The NHL yesterday avoided an "unnecessary public-relations disaster" and announced it would allow Canadiens LW John Scott to serve as captain of the Pacific Division team at next weekend's All-Star Game, according to Stu Cowan of the MONTREAL GAZETTE. The NHL asked fans to "vote for the four division team captains online and then wasn’t happy when Scott won the vote for the Pacific Division after playing only 11 games" with the Coyotes before being traded last week to the Canadiens. The NHL and the Coyotes reportedly "both asked Scott to skip the game," but he "refused, saying he wanted to bring his family with him to Nashville to 'have some fun' and 'enjoy the whole show'” (MONTREAL GAZETTE, 1/20). NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman last night said, "The fans spoke in large numbers for the process and he’s going to be joining us in Nashville. There was never any doubt about that. Obviously the fans decided it was important to vote for him, and we respect that. Whether or not we need to make adjustments into the future and ensure that truly All-Star players are there is something we’ll worry about after we go to Nashville.” Bettman added, "We had to evaluate the circumstances to make sure we weren’t missing anything. But the league never had to make a different decision over the weekend. I know there was a lot of speculation about that. That was not true" (CSNBAYAREA.com, 1/19). SPORTSNET.ca's Elliotte Friedman reported the NHL "was concerned about a grievance from the NHLPA" if the declared Scott ineligible for the All-Star Game. Sources indicated that it "was a possibility." A source said that things "reached a point where it wouldn’t be necessary because it became clear the league was going to re-instate Scott" (SPORTSNET.ca, 1/19).
TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS: In Toronto, Bruce Arthur writes the NHL "did the right thing, and the smart thing." They could have "tried to be heartless, but instead, Scott will be the story of the weekend." He will "look silly, but he'll be the big, burly belle of the ball" (TORONTO STAR, 1/20). In Columbus, Michael Arace writes the league "did the right thing," as it "actually listened to its fans" (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 1/20). SPORTS ON EARTH's Joe DeLessio writes the fans now "get what they want, the league doesn't have to condone the voting shenanigans, and, most importantly, people are talking about the NHL All-Star Game and its new format far more than they otherwise would have" (SPORTSONEARTH.com, 1/20). ESPN's Israel Gutierrez noted the NHL is "doing the right thing," as it was "ridiculous it became this kind of a controversy." espnW's Kate Fagan said, "The whole thing has been confusing because the NHL has from day one been very good at social media and very good at employing gimmicks in the way they’ve change their game, including the All-Star Game. Yet all of a sudden they drew some sort of arbitrary line in the sand about which gimmick was too much" ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 1/19). TSN’s Pierre LeBrun said, "The league, in the end, got it right." TSN’s Bryan Hayes said, "Where the NHL really screwed up here is with the reports out that the league and the Coyotes went to (Scott) multiple times and asked him to bow out. They were taking the All-Star Game and what it means way too seriously. They were still hung up on the honor of being an All-Star, and the honor of the weekend and what it represents. It’s not that anymore, it’s not. It’s a manufactured event." He added, "John Scott being there is not going to ruin the weekend. ... I am going to watch because of him" ("The Bryan Hayes Show," TSN Radio 1050 Toronto, 1/19).
CHANGES TO PROCESS LIKELY COMING: TSN's Darren Dreger said he would be "absolutely gobsmacked" if the NHL did not fix its All-Star Game voting process before next year's event. He said, "We can’t have a duplicate of this type of thing." The league deserves blame for "not fixing it when Rory Fitzpatrick was part of this fan process, and last year it was (Zemges) Girgensons who was kind of the poster boy for making a mockery of the process" (“Sekeres & Price,” TSN Radio 1040 Vancouver, 1/19). THE HOCKEY NEWS' Ken Campbell wrote it would be "ludicrous to think the league would not take steps to avoid this embarrassment ever again, either by allowing fans to vote for All-Star Game participation only on a pre-selected list of candidates or lessening the weight given to the fan vote" (THEHOCKEYNEWS.com, 1/19).
SCOTT FREE: The GLOBE & MAIL's Cathal Kelly writes the "only person who has not come off looking like a total goof" in the whole affair is Scott. This "unwelcome notoriety has allowed us to get to know a different Scott -- an articulate, self-effacing guy with a decent sense of humour." A lot of people "would have found this experience excruciating." Scott "probably has," but he has "walked a fine line for nearly two months -- being in on the joke, while letting everyone know he understands he’s meant to be the butt of it" (GLOBE & MAIL, 1/20). ESPN’s Barry Melrose said Scott has “handled this situation so well, so gracefully." Melrose: "He salvaged an ugly situation, an embarrassing situation, and now is turning it into a positive for himself certainly and for the NHL” (“SportsCenter,” ESPN, 1/20).
