Arizona’s John Scott selected as NHL All-Star game captain

They are the first four players to secure roster spots for the All-Star Game thanks to the new All-Star Fan Vote, which the league introduced this season.

The Arizona Coyotes enforcer’s candidacy gained momentum through a grassroots Internet movement, which began on a Yahoo Sports podcast, then escalated through Reddit.

But if you’re wishing to strictly see just the best players in the National Hockey League compete in the 3-on-3 tournament between division teams, than maybe the voting process didn’t work out quite the way some people had hoped. And WE DID IT. Essentially the Central Division All-Stars will face the Pacific Division All-Stars one contest then the best of the Atlantic and Metropolitan will do the same with the winners facing off for the championship. Which probably indicates the fan campaign was a wild success. Scott is on record as not being a fan of this whole thing, but it looks like he’s got a trip to Nashville lined up anyways.

Playing 3-on-3 hockey in overtime was a way for the NHL not only to offer a more exciting brand of sudden death hockey for the spectators but also a way for teams to have fewer games end in a shootout. It would be cool, but I definitely don’t deserve it at this point. “I could turn it on”.

The remaining 40 players for the four All-Star rosters, which consists of six forwards, three defensemen and two goaltenders per team, will be determined by the NHL Hockey Operations Department and announced on Wednesday, Jan. 6.

Entering Saturday, Kane leads the league in points with 56, and his 23 goals have him tied for second with Dallas Stars center Tyler Seguin.

Fans were able to cast their votes throughout the month of December with the top four vote-getters for each division earning the All-Star division captain title.

Joe Pavelski, with 20 goals and 38 points in 36 games before Saturday, would still figure to have a good shot of making the Pacific Division’s team despite the inclusion of Scott.

The NHL is attempting a new format for the game this year and is ditching the fantasy draft concept that took place in each of the past three All-Star games.