Maloney 'dumbfounded' by reports claiming Coyotes didn't want Scott to be All-Star
Arizona Coyotes general manager Don Maloney again dismissed the notion that the John Scott trade was motivated by the All-Star fan vote, but the GM admits the team broached the subject of participation with Scott prior to making the deal.
Related: Coyotes GM insists Scott deal had nothing to do with All-Star status
"We have (the maximum) 23 players on our roster," Maloney told Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman on Saturday. "Someone had to go. When you look at our lineup, he made the most sense. To suggest that this was part of us not wanting him in (the) All-Star (Game), or to be working in the NHL ... I'm dumbfounded by that."
TSN's Bob McKenzie reported Friday that both the NHL and the Coyotes asked Scott to bow out of the midseason showcase and Scott refused.
Maloney said the Coyotes pondered holding off on the trade until after the All-Star break, but couldn't afford to wait.
"We did (consider that), but things can change," he said. "What if someone else is interested? What if he gets hurt? You can't take the chance."
The Coyotes traded Scott to the Montreal Canadiens in a three-way deal with the Nashville Predators that sent defenseman Jarred Tinordi to Arizona on Friday, and Montreal then assigned Scott to their AHL affiliate, the St. John's IceCaps.
Maloney said Saturday that there was "no way" he'd intentionally bury Scott in the AHL so the veteran pugilist couldn't participate in the All-Star Game.
"We wanted Tinordi, we think our coaching staff can work with him," Maloney said.
Scott was voted Pacific Division captain by the fans and was the Coyotes' lone All-Star representative before the deal took place.