John Scott says All-Star Game status 'up in the air,' thanks fans
John Scott met the media for the first time after the Arizona Coyotes traded him to the Montreal Canadiens on Friday in a package for Jarred Tinordi, a.k.a. the deal that launched a thousand “Canadiens acquire all-star winger” jokes.
Scott reported to the AHL St. John’s Ice Caps, but was a healthy scratch for his first game – a decision he said was made so he could get a little more acclimated with the city and the team.
But the most pressing question wasn’t about this AHL status, but his NHL All-Star Game status. Scott was the leading vote-getting in the fan voting for the Nashville game, thanks to a joke campaign to get the career goon a spot amongst the NHL’s elite.*
Conventional wisdom was that the Scott trade and his demotion to the AHL basically ended his All-Star Game candidacy, but Scott said he hasn’t heard anything definitive from the League or the Montreal Canadiens.
“I wish I had the answer. I haven’t heard anything from the league, or what the position is, or where anybody really stands right now. It’s up in the air,” he said, via Sportsnet.
Scott’s feelings about the campaign and his election as Pacific Division captain have shifted over time. While he didn’t encourage it, he’s embraced it.
“I talked about this, maybe too much. I obviously didn’t want to get voted in that way, but the fans wanted me in. So I kind of just went with it,” he said. “It was exciting. Big surprise. I was happy with it.”
Scott even made T-shirts for his Coyotes teammates to celebrate the achievement. “Maybe [I’ll] just send them back,” he said.
He said he’s spoken with the Canadiens about their expectations for him with their organization, but kept the details quiet. “If they want me to play up there, I will,” he said.
When asked if he had a message for the fans that supported the campaign, Scott said: “Thanks a lot, it was fun. I appreciate all the support.”
Those fans are now voicing their outrage over this situation on #FreeJohnScott via Twitter.
(* As always, in full disclosure, we played a role in that campaign.)
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Greg Wyshynski is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter. His book, TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE PUCK, is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.
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