John Scott: The Misunderstood Blackhawk, and Why We All Owe Him an Apology

Ever since the beginning of the 2010-2011 season, the signing of John Scott and his spot on the Blackhawks roster has been under scrutiny by just about everyone.

For someone making just over the league minimum, Scott has managed to induce quite a stir, with many taking sides, usually against the hulking swingman.

It seems to me that much of the distaste for John Scott has been a simple misunderstanding of what he is, and a misdirection of anger.

After the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup and had to dismantle their roster, a lot of holes were opened by the departures of players such as Dustin Byfuglien, Brent Sopel, Andrew Ladd, Ben Eager and Adam Burish.

Players such as Jordan Hendry, Bryan Bickell, Michael Frolik, Jake Dowell, Fernando Pisani and Scott were supposed to fill their shoes—rather, their skates—but couldn't.

Rarely did you hear for Jordan Hendry to be released, for Jake Dowell to be sent down to Rockford, for Pisani to be traded for a bag of pucks.

Rather, it has been John Scott, with his cap hit a measly $12,500 above the league minimum, who has shouldered all the blame. The hulking swingman who came from Minnesota's system was inked to a two-year deal with the Hawks, earning $500k in 10/11 and $525k in 11/12.

Despite his minimal salary and minimal expectations, Scott became the target for many a Hawks fans ire.

Hawks fans refuse to look at Joel Quenneville for misusing John Scott.

He's a 23rd man, able to play fourth line wing or line up on the third defensive pairing, able to occasionally chip in on offense or defense, but mainly making sure that Chicago's opponents don't try anything stupid, and that if they do, they'll pay.

While the role of the enforcer is slowly dying, with the sheer volume of smaller skill players lining up for Chicago (Kane, Kruger, Leddy), Scott is a needed player.

Take the game against Pittsburgh as an example. Penguins defenseman Deryk Engelland took a nasty run at young Chicago center Marcus Kruger, leaving his feet to deliver an elbow to the head.

While Kruger popped back up rather quickly (though we know now he's out with a concussion), this is why you play John Scott.

Scott, with his massive 6' 8", 258 pound frame, grabbed Engelland almost instantly and began using his face as a punching bag. You can find the video online.

Engelland—who now has a three game suspension for his hit—did not get a single punch in, despite being named the best fighter in the NHL by former enforcer Jim Thompson in The Sporting News.

Right now, the Hawks have nobody that can protect the younger and/or smaller players the way John Scott can. Brent Seabrook is most likely barred from fighting by the team due to the hit he recently took from Calgary's Rene Borque, and Dan Carcillo is on the injured reserve.

The list of players the Hawks have currently able to drop the gloves and not get totally pummeled is thin. Niklas Hjalmarsson could probably do the job, as could Bryan Bickell, Sean O'Donnell and even Captain Serious. But none of them pop out at you as someone you want protecting a young skater.

Furthermore, Scott is apparently an absolute wizard in the clubhouse. As we learned last season, clubhouse chemistry is definitely something that impacts a team's performance.

Scott, a Michigan Tech graduate, is a huge part of the Hawks' clubhouse chemistry, and I'm sure having one of the most articulate tough guys in the league helps.

So while I have never been one to criticize Scott, I do feel we all owe him a collective apology this holiday season. Number 32 has improved since joining Chicago, and is very much a welcomed and appreciated part of the roster.