John Scott on attending All-Star Game: ‘I wish I had the answer’

The 33-year-old was supposed to represent the Arizona Coyotes and captain the Pacific Division prior to his trade to the Montreal Canadiens on Friday.

John Scott joined his new team for the first time on Sunday following his trade from the Arizona Coyotes to the Montreal Canadiens organization on Friday.

Scott, who was supposed to represent the Coyotes and captain the Pacific Division at the all-star game later this month, still doesn’t know what the transaction means for his ability to participate in Nashville.

Since he’s with the AHL’s St. John’s IceCaps, he’s ineligible to participate at the NHL all-star game.

“I wish I had the answer,” Scott said via Sportsnet on Sunday. “I haven’t really heard anything from the league or anything so I don’t know what the position is or where anybody stands right now. It’s all kind of up in the air.”

TSN’s Bob McKenzie reported that Scott was asked by both the league and the Coyotes to bow out of the game prior to the trade, but refused. McKenzie was also of the belief that the Coyotes included Scott in the trade, which landed Arizona Jarred Tinordi as well as winger Stefan Fournier in an effort to keep Scott from participating.

However, Coyotes GM Don Maloney refuted the notion they traded Scott to keep him from playing in the all-star game.

“We have (the maximum) 23 players on our roster,” Maloney said via Elliotte Friedman on Saturday. “Someone had to go. When you look at our lineup, he made the most sense. To suggest that this was part of us not wanting him in All-Star, or to be working in the NHL…I’m dumbfounded by that.

“We wanted Tinordi, we think our coaching staff can work with him.”

Scott appeared in 11 games with the Coyotes prior to the trade registering one assist and 25 penalty minutes while averaging 6:18 of ice time. He was also placed on waivers multiple times going unclaimed.

The 33-year-old was caught off guard by Friday’s deal.

“Obviously kind of a surprising – didn’t really expect to be on the market,” he said. “But trades happen, it’s a business and happy to go to Montreal and the IceCaps.”

As for his role with the Habs organization, Scott said he’s spoken with Montreal since the deal.

“I’ve been around. They know what I bring to the table,” Scott said. “If they want me to play up there, I will. I’m just going to come down here and do my job and play my game.”