Chicago Blackhawks: John Scott Is the Odd Man Out...Or Is He?

The Chicago Blackhawks are making the final tweaks to their opening night roster. By this time Wednesday, we should have the 23 players in place who will start the season in Indian head sweaters.

There is little point in coming up with likely candidates for the last cut. It has to be John Scott.

Or does it?

Chicago got their roster down to 26 players Monday after sending down a host of players to Rockford, including Brandon Pirri, Marcus Kruger and Dylan Olsen. Joining them later Monday afternoon was Alexander Salak, who was sent down in favor of Ray Emery.

Emery, who signed a one-year deal for $600,000, clarified the biggest mystery left in camp. In the end, Emery was brought in to provide veteran insurance that the talented Salak could not offer.

Three players need to be trimmed from the roster. Two of those will surely be Jeremy Morin and Phillipe Paradis. Both await clearance for contact and have not taken part in contact in training camp.

Scott stands alone, perhaps not for long.

After Morin and Paradis, the 'Hawks have 14 forwards and eight defensemen in addition to Emery and Corey Crawford.

Remaining Forwards: Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp, Marian Hossa, Andrew Brunette, Dave Bolland, Bryan Bickell, Michael Frolik, Brandon Saad, Rostislav Olesz, Jamal Mayers, Daniel Carcillo, Viktor Stalberg, Ben Smith.

Remaining Defensemen: Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Steve Montador, Nick Leddy, Sean O'Donnell, Sami Lepisto, John Scott.

If one player has to depart, Scott had better get his bags packed. He's going someplace.

Now, it is possible that the team will start Stalberg and/or Smith on the injured list and not make any changes to begin the season. We don't know for certain which players will skate together and how soon injured players will return to the lineup.

One clear truth resonates over the endless possibilities of Joel Quenneville's rotating lineup. None of the other 23 players above bring as little to the table as Scott does.

He is at least several notches below the other seven defensemen in ability. If a seventh defensemen is needed due to injury, there are four or five players that can be called up that are better choices than Scott. There is no need to carry him as an eighth defender.

Carcillo and Mayers will provide enough scrap factor to render Scott's five minutes a night completely unnecessary. Is Scott's presence in the locker room substantial enough to merit his inclusion on the team?

That's really the $64,000 question, isn't it?

Saad will likely be sent down a few games into the season when Stalberg is ready to take the ice. Smith must be well enough for an early return. Otherwise either Pirri or Kruger would still be with the team.

The Hawks are paying a goalie over $5 million to play overseas. What's half a million for a 6' 8" mascot who can throw a punch and create good will amongst teammates?

If the team chooses to employ Scott in this way and is successful at it, far be it from us to complain. However, keeping Scott for any other purpose other than the above role makes little sense.