And it was finally requited: Scott, whose All Star trip had once been blocked, scored two goals to help the Pacific team win the All-Star 3-on-3 tournament (and a $1 million prize).
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NHL journeyman enforcer John Scott, beloved by players and fans but unwanted by league officials, had the last laugh by taking Most Valuable Player honors at the NHL All-Star Game.
Fans sent enforcer John Scott to the NHL All-Star Game by voting him captain of the Pacific Division.
“For what it’s worth, I think the fact that they had the big guy in there created excitement”, said Julien, referring to the 6-foot-8 inch Scott as the unlikely Pacific Division captain after a controversial fan vote pushed him into the midseason classic. After scoring two goals in the opening round, Scott was showered with chants of “M-V-P” from start-to-finish during the championship game.
When the award was announced, his teammates put him up on their shoulders for yet another ovation from the crowd.
Scott then posed with his teammates behind their $1 million check.
The 33-year-old Edmonton native was voted into the all-star game by fans seemingly as a joke, but his inclusion in the showcase event gained momentum when he was traded from Arizona to Montreal and immediately assigned to the St. John’s IceCaps of the American Hockey League, putting his all-star eligibility in doubt.
If every All Star weekend could host a player like John Scott, an underdog, a player who typically wouldn’t be at an All Star game, I would probably be more likely to watch.
Scott’s two goals tied Hall, Daniel Sedin of Vancouver and Nashville forward James Neal for the most goals at this event. Why, in four AHL games this season, Scott didn’t have a point, took just one shot on goal and collected three minor penalties. I’m guessing this will be the highlight of Scott’s National Hockey League career and its a great moment to share with his kids.
Had a “fight” with opposing player Patrick Kane.
“I’m not going to lie to you”, he said.
“It worked out for everybody”, Scott said.
Scott’s on-ice exploits were so entertaining that he accomplished the impossible: He made typically stoic Los Angeles Kings coach Darryl Sutter smile.
No one knew how Sunday would work out, whether Scott’s feel-good story would fade into background noise, or if he’d be embarrassed with the game’s brightest stars whizzing by him. “You just can’t write this stuff”, he said after the game. “I have no ill will towards him or anybody”.
Scott scored 47 seconds into the Pacific’s 9-6 victory over the Central. “He caught me off-guard pretty good there”.
Montreal defenseman P.K. Subban’s marker at 15:22 of the first semifinal lifted the Atlantic to a 4-3 decision over the Metropolitan. She retreated back to home base in MI with their two daughters in tow and nine months pregnant with twins.
“While I don’t deserve to be an All-Star, I also don’t think I deserve to be treated like I’ve been by the league throughout this saga”, Scott said.
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Scott’s $90,909 cut will go a long way toward preparing his post-hockey career, which may arrive as soon as this summer with this being the final year of his contract.
