Arizona Coyotes forward John Scott is a mountain of a man. Your eye is drawn to him when he’s on the ice, because how could it not be? He is not the type of “must-see” player that fans usually like to see in the NHL All-Star Game, however. But as the second full day of fan voting nears its end, the noted enforcer is your leading vote-getter among all players.
Scott has appeared in six games this season for the Coyotes. He has one assist. Over 280 games in his NHL career he has 11 points, but here he is leading the fan vote thanks to a growing movement on social media to get him in. Only one player per division can be voted into the game, with each division's top vote-getter being named a captain for the four-team 3-on-3 tournament.
The 6-foot-8 forward has a sense of humor, too, though. He’s often beloved by teammates and has endeared himself to fans in his local markets with the levity he brings to interviews and public events. It’s quite a departure from the violent work he does on the ice.
Though Scott enjoys having a good time and would probably love to be the go-to cut-up at the NHL All-Star Game, he wants no part of participating as he told Sarah McLellan of AZCentral.com:
"I don’t want to have my name in the headlines for this reason," Scott said. "Like, it's a fun little thing and hopefully it'll die down over time. It’s not something -- I definitely don't want to be voted into the All-Star Game.
But Scott couldn’t resist another opportunity to look at this situation with humor.
“It would be cool, but I definitely don't deserve it to this point. You never know. There's still some time left. I could turn it on."
I don’t know, John. They say a player’s prime scoring years are in his early- to mid-20s. You’re 33. Maybe if Coach Dave Tippet gives the big fella a little run with Max Domi and Anthony Duclair he could break his career-best goal-scoring total of three. Anything is possible!
Now that Scott has spoken out and expressed his wishes not to be voted into the All-Star Game, will this back off the snarkier of NHL fans that hope to see him play with the best players in the NHL? Or will it embolden them? Only time will tell. Voting ends Jan. 1.
[H/T Puck Daddy]
