In the indecisive poll of the NHL’s top ten heavyweights, Chicago Blackhawks defenseman John Scott has the chance to crack the list. Previously unmentioned, Scott hasn’t ranked very high in most estimations, or established himself in the eyes of fight fans as a viable top heavy. In the summer of 2010, the Blackhawks signed Scott to a two-year contract. In his first two scraps of the 2010-2011 campaign, Scott has looked decent in battle, drawing with Brad Winchester and easily handling Zack Stortini. Scott is no longer in the colossal shadow of former Wild teammate Derek Boogaard, and as the Hawks’ sole enforcer, he should frequently find dance partners with the Cam Janssens of the Central Division.
John Scott, Hockey Fights
Scott, 28, dressed in 71 games with the Minnesota Wild over parts of the 2009-2009, 2009-2010 seasons, recording 111 penalty minutes and three points (G, 2A). The hulking 6-foot-8, 258-pound, blueliner appeared in a career-high 51 tilts with the Wild in 2009-2010, registering two points (one goal, one assist) while ranking second on the team with 90 penalty minutes (behind Boogaard). Scott fought six times in 2009-2010, a perfect 6-0, with victories over legitimate fellow heavyweights David Koci and George Parros.
Scott, a St. Catherines, Ontario native, made his National Hockey League debut with Minnesota in 2008-09, posting one assist and 21 penalty minutes in 20 contests. He fought three times in 2008-09, with wins over Zack Stortini and Cody McCormick, as well as a dominant shellacking of Isles wannabe tough guy Joel Rechlicz. Scott signed with the Wild as a free agent in December 2006. As far as the amount of ice time Scott generally sees, he averaged only 8:36 on the ice in 2009-2010.
Scott skated in 173 American Hockey League regular-season games with the Houston Aeros, from 2006 to 2009 (402 penalty minutes, 29 fighting majors, 13 points), and spent four seasons before turning pro at Michigan Tech (NCAA) from 2002 to 2006 and one season with the Chicago Freeze of the North American Hockey League (2001-02).
John Scott, 2010-2011, NHL Top Ten Heavyweight Prospect
With Brian McGrattan’s career stagnated in Providence of the AHL, and Andrew Peters’ career following the same course of perennial minor-league tough guy stalwarts such as Francis Lessard and Jesse Boulerice, the NHL heavyweight power ranking is hard to pare. Colton Orr, Derek Boogaard, and Eric Godard, each have to be considered in the top five. D.J. King now appears a bit overrated; Jody Shelley looks washed up and susceptible to a season of being something of a steppingstone punching bag; Wade Belak, as of early November, hasn’t yet fought; Steve MacIntyre rarely gets inserted into the lineup. Perhaps Frazer McLaren of the San Jose Sharks will step into the picture. But John Scott is clearly the most intimidating prospect the league has seen since Derek Boogaard’s debut with the Wild earlier in the decade.
He has all the tools to be a top ten heavy, but as of mid-2010-2011, Scott doesn’t have the sustained high-quality fight card or prolific numbers to be included yet (although he has handily disposed of Cam Janssens, Kevin Westgarth, and David Koci). At this point in his young career, he’s a cusp top ten bruiser who has the great potential to meteorically ascend in the fight standings if he remains aggressive and motivated. Hockey fight fans are watching. As of December 2010, Scott is a stout 6-0 in dropping the gloves.
Brian D'Ambrosio - Brian D'Ambrosio is the author of more than 500 published articles and seven books, including From Haikus to Hatmaking: A Year in the Life ...
