John Scott destroys Jack Edwards, defends Tom Wilson.

John Scott does not hold back.

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 3 years ago
John Scott destroys Jack Edwards, defends Tom Wilson.
Keystone Press

All of the talk in the hockey world right now is on the topic of Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson and the big time suspension he received for a devastating hit on Brandon Carlo. When I say all the talk I really do mean all the talk, the hit has divided the National Hockey League's fan base with some feeling that Wilson should have received a much harsher suspension, some feeling that the suspension he received was fine, and others feeling the play did not warrant any suspension at all. 

The latest name that you can add to that last category is none other than long time NHL enforcer and former NHL All Star John Scott. Scott now hosts his own podcast following his NHL career and this week he shared his thoughts on the biggest controversy in the sport right now, the Wilson hit. Scott, unlike many others, isn't looking to get back into the NHL at any level however so when he shared his thoughts they were entirely unfiltered. I can only describe what he said as a clear defense of Tom Wilson, and perhaps more importantly the absolute destruction of Boston Bruins commentator Jack Edwards.

"If Tom Wilson's on Boston, Jack's washing his car every day because he loves him so much and he's a hard nosed tough player to play against and that hit is a good hockey play," said Scott on his podcast. "Without a doubt. He's the biggest homer in the world."

Scott was also critical of the reaction from Bruins fans which he appeared to think was way over the top. 

"This is the typical Boston fan," began Scott. "They see Carlo go down ands they see the person who hit him is Tom Wilson. All facts are out the window. They say 'The guy charged at him from the red line, he's an animal, he wasn't even looking where the pucks was and he hurt Brandon Carlo, he did it on purpose, we need to kill him. He needs to die now.' This is a Boston thing."

Scott went on to break down the hit pointing out that Wilson "doesn't take a stride from the top of the circle in" and was instead "gliding all the way in and following the play." Scott felt that Wilson's reputation played a major factor in how the hit was perceived.

"This is where I think people just get out of hand, and the name gets you in trouble," said Scott, clearly drawing on personal experience. "I got in trouble with this, Steve Downie gets in trouble with this, Tom Wilson gets in trouble with this, Patrick Kaleta got it trouble with this. If you're known as a player you're held to a different standard."

Scott's feelings on the hit itself were also made pretty clear when another member of his podcast suggested that the hit was "predatory" in nature. Scott made his disagreement crystal clear.

"To say this was a predatory hit I think was outrageous... It's not like he's chasing down Carlo, he's following the play, Carlo jukes out Varana, and he goes to go behind the net and turns back and Tom finishes him through the shoulder and he catches his head into the glass. That's the hit, I don't think he should have been suspended at all."

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