All-Star games in the 21st century are stupid. Most of the time, no one involved really cares about it, and it just results in bad television. Like what's the point of watching any sport when neither team gives 100%. It's just boring. And none of them are worse than the NHL All-Star game And it looks like most people agree However, for a year, the NHL All-Star game was the center of attention, all because of a man named John Scott. In 2016, John Scott was an All Star in the NHL for the first time at age 33. He was not a good player leading up to that year, barely good enough to stay in the NHL. So what changed? Was it because he had a breakout year? Did he get a bump in minutes? Well... no How did this happen? Who let this man become an All-Star? This is the story of John Scott John Scott's career did not start gloriously. He went undrafted, and after 4 years of college, and 3 years in the minors, at 26, he was given a chance to play with the Minnesota Wild in the NHL. (He was supposed to make his major league debut in Toronto, but he forgot his passport, so he had to wait another month to play his first game.) He was not a lockdown defender, or a talented scorer, he was something arguably more important: John Scott was scary 6'8 260lbs Few people in the NHL (or anywhere) had the strength or size that he did. The main reason the Wild brought him to the majors was to lay down a big hit, or fight to protect his teammates. His average ice time was a little over 7 minutes and that time was usually spent getting put on the ice, picking a fight, going in the penalty box, wash, rince, repeat. John Scott was not a good skater, or a good shooter. John Scott vs. Riley Nash |
All-Star 4 Years of College: 7 Goals 12 Assists 352 Penalty Minutes 3 Years in AHL: 6 Goals 7 Assists 402 Penalty Minutes 8 Years in NHL: 5 Goals 6 Assists 544 Penalty Minutes Entire Professional Career (NHL and AHL): 459 Games 24 Points 1,298 Penalty Minutes | Average NHL Player 3 Years of College: 37 goals 65 assists 101 penalty minutes 3 Years in AHL: 35 Goals 54 Assists 72 Penalty Minutes 7 Years in NHL: 40 Goals 70 Assists 91 Penalty Minutes 1st Full Year in NHL 73 Games 24 Points 29 Penalty Minutes |
Again, he was not a good skater, he was not a good scorer
Even though he couldn't contribute much in a traditional sense, he enforced the unwritten rules of respect that make up hockey. This gave him a nice niche in the NHL, allowing him to find employment as a journeyman, jumping from team to team for 7 years.
John Scott became an All-Star?
The NHL changed up the All Star game format so that it would be a tournament of 3v3 hockey from 4 regional teams. As a result of it being the first year, to stir up fan interest, they let the fans choose the All Stars. This spurred NHL fans everywhere to unite behind John Scott. He received more votes than any other NHL player, which also meant he was the captain of the Pacific All-Star team. John Scott was the NHL's punchline, he was the bud of a league wide joke.
John Scott was the perfect candidate.
John Scott became an All-Star?
The NHL changed up the All Star game format so that it would be a tournament of 3v3 hockey from 4 regional teams. As a result of it being the first year, to stir up fan interest, they let the fans choose the All Stars. This spurred NHL fans everywhere to unite behind John Scott. He received more votes than any other NHL player, which also meant he was the captain of the Pacific All-Star team. John Scott was the NHL's punchline, he was the bud of a league wide joke.
John Scott was the perfect candidate.
John Scott might be a scary on the ice, but out of the rink he's as good as they come. You will not find many nicer people than him in hockey. He was aware of the fact that he was the biggest joke in hockey, and he loved it. If anything, he was grateful for the fact that fans were noticing what he was doing, since being an enforcer is usually a thankless job.
In a league full of superstars, John Scott was as close to a blue collar worker as there was. He had to do the dirty work that other players couldn't be bothered to do. He was a family man, and his wife and kids were his top priority. He wasn't making the millions that his fellow all stars made. Fans could connect with him. Being an All-Star would mean much more to him than anyone else.
John Scott is an average guy
Lets make an average guy an all star.
The NHL was not happy that they were the laughing stock of sports. They needed to get John Scott out of the all star game. An average guy could not be an all star. They asked John Scott multiple times to drop out of the game, John of course refused.
Which led to...
John Scott might be a scary on the ice, but out of the rink he's as good as they come. You will not find many nicer people than him in hockey. He was aware of the fact that he was the biggest joke in hockey, and he loved it. If anything, he was grateful for the fact that fans were noticing what he was doing, since being an enforcer is usually a thankless job.
In a league full of superstars, John Scott was as close to a blue collar worker as there was. He had to do the dirty work that other players couldn't be bothered to do. He was a family man, and his wife and kids were his top priority. He wasn't making the millions that his fellow all stars made. Fans could connect with him. Being an All-Star would mean much more to him than anyone else.
John Scott is an average guy
Lets make an average guy an all star.
The NHL was not happy that they were the laughing stock of sports. They needed to get John Scott out of the all star game. An average guy could not be an all star. They asked John Scott multiple times to drop out of the game, John of course refused.
Which led to...
And
The NHL exiled John Scott for playing the All-Star hame. Game Over. Everyone Loses. The fans and the NHL were in a war, and John Scott was the true casualty.
John Scott still gets to play, but what's the point? His career is over anyways, so why even bother?
Despite this, despite the fact that no owner in the NHL wanted him to play, he will still do it. The NHL's efforts were futile.
John Scott WILL be an All-Star Captain
John Scott still gets to play, but what's the point? His career is over anyways, so why even bother?
Despite this, despite the fact that no owner in the NHL wanted him to play, he will still do it. The NHL's efforts were futile.
John Scott WILL be an All-Star Captain
That was the last time that John Scott was in the NHL. At the end of the year, he retired. To be honest, I can't blame him for calling it quits. For an average guy, who barely was good enough to play in the NHL, to win the All-Star MVP, and a million dollars, you can't go out much better than that.
The NHL of course passed a rule next year which stated that players who were in the AHL could not be named captains for the All-Star game. It is all but in name called the John Scott Rule.
But John Scott has better things to do anyways. He made the All-Star game cool again for a little bit. The NHL didn't realize that John Scott was the best All-Star. He's too good for the NHL. He's too good for us. Go be with your family John, do one else deserves you.
The NHL of course passed a rule next year which stated that players who were in the AHL could not be named captains for the All-Star game. It is all but in name called the John Scott Rule.
But John Scott has better things to do anyways. He made the All-Star game cool again for a little bit. The NHL didn't realize that John Scott was the best All-Star. He's too good for the NHL. He's too good for us. Go be with your family John, do one else deserves you.
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