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John Scott suspended four games for Jackman punch, repeat offender status

John Scott suspended four games for Jackman punch, repeat offender status

There is a simple reason why, ever since San Jose's John Scott sucker punched Anaheim's Tim Jackman in a Monday game, we have not asked 'if' Scott would be suspended, but 'how many' games such a ban would merit. 

It's simply because John Scott is John Scott. He's a repeat offender in the eyes of the NHL, and a pointless player to much of the hockey world. And this seems clear (at least the repeat offender part) in the league's explanation on why he was suspended four games for the play.

The video ...

The league makes sure to point out that “scrums around the net happen often” and that some result in "shoves and even punches."

But what separates Scott is that he swung and hit an unsuspecting player, which caused an injury ... and of course that he had previously been suspended twice in the prior 14 months. 

Said the league:

“Scott reacts by flailing his right arm, and catching Jackman flush on the chin with his glove hand, causing an injury.”

As the NHL says, most scrums lead to in-game discipline.

But this is John Scott, the gooniest of all goons, the guy who picked a fight with Phil Kessel and destroyed poor, defenseless Loui Eriksson ... and all in all still finds a way to keep a job as an NHL hockey player! Oh the horror.

Look, if you're Scott what are you going to say? "Don't pay me because I only have one goal and one assist this year."

Of course that would never happen.

But unless he's making highlights for suspensions, he's not doing much else. And that's his $34,146.36 out of $700,000 he's going to lose.

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Josh Cooper is an editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

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