National Hockey League ‘influencing’ All Star voting

Montreal Canadiens defenseman P. K. Subban talks with reporters during NHL hockey All-Star game media day Friday, Jan. 29, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn. But at least for one night, Scott was the star of stars, being named NHL All-Star Game MVP despite the league not including his name among the voting options for fans on the scoreboard.

Since the start of last season they are both in the top-five in the NHL in goals and along with all of the production, have been two of the most entertaining players in the league, especially when it comes to Tarasenko, a one-man highlight reel since he entered the NHL three years ago. No one was laughing anymore. My wife is due with twins and we’ve had to relocate. He suddenly became very human.

Others commended Scott for speaking honestly about his struggles.

Scott opened up about the whole saga in a great article for The Players’ Tribune. In his story, Scott said that an National Hockey League official tried to persuade him not to play by asking him if this was something his kids would be proud of.

Albeit he would be wearing a blank All-Star Game jersey in the skill competition, this in spite of Scott himself saying he’s wanted to wear a St. John’s IceCaps jersey, because “That’s who I play for now”. That was the moment.

“Now that I’m here, it’s nice. We made it. And we’ll just deal with it”. “But”, he added, “I think it’s a good thing for the game”.

If Reaves was somehow voted on and then told to step down, Blues fans would charge the gates and demand Bettman to reenact a scene from Last of The Mohicans.

In places like Buffalo where Scott has played, he’s a beloved figure in dressing rooms and front offices and a favorite among the media.

But here are some things you may not have known: He is a Michigan Tech engineering graduate.

He’s got two daughters under the age of 5.

Now, Scott’s story has gone across North America. And I think it will. You don’t want to get embarrassed on the ice, either.

The NHL allowed fans to vote for the captain of each of its four divisions as the league switches to a 3-on-3 format for this All-Star Game.

“It’s nice to kind of get appreciated, maybe?”

Scott wrote about a time when he sat on one of those 10-hour bus rides in rural Minnesota with the rest of the Huskies. “It’s really a derogatory term”. I don’t like it when people call me a goon.

“With hockey, you do not need to tell a guy to be more competitive”, he said.

Players here this weekend are universally in Scott’s corner. The league could have easily stopped this train long before it left the station. “Why not? He’s voted in”. He said he felt then like Scott initially did in 2016 – like perhaps he did not belong. “He’s really intelligent with his background”. That’s the case with Johnny. But getting there won’t be easy, as Jagr knows. “He’s a piece of work, that’s for sure”. He may not be your typical All-Star in terms of skills, but the fans voted him in. It’s probably not going to happen again. Jagr did not want to be here, but he came anyway, although do not expect him to compete in the fastest skater competition. That’s the logical thing to do, right?

Scott, the ultimate fourth-liner, had a good laugh when that comment was relayed to him. “I’m in the Hardest Shot and something else”. They’re always editing the lists because some guys don’t want to do certain events. “There’s just a lot of prima donnas here”. And I guarantee there’s nobody would say yes because it’s not about the Cup.

Someone asked what record means the most to him at this stage, when he sets some sort of mark almost every time he takes the ice. The game is scheduled to be played in Nashville, Sunday, Jan. 31. “I don’t know“, he said. “A lot of this stuff is undeserving, what he’s received as far as treatment. Whether the situation warrants another look and possible change to the rules will be evaluated and decided at a later time”.

“I wanted to get one, but I heard they were sold out”, Scott said. “It’s obviously an anomaly”. “The guys who are there now can play a little bit”.

Anyway, when Scott takes the ice on Sunday, he’ll be cheered on by more people than he can imagine. And he was serious.

“Well, that’s the question”, he said. Then he whipped out his phone. “All right. Don’t move”.

“We had to make a conscious decision on that”, Washington coach Barry Trotz said. They never will be able to return those ungrateful words.

He couldn’t stop smiling.

As everyone is well aware by now, the Tampa Bay Lightning has two players representing the team at the NHL All-Star Game this year.

The NHL has treated Scott like dog shit during this ordeal.