John Scott is ‘more than welcome to be here,’ says Bettman

“#NHLAllStar”, speaking both to Scott’s offensive output and Bergeron’s inability to stop playing defense, even in an All-Star Game.

So when they asked me to make a statement – nudging the fan vote in another direction and denouncing the John Scott “movement” – I did it without hesitation.

Nashville defenseman Shea Weber had a shot clocked at 108.5 miles per hour past year and will defend his title against Florida’s Aaron Ekblad, Winnipeg’s Dustin Byfuglien, Pittsburgh’s Evgeni Malkin, Dallas’ Tyler Seguin, Tampa Bay’s Steven Stamkos, Montreal’s P.K. Subban and Pacific Division captain John Scott.

The move seems to be a strained attempt at backtracking, after Scott wrote that the league reached out to him after he received the votes and advised him to skip out on the festivities – this all coming after he was traded from the Phoenix Coyotes to the Canucks and placed on their AHL squad.

Back on January 2, it was announced that Scott, who had one point in 11 games along with 25 penalty minutes with the Coyotes, had been named one of the four captains for the All-Star Game. “So if somebody came up to me right now and brought me the Cup, I’m not going to take it. You have to earn it”. We’re getting some stretches in, and passing around my new gloves. I see it in articles. But even still: there’s something about gear, you know? Hopefully I can stick around and do something in hockey. Word spread his wife was pregnant with twins and due in the next week or so.

He could have outright refused to report, yet the long time enforcer showed up at the Mile One Centre on a Saturday night and with two suitcases in hand he happily signed autographs for fans. Rask hasn’t been voted into the All-Star game even once. Again he was all smiles and laughs despite the rough situation he found himself thrust into. His All-Star Game ticket was seemingly being ripped away from him in the cruelest and most unfair way possible.

“It feels like I’m still wearing diapers when I’m next to him”, said Panthers goaltender Roberto Luongo, who will be 37 in April.

It means a lot to my family.

According to Scott, someone with the National Hockey League asked him: “Do you think this is something your kids would be proud of?”.

That was it, right there.

Florida forward Jaromir Jagr, captain of the Atlantic Division, skated in his 10th All-Star Game and became the third-oldest to take part in the event behind only Gordie Howe (51 in 1980) and Doug Harvey (44 in 1969). An All-Star game would be a great opportunity to showcase some of the talent of these student athletes, especially those that play in smaller conferences that don’t get much national attention. Previous media reports also had said the league had tried to discourage him from participating.

The NHL Players’ Association did not immediately reply to an email seeking comment.

“Not a guy like you”. Scott knew he was working the crowd well and kept going.

Scott isn’t sure how fans will react. After days of unrelenting pressure and a PR nightmare, the National Hockey League caved.

NHL All Star weekend and its biggest star could be John Scott, the last player the league wanted in Nashville. One thing no one can dispute is that he’s been a ideal gentleman considering the circumstances.

Oveckhin wasn’t the only star to bow out last-minute from the 3-on-3 All-Star tournament in Nashville, either.

“Just a guy who’s brain dead and goes out there and fights and doesn’t really know how to play hockey”, Scott said.

“I don’t want to embarrass anybody out there”. But, the game features a Velveeta cheese fountain, celebrity coaches no one has heard of, and most importantly it’s an exhibition game. As well, the league has suspended two of its biggest marquee names, Jonathan Toews and Alexander Ovechkin, for pulling out of the game earlier this week.