Ovechkin and Toews by rule are suspended for the first game after the All-Star break, the same punishment the Pittsburgh Penguins accepted previous year with Sidney Crosby.
Advertisement
Sergei MakarovMakarov came to the National Hockey League as an established worldwide superstar when he was 31, becoming the oldest player to ever win the Calder Trophy for rookie of the year.
Olympic figure skating gold medalist Scott Hamilton helps Hanna Madson, 3, as she tries skating on an outdoor rink set up for the NHL hockey All-Star game festivities Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016, in Nashville, Tenn.
The NHL All Star weekend is usually a fun event for the fans, headlined by superstars like Sidney Crosby, Alexander Ovechkin, Jonathan Toews and Carey Price, but none of those guys are in Nashville this year.
Scott’s tumultuous ride to the All-Star Game is coming up to it’s end, and throughout all of it he’s been a consummate professional.
John Scott may not be the NHL’s best player, but he may be the league’s most popular star right now. As for Sunday’s 3-on-3 game, he has no idea how that will go.
“I think he was anxious about me not feeling welcome here and being uncomfortable”, Scott, 33, said. “You go in the locker room everyone’s got the National Hockey League logo on their helmet”.
An NHL logo had to be added to his helmet since he’s now in the minors. “I’m going to enjoy it while I’m here, then go back to the real world”.
It’s worth noting that last week, appearing at the Sharks’ 25th anniversary celebration at SAP Center, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said: “The fans spoke in large numbers for the process and he’s going to be joining us in Nashville”. The two had a talk Thursday night.
As much as he enjoys All-Star weekend, he said he was OK with the organization’s decision to hold him out. Bettman extended a welcome, stating to Scott the league is “happy you’re here”.
“Obviously, the fans decided it was important to vote for him, and we respect that. The 6’8” enforcer, now playing for Montreal’s AHL team but voted in as the Pacific Division captain, was relaxed and amusing with the big crowd of reporters.
A amusing thing has happened through this nightmare over a stupid All-Star Game.
But an athlete’s trivializing of the All-Star game – or worse, opting out of participating – is a slap in the face to the fans, without whom athletes and the sports they play would have no objective or value. “If the National Hockey League had fingers in it – I’d like to think they didn’t”, he said. The players love doing it, the fans love seeing it, and the charities get a lot of money. “It could be a good thing”.
Scott All-Star jerseys are among the hottest items in Nashville.
“He didn’t do anything wrong”, Jagr said. Nothing changed with him. great guy.
“I can pretty much play any country song”, said Duchene, who lists Eric Church as his favorite country artist at the moment.
I hope Scott scores a goal Sunday.
Dallas forward Jamie Benn said the solution is simple.
Even though it’s a bit of a hardship for Jagr, players and fans are excited to have him around.
Perhaps the NHL’s argument is that his spot (in such a prestigious event) is better filled by a player with more skill or star power.
YOU GOT SKILLS: The All-Star skills competition on Saturday will feature six events: fastest skater, breakaway challenge, accuracy shooting, skills challenge relay, hardest shot and the shootout.
“I stuck around”, Scott wrote.
Because, while I may not deserve to be an NHL All-Star, I know I deserve to be the judge of what my kids will – and won’t – be proud of me for.
Advertisement
Only of all the All-Stars, Jaromir Jagr may be the one everyone wants to see. We wanted you to be here, and just go have fun, and our support is behind you.
