division he doesn’t play for, in a league he’s not playing in.

The Kings will host the skills competition January 28 with the All-Star Game on January 29. However, when you examine the team’s play at even strength, their Corsi For Percentages, it’s logical that no one is sure about these teams. The Pacific is set as an early +110 underdog against the Central Division, with the victor of that matchup facing the victor of Metropolitan Division vs. Atlantic Division.