John Scott named All Star MVP

[Azure]

Originally Posted by pylon

I don't think it's your opinion that is riling people up, it's the vitriol you seem to have towards the guy. Don't forget the league created the role this guy filled, whether you like the existence of it or not. This guy had no intention of doing what he did, but like any guy who ever played the game, he was given a chance to live the dream in one way shape or form, and grasped on to it, like any red blooded Canadian guy would have.

Whether or not you agree or not, it was a very cool human interest story, and a kinda sad one at the same time. Who knew lumbering John Scott, is more educated than you, me and 90% of the members on this board? Who knew, the players, even from teams he terrorized, still think he's a great guy?

He really is the last of his species, so you should be overjoyed this is probably it for him and his kind.

Oh please. The league doesn't make anyone play a dirty game. The league didn't tell Torres to run guys over and over again.

Players choose to play dirty.

Lame excuse for a player who chose to take his game too far. There have been lots enforcers and straight out goons that played the game a lot cleaner than Scott did.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Really the thing that made Scott a hero in this has nothing to do with himself, and everything to do with how piss poor the NHL were at handling this.

If he would have just been voted in with no NHL controversy then it's just a throwaway vote.

But the NHL handles it terribly, there is a shady-ish trade that goes down, and then it gets released that somebody from the NHL brought his kids into the whole situation.

And then just like that A Players Tribune article turned him into a sympathetic figure that we all cared about overnight.

Most people that reach the point Scott is at has an interesting story to share, and even the most arrogant athletes would garner sympathy if they wrote an article about themselves.

Burrows has a story too. The guy started playing roller hockey. Does that make him any less of a loser? Ask Resolute, because he is the first guy to jump on the Burrows is a loser train.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by GoJetsGo

The crowd that is angry at Scott (or his presence at the game) need to direct their anger and frustration where it belongs: at the NHL.

They are 100% at fault for him being there as they gave the fans a blank check to vote him in.

With it having happened in voting a few years in a row now, they should have seen the troll job coming.

You can't tell the fans they can pick someone and then get angry when the do it.

I wasn't crazy about him being there either, but the NHL did open to door for it.

At the end of the day, the sentiment really made the story overwhelmingly a positive one. Anyone who didn't find it as such is really a grumpy person.

I will agree the NHL should amend it's policy to prevent fringe players from being selected as it's unlikely that magic can be rekindled... but this weekend really did turn out to be a great story. Full stop.

Don't care about the voting process. I honestly wouldn't mind if some more guys that make a career playing on the 4th line make it to the allstar game.

My issue with Scott being there is STRICTLY about the way he plays the game.

If I go back and read the threads discussing some of the dirty hits Scott has thrown over the years, many CP fans agree with me. But now, suddenly they don't. To me, rising above the stupidity of the NHL, the Coyotes/Canadians and the obvious trolling of the fans that voted for him does not exclude from a career of playing the way he does.

[GoJetsGo]

Originally Posted by Azure

If I go back and read the threads discussing some of the dirty hits Scott has thrown over the years, many CP fans agree with me. But now, suddenly they don't.

So your point here lost in all this text is that you're angry people here aren't more outraged because of Scott's history and character?

Can you elaborate in specific who the posters are you claim agreed with you before and have now flip flopped?

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

I agree with the TSN poll. Leiv Schreiber would be perfect.

Took the words right out of my mouth. I was just looking him up to make sure I spelled his name right.

He was great in Goon.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by GoJetsGo

So your point here lost in all this text is that you're angry people here aren't more outraged because of Scott's history and character?

Can you elaborate in specific who the posters are you claim agreed with you before and have now flip flopped?

No, my problem is that people think its wrong that I think a player like Scott doesn't deserve to play in the allstar game because of how he plays hockey.

And yes, there are threads on here talking about hits Scott has made and many people think he should have been kicked out of the league. Just like we think Torres, Cooke and other dirty players should be kicked out of the league.

[Red Potato Standing By]

but his peers seemed to be okay with it, and if he was such a dirty player i don't personally feel that would be the case..my opinion of course.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Azure

But good on Scott for taking it all in stride. Maybe now he'll see a different face to the players before he mashes them in the head.

Wanna know why you guys are so far in the minority on this thing? Self-serving, arrogant tripe like this.

It must honestly kill you that guys like Scott tend to be immensely popular with their peers.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Wanna know why you guys are so far in the minority on this thing? Self-serving, arrogant tripe like this.

It must honestly kill you that guys like Scott tend to be immensely popular with their peers.

I think a lot of people quickly overlook lots of the dirty hits that happen in the NHL on almost a daily basis.

Pretty sure I've seen even you complain about the wheel of justice in the NHL, where players aren't punished enough for predatory hits. Scott is by far not even the worst at it. But he IS part of it.

In fact, James Neal and Ovie have probably thrown dirtier hits.

But in the name of hockey we as fans forgive them. The NHL forgives them, until they do it again. Torres did it how many times? And each time the NHL basically gave him a slap on the wrist. How far does it have to go?

The NFL is very similar. Players are killing themselves because they can't deal with the health and medical issues of being hurt, being hit in the head, etc, etc.

Maybe I stand alone on this issue, but headshots, especially predatory ones should carry a extremely stiff sentence. However, we are so quick to forgive, quick to love a guy like Scott if we see a human face, or hear his story. Torres has a story too. Probably a very interesting one. As does Burrows, as did George Parros and Matt Cooke.

That is why the NHL does nothing. That is why the NFL does nothing. Because we as fans love the players that use helmets as weapons. We forgive the players who blindside guys and give them concussions, especially if they play for our team. We love the big hit, the guy getting KOed. And yet nobody thinks of the hell Eriksson lived through while had a concussion. Or the hell Hamhuis' wife goes through knowing her husband is on the brink.

Personally, I care more about the health and safety of the players than I do about a guy like Scott getting his 5 min of fame. I don't care if his peers love him. Hockey is a close fraternity. Torres has to almost kill someone before players publicly ask why he is still allowed to play in the NHL. Cooke had how many dirty hits and how many teams gave him another chance? This is a huge business we are talking about, and players and teams will do anything to win and make money. We as fans feed that.

Therefore as a fan I have the right to say I do not agree with it. But don't call me arrogant when I do it. Scott can't run away from his dirty hits because he is a standup guy and rose above the stupidity of the NHL by going to the allstar game.

[sharkov]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Scott has been approached with possibly basing a movie on his career and a slew of endorsements

http://www.tsn.ca/talent/mondaymustr...movie-1.431618

They should have willem dafoe as mike babcock.

[Calgary4LIfe]

It doesn't strike me as much of a sound argument when people start pointing at Raffi Torres, Matt Cooke and even Burrows for getting voted in next year, and wondering if the Scott supporters would also show the same rah rah behavior.

Yes, Scott did cross the line a couple of times. Has he apologized? Has he actually changed his ways? Has he ever ended someone's career? Has he pulled hair and bit fingers before?

John Scott is and was popular this year for a number of reasons:

1) Underdog - everyone loves an underdog.
2) He actually does have a pretty interesting story.
3) He was really voted in.
4) He is a dying breed of player in the NHL - the enforcer era is quickly coming to an end, and (imo - and I am sure others share it as well) it was a 'send-off' of sorts for not only him, but for the entire genre of player.
5) He is a 6'8" player that most didn't think could keep up with the play and experience any amount of success - it added to the 'underdog' stance.

Torres and Cooke have both ended careers. Goons are sent out there to intimidate, play physical and fight. Yes, it was an unfortunate hit on Erickson, but let's not act like he makes a career out of intentionally illegally hurting people out there. There is a reason that guys like Scott and McGrattan were some of the last of these types left in the game - they weren't idiots on the ice. It is a fine line they play to stay relevant in the game, and not hurt their team. That era is, for all intents and purposes, over.

Would I cheer a Raffi Torres or a Matt Cooke because I cheered for Scott? Why would I? 1 of those is unlike the others here. Both Torres and Cooke have a very long rap sheet of intentionally hurting people, often in an illegal manner, and have ended careers or have seriously negatively impacted careers. They are the exact types of players that the league should have gotten rid of before the enforcers. I don't care that Burrows is a 'feel good' underdog story because he played rollerhockey, and came out of the ECHL to become a top-line winger for a time on the Canucks. If it was just one or two foolish incidents upon which he matured, apologized and moved forward - I would accept him, Canuck stink and all. But he doesn't apologize, crosses the line often, and so on.

What is the number one question when other players practice with Canuck players? I think it was Mason Raymond that stated it in an interview: "Is he always like that?" - referring to Burrows. You sort of have to assume that his peers view Burrows in that kind of a light, no? Doubt he would get that support from his peers that we saw Scott getting, regardless of any other similarities to Scott in getting to play in the ASG.

Scott seemed to be supported by his peers, and the rest of the players seemed to rally around him this weekend. That says something. That says quite a lot in my mind, and that was one of the best stories to come out this weekend.

Having someone else there would not have made the ASG more 'competitive' - come on, these guys are not willing to risk injury in an absolutely meaningless game. I doubt that 2 teams purposefully lost just so Scott could win some cash and a car. If anything, guys on Scott's team probably tried harder than they would have for Scott's benefit, and it resulted in a more competitive game overall. People seem to be really reaching in some arguments to validate their stance on Scott.

Should he have been there based on merit? No, there isn't a single person making that argument - including Scott himself. He deserved to be there because he got voted in. His peers - the same guys who he supposedly want him out of the game because he is ending careers - all rallied around him and supported him. It turned out to be not only a more exciting and fun to watch ASG, but for once it was also an emotional and 'feel good' event.

You want to see a competitive ASG game? Simple. Throw out all the stars with multi-million dollar contracts, and replace them all with a bunch of guys making bare minimum and just hanging onto their careers. Just like Scott said - that $90K means a lot to a guy like that, and you would probably see guys trying a bit harder out there. No star player is going to risk injury and jeopardize his career in a meaningless game.

[darthma]

I wish it was McGrattan instead. Then we'd all get along.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by Azure

Oh please. The league doesn't make anyone play a dirty game. The league didn't tell Torres to run guys over and over again.

Players choose to play dirty.

Lame excuse for a player who chose to take his game too far. There have been lots enforcers and straight out goons that played the game a lot cleaner than Scott did.

So by your logic, any player that has thrown a dirty hit that resulted in a concussion, or made a play that resulted in a suspension, should not be eligible to compete in the All-Star game.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Iggy City

And Kurt Russell as Jagr.

I personally think that the Travelling Jagrs should take turns playing him.

[Trailer Fire]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

Perfect post shortened for he sake of brevity.

You have put into words what I wasn't able to. Thank you.

I will also add that a guy like Jarome Iginla has almost twice as many fights as Scott does, but Iginla is hailed as a hero and a superstar. Yes, Iggy potted his fair share of goals, but looking back at HockeyFights you see how many of his fights were staged in the same way Scotts were. They would drop the mitts, take off their helmets, and square off.

A lot of people have taken extremes in regards to Scott at the ASG. It baffles me. Why get offended?

[calumniate]

Mcgrattan for next all Star game would be sweet. There's honestly not enough recognition for these types of players. They laid everything on the line for their teammates, and is why they are so well liked among players. As was said before they're not perfect but they are not Matt Cooke's either.
I don't want to go full Don Cherry here but they played a role and a lot of them suffered some serious consequences. You want to write them off, fine. But they played a role that you'll be hard pressed to see again moving forward

[Larry David]

Originally Posted by Trailer Fire

You have put into words what I wasn't able to. Thank you.

I will also add that a guy like Jarome Iginla has almost twice as many fights as Scott does, but Iginla is hailed as a hero and a superstar. Yes, Iggy potted his fair share of goals, but looking back at HockeyFights you see how many of his fights were staged in the same way Scotts were. They would drop the mitts, take off their helmets, and square off.

A lot of people have taken extremes in regards to Scott at the ASG. It baffles me. Why get offended?

What's further baffling is most people admit they could care less about the All-Star game and most admit to not watching it, but most will p*ss and moan about the selections year after year. Yes I know JS is the extreme on that, but what is his inclusion taking away? The "integrity" of a game that's been broken for years? A spot from a star player who may not even want to be there (you see more and more players finding ways to avoid the game altogether, willing to be suspended to so).

John Scott added some emotion and excitement to the game this year. It was the most fun the game has been in YEARS. That's all this game is suppose to be. FUN. It's outcome is meaningless. Scott was hurting no one by being there.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[N-E-B]

John Scott being in the ASG didn't bug me at all, but what's really annoying is how the NHL is now promoting him and riding his coattails after initially not wanting him there. Jay Onrait even called them on this last night (although the tweet seems to have been deleted).

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by N-E-B

John Scott being in the ASG didn't bug me at all, but what's really annoying is how the NHL is now promoting him and riding his coattails after initially not wanting him there. Jay Onrait even called them on this last night (although the tweet seems to have been deleted).

true but the same can be said about the people that initially voted for him saying smugly "you see we were right to vote him in"

cut the bull####...you picked the worst player in the league as a joke not because he is a great guy and has a nice family

[Azure]

Originally Posted by pylon

So by your logic, any player that has thrown a dirty hit that resulted in a concussion, or made a play that resulted in a suspension, should not be eligible to compete in the All-Star game.

I think players that throw predatory hits that result in significant injury should be banned from hockey for a very long time.

Some people might think that is going too far, but when a guy like Iginla can play a hard game for years and never once throw a predatory, viscous hit, there is no reason anyone else can't keep themselves from crossing that line either.

And if you do that, players will stop. Just liked they stopped hooking because the NHL decided all hooking will be called.

But this wishy washy sit on the fence garbage isn't helping anyone. Concussions are a very real problem. Go back all the way to minor hockey and you can already see the result of years of neglect towards players that play over the line.