Despite playing for a very Atlantic team — the AHL’s St. John’s IceCaps — and thinking his opportunity was “out the door,” John Scott will indeed captain the Pacific Division team at the 2016 NHL All-Star Game in Nashville, the National Hockey League announced Tuesday.
“Happy, excited, lots of emotions going on right now,” Scott said in a phone interview with TVA Sports Tuesday (watch below).
“I was kind of upset about getting traded, how it went down. I was just thinking, Do I even bother going? Because it was such a messed-up situation. I definitely considering not going.”
Fans ironically voted Scott to the Pacific Division captaincy while a member of the Arizona Coyotes.
The enforcer was traded Friday to the Montreal Canadiens of the Atlantic Division.
According to the NHL, “The resultant change in division, and Scott’s subsequent assignment to the American Hockey League, created a unique circumstance that required review – the result of which was a determination to maintain the status quo for the All-Star weekend in order to preserve all parties’ pre-existing expectations, including Scott’s desire to participate.”
Scott has one assist in 11 games with the Coyotes this season and has not played an NHL game since Dec. 31. An expecting father of twins, Scott reported to the IceCaps after the trade but has yet to see game action.
On Sunday, Scott had “no idea” if the trade and demotion to the AHL would prevent him from participating in the NHL showcase.
The Coyotes are currently the only club without a representative at the All-Star Game.
