UPD: NHL announces Scott WILL captain the Pacific team

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Oh, Scott was - if not the butt of the joke - very close to it at first. But the way he has handled it gained him a fair bit of personal popularity. And that, I think, is one of the major reasons why this is turning into a public relations disaster for the NHL. Friedman's take is fairly interesting because his seems to be one of very few that is defending the NHL's position. (edit: equating it to 'online bullying' is just embarrassing for Friedman though.) Most others (give or take a git like Damien Cox) are lambasting the NHL for its handling of the situation. Even outlets like Forbes are starting to take on the 'NHLPA should investigate/file a grievance' position.

Ironically, removing Scott from the game has done more harm to the NHL's reputation than leaving him in would have. And as everyone in the media has been pointing out, toying with the vote has pretty much become an annual tradition among NHL fans. Can't fault anyone but the NHL for failing to learn the lessons of the past several years.

Yup. It's the timing.

1) If the NHL had changed the vote rules "you can no longer votes for unlisted players" after the first stats came out, that's ok.
2) Even after the results closed and they came out and said, the John Scott votes are thrown out due to 'voting irregularities" that's ok.
3) If the NHL embraced the schick and let him play, that's ok.

But they chose the worst possible, they accepted the vote results, ADVERTISED ALL OVER THE MEDIA THAT JOHN SCOTT WAS A CAPTAIN. And now they are striping it from him. That's just wrong.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by heep223

He should really just quietly back out at this point.

Why should he be expected to do that? The NHL should really just honor the fan vote.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by wretched34

Honest question.... if John Scott had not recently been named an All-Star captain, due too an Internet hoax, would the recent trade be news?

Honestly, I bet if the whole all-star fiasco wasn't going on, real hockey fans would be overjoyed that John Scott had been traded, and buried in the minors, with little to no chance of ever playing another NHL game.
There are a mass of fans around the league, and on CP that openly oppose the exact type of player that he is, but because he was the punchline of an Internet troll job, all of a sudden he's a victim?

He's a victim because the NHL advertised him as an all-star captain.

he's still on the roster
http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=110187

[Poe969]

I'm willing to bet that if the Canadians traded Scott to the oilers or canaucks then I'd bet he could play and be the captain.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by codynw

Why should he be expected to do that? The NHL should really just honor the fan vote.

I guess if i were him I'd feel pretty embarrassed by the whole thing. Especially as it drags on.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Question: even if Scott was the butt of a joke why do we care? He clearly doesn't. I noticed that being brought up a lot here and also on the radio by Friedman and I just don't get it.

We know the NHL likely had nothing to do with the trade since Maloney has come out and explained that he needed the roster space. I'm sure Scott is aware that this started as trolls making fun of him that he's so bad that he never should've gone to the All-Star game but he's just gonna roll with it and enjoy it anyways. Why back out due to embarrassment and shame? Why not say #### the trolls I'm gonna make the best of this?

Now he can't go people feel kind of sorry for him, the NHL looks just as stupid as they did the entire time due to their stupid voting system. Can't we just move on? Or is the All-Star game so on interesting that this is the only worthwhile thing to talk about?

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

Question: even if Scott was the butt of a joke why do we care? He clearly doesn't. I noticed that being brought up a lot here and also on the radio by Friedman and I just don't get it.

We know the NHL likely had nothing to do with the trade since Maloney has come out and explained that he needed the roster space. I'm sure we all know that Scott is aware that they're making fun of him that he so bad that he never should've gone to the All-Star game but he's just gonna roll with it and enjoy it anyways.

Now he can't go people feel kind of sorry for him, the NHL looks just as stupid as they did the entire time due to their stupid voting system. Can't we just move on? Or is the All-Star game so on interesting that this is the only worthwhile thing to talk about?

People are looking at it at a macro level. If something important as the all-star to the NHL can be bungled like this, what else can be messed up. It's looking at the NHL as a whole.

*and we can't argue the ASG isn't important. the ASG, the winter classic and the final itself are the most important events in the NHL calendar.

[CroFlames]

I just want to reiterate again that John Scott might look a little out of place at the ASG, but it wouldn't be like some night and day difference between him and the rest of the all stars. Especially since it's an ASG and not a real game.

Yes, even a guy like John Scott can skate, shoot, handle and pass quite well. This isn't the 80s folks.

[wretched34]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

He's a victim because the NHL advertised him as an all-star captain.

he's still on the roster
http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=110187

Then if he's still on the roster where is the inelligible to play coming from? Has the NHL come out and said that? Or is it just assumed, because he was traded and the Canadiens put him in the minors (where he belongs).
The guy had only played in 25% of the Coyotes games this year, who's to say he'd have remained on their roster leading up to the ASG? Or were the Coyotes just supposed to keep him up, because a bunch of Internet trolls voted him into the ASG as a joke, because that's how NHL teams manage their rosters while they fight to make the playoffs.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

@textcritic because there is too much post to quote but you can't possibly believe that Scott will literally stumble around and embarrass the nhl. He's an nhler. Not Goldberg from the mighty ducks. He won't be very good but then again the competition will not be tough these guys coast around the entire time.

With so much more room on the ice, I expect the pace to pick up a fair bit from previous years. The key to 3v3 we have come to see is strategic puck possession, but it also involves a lot of quick transitions and zone entry. I maintain that Scott's presence would be obvious for all the wrong reasons.

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

Furthermore I think you are mischaracterizing Friedmans opinions as facts or even insider info. With the exception of his debunking of the NHL conspiracy stuff regarding the trade itself that whole segment was opinion and conjecture.

Yes, this is primarily true. However, when Friedman talks about the emotional tenor ("everyone from the NHL, to the Coyotes, to the Canadiens, to John Scott is mad") of all the implicated parties, he is speaking from interactions that he has actually had with people involved. Furthermore, when Rhett Warrener speaks about his own feelings on the subject, he is speaking as a former player who is still very closely connected to a number of current players. I would venture to suggest that his opinion carries some weight in this regard.

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

John Scott absolutely was chosen as a joke because the fans were voting it as a joke want to expose the NHL stupid system by choosing the worst player possible. That being said once he was voted in a large number of fans including people on this forum supported his going to the All-Star game.

All fans? Were everyone's motives as pure as the driven snow? Were all votes initially cast meant to embarrass JUST the NHL? I'm not convinced.

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

I also believe most fans who have since supported Scott do so for one of two reasons. Either they agree and think the NHL's voting system is stupid or they think it's kind of cool that a guy who never otherwise would be able to go was able to go.

Certainly, there are numbers of fans who are actively thinking this way. But you can't be so naïve to expect that those with less than good intentions toward Scott are also going to actively report this far and wide. I can't be the only one who harbours a small sense of anticipation to see just how much better the NHL elite are than John Scott. I recognise that as a poor motivation, but are you so sure that everyone else will similarly respond?

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

I think it is nothing short of silly to even suggest that the NHL or anyone else is protecting Scott by not letting him go. And I firmly believe that most players support his going because they also think the All-Star game is somewhat of a joke.

And you, like me, believe what you believe in a vacuum of available information. The point here being not necessarily that I am right about all of this, but that I am very reasonably so about most of it. I agree with you that there is no actual intent on the part of the Canadiens (remember: the NHL has not shown any sign that they will prevent Scott from attending) to protect Scott. But I do believe that he is protected from what could be an embarrassing situation nevertheless.

Having said that: when we hear reports about discussions that the Coyotes and the League had with John Scott in an effort to encourage him to bow out, how do you imagine these unfolded? I for one would not be remotely surprised if the very real probability that Scott would embarrass himself in fact was a prevalent theme.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Yup. It's the timing.

1) If the NHL had changed the vote rules "you can no longer votes for unlisted players" after the first stats came out, that's ok.
2) Even after the results closed and they came out and said, the John Scott votes are thrown out due to 'voting irregularities" that's ok.
3) If the NHL embraced the schick and let him play, that's ok.

But they chose the worst possible, they accepted the vote results, ADVERTISED ALL OVER THE MEDIA THAT JOHN SCOTT WAS A CAPTAIN. And now they are striping it from him. That's just wrong.

Good lord, and for the last time: THE REPORTS OF THE WEEKEND HAVE BEEN ABUNDANTLY UNANIMOUS IN THIS REGARD: THE NHL IS NOT PREVENTING JOHN SCOTT FROM ATTENDING THE ASG.

He was traded. His current team has assigned him to the AHL. While he is in the AHL, he is unable to attend.

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

Question: even if Scott was the butt of a joke why do we care? He clearly doesn't. I noticed that being brought up a lot here and also on the radio by Friedman and I just don't get it.

The reason that was brought up is because people were turning this into "John Scott the person" and how his feeling are being hurt by this. Those same people weren't too concerned about his feelings when they voting him in as the worst player they could think of. He started out as the butt of their joke but when things went bad for him they started championing him as a victim when they are the ones who put him in the position to begin with.

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

We know the NHL likely had nothing to do with the trade since Maloney has come out and explained that he needed the roster space.

Good luck convincing people of that, most people are convinced the NHL is covering up a grand conspiracy.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Good lord, and for the last time: THE REPORTS OF THE WEEKEND HAVE BEEN ABUNDANTLY UNANIMOUS IN THIS REGARD: THE NHL IS NOT PREVENTING JOHN SCOTT FROM ATTENDING THE ASG.

He was traded. His current team has assigned him to the AHL. While he is in the AHL, he is unable to attend.

C'mon, man. You know this is all about optics. The guy the NHL didn't want there and asked not to go got traded and buried right after refusing the NHL's requests. That is all far too convenient for many to take at face value. And that is also why this is snowballing on the league.

You are doing a fine job of casting aspersions against Scott for his reasoning in wanting to go. Seems kind of silly for you to be SCREAMING AT THE TOP OF YOUR LUNGS because the NHL is getting the same treatment.

In that vein... while you do note that Friedman's comments about some players being unhappy that he was going to be there, it should also be noted that several other players have spoken openly about how he should have been there. And for each Rhett Warrener who says Scott shouldn't have gone, there is a Mike Commodore saying that he got screwed. It would be fair to say that the players themselves are as divided on this as the fans.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

C'mon, man. You know this is all about optics. The guy the NHL didn't want there and asked not to go got traded and buried right after refusing the NHL's requests. That is all far too convenient for many to take at face value. And that is also why this is snowballing on the league.

No. This is snowballing on the League because people will gullibly believe every conspiracy that depends on convenience and correlation to appear plausible. Forgive me for forming my opinions on the evidence provided by the sources closest to the situation at hand.

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

In that vein... while you do note that Friedman's comments about some players being unhappy that he was going to be there, it should also be noted that several other players have spoken openly about how he should have been there. And for each Rhett Warrener who says Scott shouldn't have gone, there is a Mike Commodore saying that he got screwed. It would be fair to say that the players themselves are as divided on this as the fans.

Absolutely agree.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by wretched34

Then if he's still on the roster where is the inelligible to play coming from? Has the NHL come out and said that? Or is it just assumed, because he was traded and the Canadiens put him in the minors (where he belongs).
The guy had only played in 25% of the Coyotes games this year, who's to say he'd have remained on their roster leading up to the ASG? Or were the Coyotes just supposed to keep him up, because a bunch of Internet trolls voted him into the ASG as a joke, because that's how NHL teams manage their rosters while they fight to make the playoffs.

Originally Posted by Textcritic

No. This is snowballing on the League because people will gullibly believe every conspiracy that depends on convenience and correlation to appear plausible. Forgive me for forming my opinions on the evidence provided by the sources closest to the situation at hand.

OK. Let's take the NHL website at face value, he's still the captain and he's still playing. How close to the all-star game do we have to get until something is announced (if there are any changes at all).

[Textcritic]

^
It will probably come right down o the wire. We are all pretty strongly convinced that John Scott will still be in the AHL by the time of the start of the All Star Weekend, but I would expect that the NHL will wait until it comes to that.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

OK. Let's take the NHL website at face value, he's still the captain and he's still playing. How close to the all-star game do we have to get until something is announced (if there are any changes at all).

Originally Posted by Textcritic

^
It will probably come right down o the wire. We are all pretty strongly convinced that John Scott will still be in the AHL by the time of the start of the All Star Weekend, but I would expect that the NHL will wait until it comes to that.

I sort of felt that as soon as the voting window ended and he was named a Captain that his All-Star Game status was set regardless of whatever else happened barring injury.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

C'mon, man. You know this is all about optics. The guy the NHL didn't want there and asked not to go got traded and buried right after refusing the NHL's requests. That is all far too convenient for many to take at face value. And that is also why this is snowballing on the league.

Not really, he was waived 3x this season. This happened to him in particular because he was the worst player in the NHL, and Phoenix needed to create a roster spot and it is the most obvious to clear that roster spot by getting rid of your worst player. I doubt the NHL can force a team to trade for a player. Wouldn't surprise me if Phoenix wants to distance themselves from this circus though.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

Not really, he was waived 3x this season. This happened to him in particular because he was the worst player in the NHL, and Phoenix needed to create a roster spot and it is the most obvious to clear that roster spot by getting rid of your worst player. I doubt the NHL can force a team to trade for a player. Wouldn't surprise me if Phoenix wants to distance themselves from this circus though.

That's what they want you to believe. The truth is out there.

[Southside]

Note to NHL.

Fix the all-star voting process so that internet trolls can't make fools of the league by voting some loser in as captain.

While you're at it, fix the draft lottery so trolls posing as hockey executives can't make fools of the league by perpetually selecting first overall at the entry draft.