It should come as no surprise that former Sabre and current Arizona Coyotes forward John Scott is leading fan voting for the 2016 All-Star Game to be played in Nashville on January 31st. After three days of voting, the 6-foot-8, 270 pound winger is edging out the likes of Alex Ovechkin, Jaromir Jagr and Patrick Kane.
“It’s about time I got some recognition,” said Scott sternly, after putting his fist through a cinderblock wall for dramatic effect.
He certainly deserves to be there. While Ovechkin is a 10-time All-Star, three-time Hart trophy winner and five-time Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy winner; Jagr is a five-time Art Ross trophy winner, three-time Lester B. Pearson Award winner and two-time Stanley Cup winner; and Kane is a five-time NHL All-Star with three Stanley Cups to his resume, Scott is also highly accomplished.
Just last week Scott won a Texas Hold’em poker tournament in his apartment. Well, he actually lost, but after going all in and losing on the last card, he smashed the table, reducing it to a pile of kindling. The other players were afraid to take his money and ran for their lives.
-HEATING UP-
A quick glance at the stat sheet shows that indeed Scott has been hot of late. In his last five games, he has one helper and 18 penalty minutes, averaging 6:20 of ice time per game. In other words, he’s spent more than half as much time in the penalty box as he has actually playing on the ice per game.
Looking back further, in San Jose last year, Scott posted career numbers, lighting the lamp an unprecedented three times in 38 games. That’s a 200% increase in production over his previous season. The guy is obviously on a tear.
-THROUGH THE YEARS-
Scott, a 33-year old pugilist from Edmonton, Alberta, originally signed as a free agent by Minnesota on December 31, 2006. “I was in line at the DMV when they called. When they said they wanted me, I nearly {soiled} myself.”
Since then, he’s suited up for the Blackhawks, Rangers, Sabres, Sharks and Coyotes. In 276 total games, he’s tallied five goals, six assists, and 535 penalty minutes. Unlike every other player in the league, Scott doesn’t have a cap hit. Instead, he hits the cap. At the tune of $575,000 this year.
In seven seasons, he’s taken 105 shots on goal. For comparison’s sake, Alex Ovechkin has already taken 118 shots this year.
Scott’s first goal in his first game as a Shark is legendary, no doubt the highlight of his on-ice career thus far. Skating down the left side as graceful as a newborn llama, he sped past the Capitals’ Brooks Orpik and roofed one. Before celebrating like it was Christmas morning, he matter-of-factly threw Orpik to the ground like a rag doll. It was a glorious display of his brute force and laser-like shooting accuracy.
-CRAFTING A LINEUP-
The 2016 NHL All-Star Game will feature a 3-on-3 tournament consisting of four teams, one from each of the four divisions. Filing out an All-Star roster is not about simply plucking the best players, but the best combination of players. You look for specialized skill sets, like penalty killing, winning faceoffs and pounding the living snot out of someone. Scott is one of the best in the game.
Some outspoken members of the media say Scott is wasting a roster spot, that he’ll be glaringly out of place, and that there are a thousand players more deserving of an All-Star game selection. Of course these journalists do so anonymously and have hired bodyguards.
“Mike Milbury says my role doesn’t really exist in today’s NHL,” added Scott. “But consider the source. As a player, the guy went into the stands at Madison Square Garden and whacked a fan with a shoe. Who uses a shoe?”
-POPULARITY-
Nearly every player that’s made an All-Star game courtesy of fan voting is worthy of legitimate consideration. Consider for a minute Cal Ripken getting elected as a starter in his final season, one in which he had a statistically horrible year. After a prolonged standing ovation to his first at bat, he subsequently knocked one out of the park. Fans got it right.
Scott isn’t surprised about the overwhelming response by fans. “When we play a road game, a lot of the other teams‘ fans are always signaling that I’m number one. But for some reason, they don’t use their index finger when expressing it,” he replied.
While fans squabble over his place in the game, I say he should be there. He needs to be there. If not for his mustache, then for the pure joy he brings to the game. And because he knows where I live. Will he keep up with the league’s best? You’ll have to tune in to find out. You can bet I’ll be watching.
You can submit your votes for the 2016 NHL All-Star Game here.
Hopefully, Scott will be in the lineup tonight as the much-improved Coyotes visit the Buffalo Sabres at the First Niagara Center. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Disclaimer: Most of this story is actually true.