Scott says Subban comments not personal: 'I hated everyone I played against'
John Scott simply wants the mean tweets to stop.
The former NHL enforcer and All-Star Game MVP (yes, that's still weird to write) was the talk of the hockey world Sunday when he was featured in an "E:60" profile on P.K. Subban in which he called the star defenseman "a piece of garbage" when he's on the ice.
On Monday, Scott was on TSN Montreal 690 to clarify his comments, which it turns out were at least a year-and-a-half old.
Scott's not backing down from what he said, but he wants everyone to know they're about Subban as a hockey player and not as a person.
"I honestly hated everyone I played against, so it's not anything personal against P.K.," Scott said. "I hadn't met him at that time, and now that I've met him I actually like the guy, he's a good guy off the ice. On the ice, you know, I don't like him, and that's just all there is to it, I'm not going to back down from that comment. I didn't like playing against him, I didn't like some of his antics he did. You're allowed to not like people, it's not always rainbows and butterflies. Everyone, I hope, just please stop mean-tweeting me."
The conversation then went to Subban's perceived reputation, which Scott shined a light on.
"He's a world-class talent and one of the best defensemen in the league and he's a fun guy and he's perceived as having a good time on the ice and as an opposing player sometimes when you're losing 5-1 to that team and he's still whooping it up and doing the high-fives and all the celebrations, it gets under your skin and that's going to happen, especially when he's such a talented player," Scott said. "So, you know, the guys on the other team don't really like that when he's doing it in your barn or at their barn and they're having a great time and you're struggling and losing.
"I'm sure I wouldn't call him a piece of garbage to his face, he's a nice guy," Scott added. "I met him a few times now, so, you know, it's just on the ice, he does some stuff that gets under your skin."
Tough, but fair. And, let's face it, the majority of Scott's NHL career was spent watching from the bench, so you can imagine why a guy like Subban drove him batty.
The topic of Subban as a marketing tool for the game was then discussed, and Scott lamented the fact the NHL hasn't done enough to market the larger-than-life personality known as P.K.
"He's like an untapped resource," Scott said. "He has such a good personality and sense of humor, and he's so outgoing and to have that in your wings ... and he wants to do it, too, he's not saying no to opportunities, he jumps at everything that comes his way.
"(The NHL has) definitely dropped the ball in that because he could just sell this game all over the country, and he just crosses all borders when it comes to marketing standpoints. He can go to all different neighborhoods and all different communities and everybody loves him - but except for me, apparently. He's such an untapped resource, they need to use him more."
Amen, Mr. Scott.
Subban will be front and center when the puck drops on Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Monday night in Pittsburgh, along with that Sidney Crosby guy, as two of the game's biggest stars - and they couldn't be more different, could they? - square off for the sport's ultimate prize.