John Scott, Dylan Larkin shine at the NHL All-Star Game weekend

Michigan Tech alum John Scott carried around the ice by his teammates Sunday evening at the NHL All-Star Game. (Photo from NHL.com)
Michigan Tech alum John Scott carried around the ice by his teammates Sunday evening at the NHL All-Star Game. (Photo from NHL.com)

 

By @MichaelCaples –

One is a 19-year-old phenom who seems destined for many All-Star Game appearances.

The other is a 33-year-old who has scored more than three goals in a season.

Neither of them were expected to be the stars of the show at the All-Star weekend in Nashville – though the 19-year-old would have had a much higher probability than the other if we checked the odds in Vegas.

Yet here we are, talking about Dylan Larkin and John Scott the morning after the weekend festivities in Nashville.

In Larkin’s case, it was silly for us to expect otherwise. The Waterford native, NTDP product and University of Michigan alum continues to surprise the hockey world – so frequently at this point that we shouldn’t be surprised by anything. In the first event of the Skills Competition, Larkin beat everybody else – names like Erik Karlsson, Matt Duchene and Taylor Hall – before having a chance to top Mike Gartner’s single-lap record set before Larkin was born.

Even while slipping heading into the final stretch, Larkin broke the record.

He was ‘trending’ on Facebook soon after.

During a recent interview, Larkin told MiHockey that he was nervous because he didn’t know any of the guys he would be skating with in Nashville. That’s what happens when you’re the only rookie in attendance.

He didn’t have any problems making friends, however, when he was winning a Skills Competition event on his own or setting up the likes of Jaromir Jagr and PK Subban.

MORE: VIDEO: Larkin breaks record in fastest skater event at NHL Skills Competition

 

John Scott, take a bow

While Larkin’s All-Star outing is just the latest in a list of many accomplishments, Sunday saw John Scott turn into a hockey legend. Not a legend like Mr. Hockey or the Great One, of course, but perhaps hockey’s version of Rudy.

The story of the enforcer turned all-star captain was remarkable in itself – that so many fans wanted to see him skate in Nashville surely would have created enough memories for the Scott family on its own. However, the questionable trade that saw him sent from Arizona to Montreal and subsequently down to the minors (in what appeared to be a move to oust him from the ASG) only added to the magnitude of the story.

 

Long story short – if you want a better version check out Scott’s Players Tribune article where he outlines his whole ordeal – he still ended up at the All-Star Game.

And the Michigan Tech alum won the All-Star Game. No doubt about it.

He scored. He fought Patrick Kane (well kind of, but everybody can appreciate that one for a variety of different reasons). He conducted fantastic interviews. He roasted Jeremy Roenick. He had his family with him for the whole thing – even though an NHL official apparently asked him if this were something his kids would be proud of.

I’m sure they were proud of their dad last weekend. If they weren’t, they will be when they’re old enough to grasp the enormity of the event.

John Scott is the MVP of the NHL All-Star Game. He won a car and he led his team to a $1 million victory in the first-ever three-on-three tournament format.

Heck, he was carried around the ice like he was Vince Lombardi.

Good for you, John Scott. Good for you, and thanks for letting us enjoy the weekend with you.

Hope you all enjoyed the All-Star weekend as much as we did.

What a wild time for some Michigan names.