Newest Ranger John Scott eager to face Hawks
John Scott of the New York Rangers waits for his shift against the Carolina Hurricanes. (March 1, 2012) Credit: Getty
CHICAGO -- As far as homecomings go, this would be a short one for big John Scott, who can give the Sears Tower a run for its money.
The 6-8, 270-pound Scott, who played 69 games with the Blackhawks (2010-12), was back in town Friday as his former club hosted the Rangers just 11 days after trading the Ontario native for a fifth-round draft pick.
"My family will be here, and some relatives had plans to visit and were coming to the game anyway, before the trade,'' said Scott, 29, who has a 3-month-old daughter. "It will be a little strange, no doubt, because I have friends on the team.''
Does that make it more difficult, given his bruising style of play? "No,'' he said, "just the opposite: I'll want to go after them harder, to prove something.''
At the time of the trade, Scott said he was stunned. "It's surprising, to say the least,'' he had said. "I thought I'd be the last person to get traded. I'm excited to go to New York, but also sad to leave Chicago. I had a good couple of years. It's shocking.''
Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman said Scott was a good team guy. But he was playing only a few minutes a night, and Bowman needed a roster spot.
With the Rangers, Scott also is being deployed in a limited role, mostly to protect skill players. In 40 games with the Blackhawks this season, he had one assist and 72 penalty minutes. Scott, primarily a defenseman, has played five games as a Ranger, all as a fourth-line forward.
Scott, a free agent in June, was undrafted and attended Michigan Tech, where he amassed 347 penalty minutes before he was signed by the Wild in December 2006. His only NHL goal came on Nov. 15, 2009, although he came close Thursday when John Mitchell's pass sprung him for a breakaway. He fired from about 10 feet, but Ottawa goaltender Ben Bishop -- no shrinking violet himself at 6-7 -- sticked it away.
In his brief time as a Ranger, Scott has noticed a significant difference between the two teams, especially in practice. "It's more uptempo, it's go-go-go here, more skating, and a lot of attention to details,'' he said.
Coach John Tortorella is aware of the difficulties of the transition. "I don't think Scotty's in the best shape, and for a guy who doesn't play a lot, it's tough during the season to try to stay in shape,'' Tortorella said. "He's beginning to understand our system, trying to understand how we practice. Little by little, he's getting there. It's awful hard, when you get a player this time of year, to jump in. In the minutes he's played, he's done his job.''
And that job, essentially, is being a deterrent. Rangers president Glen Sather said acquiring Scott would prevent opponents from taking liberties. Against New Jersey on Tuesday, Eric Boulton declined to drop the gloves with Scott. Then Cam Janssens agreed to go at 12:32 of the first period.
Fireworks weren't expected at United Center Friday night. Said former Blackhawks teammate Viktor Stalberg, "I don't think anyone in here is dumb enough to fight him.''
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