John Scott, all-star game captain, demoted by Coyotes
Arizona coach Tippett says return to NHL likely in next couple days
An NHL all-star captain has been demoted.
Arizona Coyotes tough guy John Scott, voted as one of four captains for the NHL all-star game, was sent to Springfield of the AHL on Wednesday after clearing waivers earlier this season.
The Coyotes sent Scott down to make room on their roster for defenceman Kevin Connauton, who was claimed off waivers from the Blue Jackets.
Arizona coach Dave Tippett said Scott will likely be back with the Coyotes in the next couple of days, allowing him to participate in the Jan. 31 all-star game in Nashville.
The NHL reformatted its all-star game this season, with one player from each division selected by fan voting to lead a team in the 3-on-3 game.
A fan campaign for Scott began at the start of voting and gained steam until he ended up becoming a captain with Florida's Jaromir Jagr, Washington's Alex Ovechkin and Chicago's Patrick Kane.
Scott was the one player who stuck out on the list, a 6-foot-8, 270-pound enforcer who's one of the game's last heavyweight fighters
He has one assist and 25 penalty minutes in 11 games this season and was waived three times by the Coyotes. He has five goals, six assists and 542 penalty minutes in 285 career games.
Connauton had a goal and seven assists in 27 games with the Blue Jackets this season. The 25-year-old had nine goals and 12 assists in 62 games with Columbus and Dallas last season.