Gary Bettman on John Scott at NHL All-Star Game: "He Was Welcome to Be Here"

Gary Bettman spoke today ahead of the NHL All-Star Game. I don’t know how his nose didn’t grow so large that it crowded everyone out of the room. He claimed that the league was happy for John Scott to be at the All-Star Game once he decided to come. His head shook like he was in a clearly agitated state while the words tried to convey just how tickled pink the NHL is that John Scott is participating.

John Scott, a career journeyman and “enforcer,” wrote a piece in the Player’s Tribune last week, in which, among many things, he said a NHL official called him (and an attempt to dissuade him from attending) and asked him if his kids would be proud of him if he played in the game. When asked if that conversation took place, Bettman initially gave a non-answer (“we wanted him to be comfortable to be here”)and rambled, then when pressed again, said he wouldn’t get into who said what.

[photo via USA Today Sports Images]