Chicago Blackhawks: No Excuse for John Scott's Three Shifts Saturday

The Chicago Blackhawks dressed John Scott in place of the suspended Daniel Carcillo in Saturday's 5-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Scott skated three brief shifts and was on the ice for 1:44.

He did not take a shot.

He did not register a hit.

He was on the ice for the first Columbus goal. After skating a 54-second shift early in the second period, the 6-8 forward/defenseman was not seen on the ice for the remainder of the contest.

Any way you slice it, the response to Scott's usage is simply, "Why?"

Why was Rostislav Olesz, presumably healthy and available, a scratch in favor of Scott?

Why was a player incapable of playing more than two minutes against the worst team in the conference in the lineup?

Why was Scott dressed, then not used in the third period even after the 'Hawks built a two-goal advantage?

So goes the conundrum of Scott's place on the 'Hawks.

The job that Jamal Mayers and Carcillo (when not being disciplined by the league) are currently doing completely render Scott obsolete. Joel Quenneville knows far more about coaching hockey than I, but there isn't a lot to put in the logic column with going with Scott over Olesz or anyone else.

If Quenneville believes that Scott is worth dressing, why skate him ridiculously limited minutes?

Olesz is thought to be a healthy scratch. If he is physically unable to play, why not put him on injured reserve? A player more fitting the fourth line that Scott can be found in Rockford simply by throwing a dart at the Ice Hogs' roster.

I realize I am ranting about a player who has been in the team box for seven of the Blackhawk's first ten games. The limits the hockey gods imposed on Scott's abilities are well documented. Putting aside what I think about Scott's use as a hockey player, it baffles me that Quenneville suits him up when he obviously has no confidence that the man can play a regular shift.

Olesz has failed to settle into a role, but he can get up and down the ice. He doesn't require Quenneville to employ the kid gloves he uses with Scott. The fact that Scott is the first man in probably means Quenneville has a similar lack of faith in Olesz.

Carcillo is serving the other game of his suspension Monday night when the 'Hawks host Nashville. Unless a roster change is made between now and game time, Quenneville will be suiting up at least one player in whom he has no confidence.

Only Quenneville and Stan Bowman seem to know why.