John Scott, NHL enforcer, named all-star game captain
Coyote has 5 goals in 285 career NHL games
This is not a drill. John Scott will be an NHL all-star game captain.
Yes, the same John Scott who has five career NHL goals, 11 career points, and 542 penalty minutes in 285 career games.
Under the new NHL all-star game format, fans voted for a captain from each division and Scott, a member of the Arizona Coyotes, was named captain of the Pacific division.
In what must've been a running joke by NHL fans, Scott beat out players in his own division like Johnny Gaudreau, Drew Doughty, Taylor Hall and many other vastly more talented players for the distinction.
Scott has only played 11 games this year while being a healthy scratch in many others. He has one assist and six shots on net, while averaging 6:18 of ice time per game.
Scott had this to say when the voting began at the beginning of December:
"I don't want to have my name in the headlines for this reason," Scott told the Arizona Republic in early December. "Like, it's a fun little thing and hopefully it'll die down over time. I definitely don't want to be voted into the all-star game. It would be cool, but I definitely don't deserve it at this point. You never know. There's still some time left. I could turn it on."
He never turned it on, but he said he will be going to the game, especially since it will give his family an opportunity to see him play with some of the NHL's superstars.
"That was a big reason why I do think I should go and want to go to participate in this, my family my kids. I think, it'll be a fun time to go out there and experience something I never would have dreamed of to experience," said Scott.
"I've talked to a lot of guys in my position the last few weeks and it's kind of nice, I've grinded out a career here, it's not easy being the odd man out a lot, the odd man in, you never know where you stand or if you're going to play or not, you get sent down, you're forward, you're defense it's kind of one of those things."
Just for fun, here's a compilation video of all five goals Scott has scored in his illustrious career.
The other captains will be Jaromir Jagr, Patrick Kane and Alex Ovechkin.
Jagr, who is something of a hockey God among fans, pleaded on Twitter for fans to not vote for him, pointing out his old age and how three-on-three would kill him.
Fans-I appreciate your votes for All-Star game, but 3 on 3 would kill me,and i don't want to die yet:)Thank you for understanding. Too old:)
—@68Jagrfans-this is another reason why you shouldn't vote for me for All-Star game.Old and no good :))) thanks God we won <a href="https://t.co/7d2bFG7i1J">https://t.co/7d2bFG7i1J</a>
—@68JagrFans-I was afraid,that 3on3 all-Star game may kill me,now,I am more afraid,fighting John Scott 6,8 300 during All-Star, kill me for sure
—@68JagrAs part of the new format, the teams will take part in a three-game tournament, played in a three-on-three format, and featuring four teams representing each NHL division.
The remaining 40 players will be determined by the National Hockey League Hockey Operations Department and announced on Jan. 6. Each team will have six forwards, three defencemen and two goaltenders.
The game will take place in Nashville, Tenn., on Jan. 31.