NHL All-Star Game MVP John Scott has been approached through his agent, Octagon's Ben Hankinson, "about the possibility of a movie based on his career in addition to a slew of endorsement opportunities," according to Frank Seravalli of TSN.ca. Hankinson said, "We do have a lot of different options for him to pursue, but he’s not looking to do everything there is. He’s going to have some different routes that he can take as far as books and even a potential movie. He can take it as far as he wants to." Scott, who is currently playing for the Canadiens' AHL affiliate in St. John's, Newfoundland, said that he hoped the attention "would open new doors for his on-ice career." Seravalli noted it is believed Scott was "offered a full-time position as a radio analyst for one of his former teams last off-season, but he declined when a one-year offer with the Coyotes materialized for $575,000" (TSN.ca, 2/1). In Buffalo, Bucky Gleason writes there surely is a company that "can find a place for his infectious personality in its marketing campaign." Gleason: "How about an anti-bullying commercial after the bully was bullied by the league?" (BUFFALO NEWS, 2/2).
FEEL GOOD INC: The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Jeremy Gordon wrote Scott "ended up being the most entertaining part of a very entertaining weekend" (WSJ.com, 2/1). The Denver Post's Woody Paige noted ratings were up almost 25% from last year and said, "You don’t think the fans were interested in this? You don’t think the league was interested? This was a great win for the NHL, and they should go forward with it” (“Around The Horn,” ESPN, 2/1). A GLOBE & MAIL editorial runs under the header, "John Scott Reminds The NHL What Hockey Is: F-U-N" (GLOBE & MAIL, 2/2). In Columbus, Michael Arace writes under the header, "John Scott's Star Rose Above NHL Image Machine" (DISPATCH.com, 2/2). But ESPN's Tony Kornheiser noted Scott being embraced by the league after being named MVP “had the taint of insincerity.” He noted the league “didn’t even put his name up for MVP" before relenting to fan pressure ("PTI," ESPN, 2/1).
WELCOME TO SCOTT-MANIA! The CP noted Scott's All-Star experience has become an "unexpected boon" for the St. John's IceCaps. The team has "seen a substantial uptick in social media attention and media requests" due to Scott's appearance in Nashville. IceCaps Dir of Communnications David Salter: "It's been pretty crazy, I dare say pretty unprecedented for our team to get this much play." Scott has played in just two IceCaps home games since being acquired and subsequently demoted by the Canadiens, and Salter said that fans "are clamouring to see him, but it remains to be seen whether or not that will happen" during the team's next home game Friday night. Scott's wife, who is pregnant with twins, is scheduled to be induced in Michigan on Thursday. Meanwhile, Scott asked the NHL if he could "wear an IceCaps' jersey during the All-Star skills competition Saturday," but it was "turned down" (CP, 2/1).
