UPD: NHL announces Scott WILL captain the Pacific team

[wretched34]

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).

I'd assume it'll be decided after Montreal submits their roster on the 26th, for their final game leading into all-star weekend. If Scott is not on the active roster, he should not be eligible for the game, unless Montreal decides to recall him during the break.

[Hockey Fan #751]

I remember when Brad Marsh played in the NHL All-Star Game in 1993. He was in the final year of his career and it was back when the NHL would select a "veteran" from each team, generally in the final year of their career.

He didn't score a goal that season but scored a goal in the all-star game. I thought that was pretty cool. It's the only thing I remember from that game.

I don't think Scott would have really embarrassed himself in the all-star game. If anyone is thinking it'll be some sort of fast-paced game, they're mistaken. It'll be slow and sloppy. Remember when the "young stars" used to play that four-on-four game? It'll be something like that I bet.

[CASe333]

Who wouldn't have been a bit intrigued with the 6'7" John Scott playing with Johnny Gaudreau. It could have been a marketing goldmine! I am sure Scott could have provided the necessary duties of getting the puck to Gaudreau then standing in front of the net too.

Optics really are bad for the NHL on this one in my opinion but I don't think you can prove the NHL had anything to do with the final outcome.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Not sure why this is dragging out so long. If there is some sort of roster bonus for being on the team, by all means pay it. Otherwise, just say he is ineligible for being in the AHL, or be more honest and say he isn't good enough to represent any team in the all-star game. Done and done.

[GirlySports]

He has to be in the AHL on which day to be inelligible? ? As GGG stated earlier. Is there even a rule?

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by Jacks

They were making a mockery of the AS game by voting in the worst possible player. How is that not making Scott the butt of the joke?

Was he specially singled out? I'm sure most people had no idea who he was until this whole thing was announced, I know I certainly didn't. I'm sure a number of posters from this site voted for him. Why don't we ask them why they voted for Scott? Making fun of Scott? Making fun of the league?

[Poe969]

They were making fun of the league by making fun of Scott. They tried to put the worst possible player in the all star game. By voting him in, they're making it public that they think he's the worst player. They go hand in hand.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Do we know for sure this was started by trolls? I don't doubt it I've just seen it mentioned about 100 times in this thread and have never seen a link. I'm assuming from Reddit.

And Poe I think it is a small but important distinction, I think the people that supported Scott, in general since obviously there can be many motivations, were making fun of the league by voting in a total plug. They singled out Scott but he was a bystander. Not a target. I'm pretty sure he knows he sucks. This almost certainly wasn't some grassroots 'let's vote in the nicest guy in the league' sympathy campaign.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by burn_baby_burn

Was he specially singled out? I'm sure most people had no idea who he was until this whole thing was announced, I know I certainly didn't. I'm sure a number of posters from this site voted for him. Why don't we ask them why they voted for Scott? Making fun of Scott? Making fun of the league?

Yes, he was singled out. And yes, most fans - especially in the communities that led the campaign - knew full well who he is. His goals, few though they are, have long been big news on Reddit, for instance.

[Poe969]

So they didn't intend to make fun of Scott but by telling fans who don't follow hockey to vote for Scott because he's the worst, it's letting people who didn't know he's the worst that he's the worst.

"Hey everyone, vote for this guy because he's the worst! Don't worry John, we're not making fun of you"

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by Poe969

So they didn't intend to make fun of Scott but by telling fans who don't follow hockey to vote for Scott because he's the worst, it's letting people who didn't know he's the worst that he's the worst.

"Hey everyone, vote for this guy because he's the worst! Don't worry John, we're not making fun of you"

Yeah poor guy he's probably devastated that the terrible Reddit joke will make him tens of thousands of dollars and give him one of the best weekends of his life. Sounds awful. Well would've been awful. All a moot point now.

Maybe you guys can troll me by entering me into some sort of bachelor contest where all the other contestants are rich and famous actors and the prize is a night with Scarlett Johannsen. Man I'd be so insulted if I was voted in as a joke because I'm poor and not famous.

[troutman]

Reminds me of a movie:

A high school jock makes a bet that he can turn an unattractive girl into the school's prom queen.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by troutman

Reminds me of a movie:

A high school jock makes a bet that he can turn an unattractive girl into the school's prom queen.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

...Maybe you guys can troll me by entering me into some sort of bachelor contest where all the other contestants are rich and famous actors and the prize is a night with Scarlett Johannsen. Man I'd be so insulted if I was voted in as a joke because I'm poor and not famous.

Yes, I am sure you would feel amazing if the contest worked like the Bachelor, and it was painfully obvious to you and everyone else in the same room with a Hollywood jetting crowd that you are completely out or her league, and are only there as the sideshow. That's more analogous to Scott's presence at the All Star Game.

[taxbuster]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

Do we know for sure this was started by trolls? I don't doubt it I've just seen it mentioned about 100 times in this thread and have never seen a link. I'm assuming from Reddit.

It started from a convo involving Greg Wyshynski of Puck Daddy:

The topic was a central talking point of the Marek vs. Wyshynski hockey podcast that week, and co-hosts Jeff Marek of Sportsnet in Canada and Yahoo!'s Wyshynski riffed on players that would be fun to see in the 3-on-3 format. In jest, Wyshynski blurted out Scott's name, mostly because of what he might look like trying to keep up with faster, more skilled stars.

From: https://sports.vice.com/en_us/articl...d-nhl-all-star

From there, well. Internet.

[killer_carlson]

Originally Posted by Poe969

So they didn't intend to make fun of Scott but by telling fans who don't follow hockey to vote for Scott because he's the worst, it's letting people who didn't know he's the worst that he's the worst.

"Hey everyone, vote for this guy because he's the worst! Don't worry John, we're not making fun of you"

Most of the critics make it sound like Scott - who played 4 years and graduated from college - doesn't understand what is going on.

It seems you refuse to acknowledge that he knows exactly what is going on, thinks it will be fun, thinks he'll make some money going, and has the support of teammates.

And it seems awfully personal for you as well.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Yes, I am sure you would feel amazing if the contest worked like the Bachelor, and it was painfully obvious to you and everyone else in the same room with a Hollywood jetting crowd that you are completely out or her league, and are only there as the sideshow. That's more analogous to Scott's presence at the All Star Game.

It really isn't a better analogy though. Scott's presence is nothing like what you just described. He'll fit right in. Plus he's already won. The victory is getting to go. Or would've been. So really my analogy isn't very good either. Point is him getting to go obviously trumps random internet people making fun of him.

This whole angle you keep working about him being out of place due to his skill level seems totally irrelevant to me. The NHL looking bad for its voting system, NHL looking bad because a legit NHLer gets left at home, teammates being upset because they can't go, other teams players being upset a scrub gets to go, Scott's past suspensions and dirty play, this whole thing being a practical joke designed to embarrass the NHL. These are all valid concerns that I understand people debating. Scotts ability to compete in the least competitive or interesting game of hockey this side of Canada vs Trinidad and Tobego at the WJHC is not even on the radar as far as I'm concerned. You may be concerned but I just don't see it. And what really makes me curious is why this matters to you? There are so many other reasons to say he shouldn't go and I think they are all more valid and interesting.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Legit NHLer? More like legit goon. The guy has 11 points and 542 PIMs in 285 career games, lets not get carried away with this crazy legit NHLer talk. His career existed solely because of the fighting culture in the NHL that is finally in its death throes. He is NOT good at hockey, full stop. One might say he is in fact, NO GOOD. In 5-10 years, guys like Scott won't even be good enough for the AHL, much less the NHL.

EDIT: Before I get ripped apart by pedants, he's obviously better at hockey than 99% of the planet. I'm comparing him to his peers, not random dudes in a beer league.

[t0rrent98]

Originally Posted by heep223

He should really just quietly back out at this point.

Only way I'd back out of going to the ASG is if they paid me half a mill or at least a mill not to go, maybe John Scott should do the same.

[Calgary4LIfe]

What a big mess this is.

Ok, first of all, I am not too sure where Warrener and Friedman come off (I only read what Textcritic wrote, and haven't listened to it yet). How can they be of this opinion, when the NHL has had to formally penalize players for not showing up? How many stars routinely try to duck out of this event? If the players themselves don't want to participate in a fairly meaningless game, why should they have an issue over someone who actually wants to be there? I don't get that rationale at all. Sure, there are players that love showing up and enjoy the weekend - seems like a fun time. There are however many who try to find a way not to go.

Regardless of what side you fall on, this is a mess. The optics are bad. I don't really subscribe to the theory that the NHL interfered with the trade, and this is how they managed to get Scott out of the ASG. What I find horrible optics is that he was chosen online as per the NHL's own rules, and the NHL asked him not to show up even though they penalize players for not showing up. If it is a fan vote, then abide by the results or don't offer it. If the NHL wants to pick and choose who shows up, then they should have to start with.

Now, how do you fix it? They are really hooped now. Why?

Well, in my opinion, they should just embrace it to alleviate all the bad press. That is the only way to handle it at this point that will ruffle the least amount of feathers. Lots of people still won't like it, but at least it is the NHL abiding by their initial stance - Vote the players in.

So let's say they embrace it.

Does Arizona no longer have a representative at the ASG? Does Montreal now have to remove a player? Doesn't seem fair to do so.

I just can't fathom why the NHL hasn't fixed this years ago after the stupid "Vote for Rory" thing. I guess they were overconfident that things like this wouldn't happen, so they got lazy and didn't change a thing. Now it has blown up in their faces, and they seem to be a bit clueless in how to handle it. The trade just compounded the situation in my opinion. Now there isn't a fix then can impose without it affecting either the Coyotes not having a representative, or a Montreal player suddenly having to stay home.

Will be interesting to see how it unfolds. I just don't quite agree with Freidman's take on it when there is a history there of players trying to find excuses not to show up, the NHL fining players, and all us fans watching players skate around all half-assed. It seemed to be a big deal 20 years ago. Now it seems like a mid-season break the players look forward to in order to heal up nagging injuries.