When Enforcer John Scott CRASHED The NHL's All-Star Party

[@andrews5236]

The NHL didn’t want this to happen and it’s a million times better than anything from the 2023 clown show

[@stevennabakowski108]

2023 was pretty bad. I haven't liked the ASG in a while but man; that was something else. A whole new kind of bad.

[@Real_McPhee]

The NHL is it’s own worst enemy right now.

[@MrGUnit27]

This was legitimately the most entertaining All-Star Game I'd ever watched, and it's not like the NHL has done a much better job of organizing the All-Star rosters since then. Hats off to you, Mr. Scott!

[@ryanTDG]

+1 they should add a grinder every year. Scott that year, Reaves the next, Martin after that, etc...

[@nathanielduncan4692]

yeah i agree.

[@kalebkennedy327]

They literally did a fan vote in this year, and just completely ignored it, really shows how out of touch with what fans want

[@g-urts5518]

@@kalebkennedy327 they didn't ignore it. Rantanen and MacKinnon were the fan vote this year. Both played. Unless you mean ignored as in didn't have them do anything special. In which case you're totally right and I apologize. Either way, this was probably the worst all star game I can remember. Not only was the skills competition just stupid (marner, miami vice, Luongo in net, goes in, no move, shoots it right at his chest. Is one example that comes to mind lol). And I've never seen a group of players try so little in my entire life. Can't remember who it was but one player tweeted something about wondering if it was "no longer cool to look like you're trying at all." That's what it felt like.

[@theonlyone38]

100%

[@estellegrignon]

Scott himself wrote a tremendous paper about it in the Players' Tribune, and this part of it always gets me: "So when someone from the NHL calls me and says, 'Do you think this is something your kids would be proud of?' … That’s when they lost me. That was it, right there. That was the moment. Because, while I may not deserve to be an NHL All-Star, I know I deserve to be the judge of what my kids will - and won’t - be proud of me for."

[@seandillon1359]

Their dad is a PRO ATHLETE. And for 8 years. Your dad could play half a season in the NHL and you’d be proud of them

[@sora1498]

my dad could play one game in the nhl and suck ass and id still be proud of him

[@Widhcdkajdbkdp]

lol what an arrogant guy, I’m pretty sure his kids will decide what they’re proud of him for not him

[@seandillon1359]

@@sora1498 you’re right. The worst pro player was dominant enough in his years to even make it

[@jadonkeydonkey]

@@Widhcdkajdbkdp youre arrogant for assuming you know what his kids will think

[@chevelle1]

People don’t realize how good you have to be to make it to the NHL, even as an enforcer or 4th liner. The defensive and and positional awareness John Scott had to have in order to not be a liability on the ice is absolutely incredible. He was in the top 0.01% of all hockey players. It’s easy to forgot that because he wasn’t very good compared to other nhlers, but compared to all semi pro and amateur players, John Scott was extraordinarily good and made millions of dollars.

[@AJEDDY97]

John Scott would absolutely DEMOLISH any beer league player. And I don't just mean physically, although, obviously, he'd do that.

[@g-urts5518]

I live in the same city as Steve McKenna. (Former Pittsburgh enforcer, 6'7". Like 250lbs. Very similar career to scott). We play pickup together on sundays. I consider myself a pretty decent player (for an amateur, I'm better than probably 90% of the pickup leagues I've played in, not trying to toot my own horn, just for reference.) Steve is SO much better than me. It's like we aren't even playing the same game. He'd probably be one of the worst players in the NHL if not the worst, but is probably the best player in my city of 650k that also includes an OHL team. There might be a few players there that can compete. And maybe are better at certain aspects. But he is absolutely incredible

[@288theabe]

Exactly. I’ve played pick up with ECHLers who can do things no average hockey player can do

[@DrunkenGuitarGuy]

oh please! he was a 100% a plug and this was nothing short of an embarrassment for the league!

[@Widhcdkajdbkdp]

Thanks for stating the obvious, “you guys know people that make 100k a year make 20k a year more than people that make 80?” Yeah obviously making it to the nhl makes u better than the average player, it also makes the players you’re compared against much better, factoring in that information, he was trash all the enforcers were, they were only signed to fight people there’s a reason why no one like him plays anymore

[@terencej72]

The trade from Yotes to Habs was so clearly an attempt by the NHL to stop JS going to the All Star game. Ironically it was one of the most entertaining AS game i'd seen in years, to see all the Nashville fans give JS a standing ovation when he scored AGAINST their goalie was unreal, they got it. They understood getting JS to the AS game was bigger than their team.

[@holdenackerman8783]

The All Star Game is a celebration of hockey’s best and brightest. This game captured that and more

[@svntn]

this was WAYYY better than whatever the fuck we had this year..

[@mr.devil9577]

There has never been a good all star game change my mind

[@_Wheysted_]

@@mr.devil9577 1999

[@itsnotcolby]

the NHL never understands what the fans love, I loved watching this all star game and theres a reason there was a standing ovation for him wen he finally scored

[@wild_lee_coyote]

The players loved him too. He represented all the journeymen in the NHL. Those that get traded around and healthy scratches and just barely make a team and fill a slot. That’s what he grew to represent and why the players and fans loved him so much. It also explains why the NHL hated it because it was not something they could control. They looked at John Scott the player and said he was not an All Star. The fans and players looked at John Scott as the journeyman player they all know who never got the recognition they deserved. And during the All Star weekend John Scott embraced it and became the MVP for all those who never have the skills but still have the heart to be and All Star.

[@AshworthMild]

This is beautifully written.

[@sora1498]

seeing all the smiles is what really solidified this game as the last GOOD allstar game for me. everyone wanted him there BESIDES THE NHL. how could they not see how fun everyone thought this was, how EXCITING it was? truly a shame

[@rp.88]

Hands down the most entertaining all star week in a long time.

[@seanwallace89]

Bettman is the worst thing to ever happen to the NHL. Can't let the POS fans get what they want during an exhibition game designed for fans!

[@tylerjennings8242]

He truly is the worst. Any time I hear his name, it’s connected with a terrible decision.

[@mietha37]

@@tylerjennings8242 I don't know. For as bad as he is, Manfred is certainly eyeing the title.

[@mietha37]

I was in the building that night. When they put the MVP candidates on the tron and Scott wasn't among them, those were the loudest boos I've ever heard in my life. If Bettmen hadn't given Scott the MVP, as he deserved, there would have, quite literally, been a riot.

[@ricomuaddib8844]

He was a "write in MVP" because the twitter vote didn't have him listed. #JohnScottMVP became trending on twitter. I was there. Every time he touched the puck we all started chanting MVP! MVP! It was the best sports moment I've ever seen in person

[@ducklo4d]

I remember hearing that he had some financial incentives to attend the all star game too and since he was a fringe player it would’ve been good for his family to have some extra cash

[@Tweek5470]

This was the first NHL all-star weekend that I watched and I couldn't for the life of me figure out why everyone was saying that all-star weekends were boring cause this one was amazing. The following year I understood why.

[@MrHunterbg]

Best part about this weekend is that the players on his team wanted to win it all for him. Really made for some entertaining 3 vs. 3 hockey for once.

[@seandillon1359]

I remember getting all my friends to vote John Scott. Only all star break i actually was excited for

[@allastud777]

JOHN SCOTT NHL LEGEND!!!!

[@mattymattffs]

People forget just how talented those last guys on the team are when they play in the NHL. That extra ten percent the top liners have is huge, but those bottom guys are skilled beyond what most imagine

[@danielleatherman1936]

People seem to forget it was the FANS making a statement and the players, to a man, appreciated having him there. It was literally the most entertaining All Star weekend ever because of this choice by the fans.

[@souless08]

This was the LAST good all star event as well...

[@im.waldo.]

That was the first year i felt like us fans really pushed to play a role in the all star game. We did it for his experience, its cool too have voted him in.

[@martinzyka6432]

NHL having a fun memorable all star weekend? Cant have that!!

[@jackbrenan6744]

this was the 1st and last all start game i ever watched. legitimately one of the greatest moments in nhl history

[@marcarvalho86]

Y'know, the Steve Dangle of it all never gets discussed. It should because it's funny. Two separate but very popular hockey podcasts, who did not coordinate at all, came up with the exact same idea and both landed on the exact same player to vote in. I remember this because I was listening to both podcasts at the time and recall thinking to myself, "omg, they don't realize they're both doing it." It is an incredibly fascinating facet of the story, yet whenever there is a retelling of what happened, that part is always skipped. I don't know why. Don't you want to make your story even more interesting? And honestly, I don't think John Scott in the all-star game would have happened if it was only one of the 2 podcasts. It was both podcasts deciding to do it that made it happen.

[@loupinconnu]

This. So much this. The part that EVERYONE leaves out is that this wasn't some feel good 'vote for the journeyman' thing. This was a 'hey let's make a mockery of the fan vote by voting in a literal caveman.' The original reason that John Scott was voted in was because he was by and large considered to be the worst player on the most irrelevant franchise in hockey. The whole reason why the NHL wanted him to back out was because it was originally making a mockery of him. And if the guy was any less than perfectly charismatic he would have been a laughing stock of the game itself. His personality and story won people over, but to act like this was anything other than a couple of podcasts trying to make a mockery of John Scott and the All-Star Game then you're lying to yourselves.

[@lethalbydefault]

That will remain the greatest All-Star moment of all time. And you know it pisses Bettman off, which makes it that much better.

[@jo12danjames]

You forgot to mention the nhl at this point was cleaning the league of the enforcers, there was only a handful at that point and voting scott in was a ode to all the enforcers the nhl had over they years. Teams used to all have one. Now there might be "enforcers" today but back in the day guys were litterally there to throw down, and they would fight alot and fight the same guys often, and john scott was a beast and one of the last of his kind. 🍻

[@Dannzilla]

It's hilarious that the NHL thought this was terrible but the 2023 All-Star game wasn't...

[@niigananishinabek990]

Every player that laces em up in the nhl for their team, and gives it their all for their teammates is an allstar. People need to remember its about setting an example, even though he wasnt the best skilled player, he played a role that all teams, players, and fans acknowledge is just as big of a part of the game as scoring. Kudos to the fans, and players recognizing, and showing appreciation to the big guys out there who may have limited skills, but play very important roles.

[@nbapbaupdate8338]

Amazing All-star game

[@toyotaecw]

“He racked up more fighting majors than points.” In my heart Mr. Scott, fighting majors are points🥲

[@Yupthereitism]

That all star weekend was probably my happiest time watching hockey. Real underdog story

[@brianmouland209]

Absolutely the best All-Star story ever!

[@Dschickler]

John Scott, future commish of the NHL. Change is sorely needed. Not because it is going back to good ol hockey. But because John understands both what matters in the game, which changes, AND that fans vote with their dollars.

[@ethanfoster2601]

God forbid the fans actually get to see the players they want playing actual hockey

[@CrustyOldDave]

My wife and I were just recently reminiscing about this just the other day. It was the most memorable all star event we have ever experienced. Go Big John Scott!

[@hofx666]

What made that all star game so bad ass was that his first goal was with burns and pavs, his sharks teammates. That’s the way it should have happened.

[@288theabe]

I can’t believe I hadn’t watched an all star game since 2016. Time flies 🤣

[@RickyLafleur10]

One of the greatest moments in hockey

[@leo29hornsfan]

The fans and the players truly came together to make this moment happen. I will never forget that night when John Scott stole the show and everyone in Nashville witnessed something special. That night the NHL couldn’t take that moment away from this man or the players around him.

[@k20a_dave]

you got to be happy for john scott, what a moment for him

[@kdisabelle]

The best All-Star weekend - EVER. I get to see John do the Chicago Sports Net intermission reports for the Blackhawks this season. He is awesome. I hope they will extend his contract for a few years. And he has a great podcast (called Dropping the Gloves) too.

[@rentonarc]

What I love the most . It was a big F U to Gary Bettman .

[@OVI-Wan-Kenobi-8]

Hey, now, you're an all-star, get your game on, go play Hey, now, you're a rock star, get the show on, get paid And all that glitters is gold Only shooting stars break the mold

[@Real_McPhee]

With how disappointing this year’s all-star event was, remembering Scott out there having a blast brings back good memories.

[@jimpisani1050]

I remember this it was great so glad for him hope he is doing well

[@doc_shady]

This whole John Scott situation was a farce from start to finish...and I loved every fucking minute of it! As a fan , it was great to see the little guy (figuratively speaking of course) get his due.

[@DavidRJones82]

That was the last All-Star Game I gave a shit about... it was so great.

[@colmanbaldwinson9091]

4:20 dude how could you not point out the last sentence of his quote, its hilarious!

[@Nikkerman]

Legit should have a movie about this

[@JoshDone]

Also the last year that anyone watched the NHL all star game.

[@talcat8031]

This was my favorite all star game

[@natino20]

This game was so fun to watch 2023 was horrible

[@whisperienced]

I think the most important thing that came out of this was the curtains were drawn back on Bettman and the NHL as a league that wasn't about the fans any longer. All they care about is the TV deals. Subsequently the heart has been all but sucked out of the nhl and there is no passion it's a sterilized machine.

[@nolananderson4782]

John Scott has scored 11 more NHL points than 99.999% of people watching this

[@BrokTheLoneWolf]

I bought my dad a Jon Scott Allstar shirt. It was an epic time to be alive.

[@strawhatgoose7719]

The allstar game should always have that feel-good story of a guy who would never be in the running for it, but the fans can give a guy like Scott his night in the spotlight. Just have some fun playing the game they love.

[@snapjackal]

I know the NHL doesn't care. But when they give us the power to pick their guys for the asg, they damn sure better never disrespect said player like they did Scott during this run, again. This was the moment I became anti-Bettman and all of his ilk. Maybe the greatest exposé of corruption in the sport in 30+ years. Believe it or not, it turns out that fans just want a good story at the end of the day.

[@ADL21]

So funny that after this they took the voting out of the fans hands. They just appoint all stars and let us vote for 2 or 3 extra guys to fill out the roster.

[@kpweld641]

I miss those days in hockey

[@christineschneider513]

The best part is, it was one of the best NHL All-Star games ever from what I read it was the highest tv rating ever it was the last time I saw the NHL All-Star game

[@whoovesphd1]

John Scott, The Peoples Champion

[@ryanholmes7297]

This was the only time I ever enjoyed an all-star game.

[@seanmoore4181]

The best thing is the nhl video game everyone a 99 overall John Scott card in ultimate team

[@t-money10]

This seriously was the best all star game ever

[@hammerpunch]

Ah I remember when I saw how the voting was supposed to be going down and thinking since you could vote for anyone in the league, that it would be funny to vote for John Scott for the lols. After then seeing he was in the lead already after about a week after the voting had begun and no limitations on how many times you could vote I voted hundreds of times each day until the voting closed. As did everyone else. And the rest is history!

[@queensgaelsmenshockey]

The NHL was super sketchy through this whole thing. And they say they listen to the fans

[@F14Goose37]

When will the NHL learn that "hockey is for everybody" and that it's fabs don't appreciate elitism. We love our hard nosed underdogs as much as our stars and don't you dare tell them they can't do something.

[@greglikewhoa2623]

Should have put the NHL16 cover photo of John Scott.

[@TeamKumlaHockey]

This really puts a smile on my face well deserved for him. Bettman should retire

[@Actionronnie]

They need to add one player on each team that's a write in candidate. What the NHL thought was bad PR, would actually be a good PR move now.

[@robertaBooey69]

One of the nicest nhl player also

[@SceptileSlash]

The NHL doesn't realize that this is the last ASG a lot of fans have ever watched. It's a snooze fest now.

[@wesleyblanton2432]

This Game was a top 5 all time Hockey Moment for me! Let us not forget his Wife was 9 Months Pregnant with Twins when this Game was Played! Fuck Bettman!!

[@welshy871]

The all star game is about showing off skills isn't it? Last I checked fighting is a skill? An he was one of the best imo.

[@Nick-d9w]

I’m an old school hockey guy I loved Scott when he played for my beloved hometown team the Blackhawks he’d hold your sweater in one hand & beat the piss outta ya with the other.

[@tylerj6589]

Can we start a movement to vote John Scott into the hall of fame?

[@jadenippersiel912]

I want them to go back to having thr NHL all stars play the Stanley cup champions

[@pjsebadoh5412]

Buffalo will always love Johnny

[@nathanramsdell7078]

Sabres Legend John Scott

[@MyDirtyGuitarHabit]

This is the last all star game I was bothered to show any interest in... it's been a snore-fest since.

[@appalachianenthusiast9499]

Bro left the league at the top of his game lol

[@Sandman60077]

I remember when this happened I was so mad, not because Scott was in the all star game, but because of the hypocrisy of NHL fans. This was the heart of the time when NHL fans were enraged at enforcers in the game. Fans were calling for players like Rafi Torres, Matt Cook, Steve Ott, Milan Lucic and many others to be kicked out of the league. Then they turn into hypocrites and vote for John Scott. All those anti enforcer people lost all credibility after that.

[@mietha37]

The one and only real jersey I have (which I paid over $300 for and had to order from Canada) is for Patrick Cote, so...

[@letsssgooo4618]

That’s what’s fucked up. You know he could have prolly spent the next couple years bouncing from team to team but once he decided to go to the all star game the nhl black balled this guy from ever having another chance. Wild

[@cobie7938]

He didnt crash shit. He earned his spot like everyone else!! HE IS A STAR!

[@colinrankin1659]

It woulda been hilarious if he actually tried to fight Kane

[@ry-x]

best ASG moment free

[@bentencho]

Yet the NHL quashed the "Vote for Rory!" a few years before that.

[@TheFlamingPike]

Gotta admit this all-star game was very entertaining. The NHL was forced to acknowledge that enforcers were indeed part of the game. However in the more recent years John Scott has used his notoriety to make outrageous claims on past teams or other players, players who are or were way beyond his skill level, kinda in a troll-like way, so he'd remain in the spotlight. IMO he overstepped what his fame brought to him. I don't expect my comment to be popular given the video heh.

[@robertnorris9152]

Arrogant Gary Bettman tried his best to get John Scott OUT of the All-Star game. The fact that Scott was named the game's MVP must have been a slap in the face to Bettman - who most hockey fans can't stand!

[@mr.e8432]

Typical NHL, they have one of the most memorable and successful All-Star games ever, and then they put rules in place to prevent it from ever happening again. The guy may have “sucked” at the NHL level, but the NHL is literally the most talented league in the world. Put him in any recreational league across the country and he’s probably got 100 goals. We had a kid come in one night and play in our pick up game, and he was lighting up our goalies with wrist shots from the blue line. Turns out he was drafted by Pittsburgh but never even made it past the AHL level.

[@rieleyduysen17]

I feel like if the NHL lifted the John Scott rule it would be obvious that they are just trying to recapture the magic. but it would also be admitting they were wrong. I love the NHL but they are trying to make it into a golf like sport. let the players be people.

[@ChrisDoll]

i would have rather seen scott in this years all star game over any of that nonsense they dreamed up this year

[@tmoore4075]

It showed why fan voting is stupid, but at the same time showed how dumb the league was being. He should not have dropped out. Fan voted for him and he should go. I'm not a conspiracy theorist but this was the league trying to bury him. No one at the top of the NHL thought "If we block this, aren't we gonna look like dicks?" Guess not.

[@rodbelding9523]

All star games are dumb, we need to do this again. Kurtis MacDermid for all star 2025.

[@tonyfromlasalle]

No question Bergy was happy to conspire with the NHL. He was always an outsider to the executive with his French-player-first mindset and surely he wanted to buy himself some clout within the NHL but this just showed him to be a cheap tool (emblematic of his tenure in MTL as well)

[@colmanbaldwinson9091]

yeah idk, they should consider dressing them up in silly costumes and dragging them around a golf course

[@mikegualjr]

Wow clearly hating on Scott? Just chirping the guy all video why? He was an enforcer and more memorable player than majority.

[@jean-marccloutier4309]

that I enjoyed, fan votes. When politics crashed the All-star game, not so much. maybe another fan vote.

[@Hippiemanthc]

This was the biggest joke of all time.