John Scott representing all the enforcers before him at All-Star Game

Arizona Coyotes All-Star and Pacific Division captain John Scott isn't going to the 3-on-3 tournament on his own. No, he's taking all the NHL's enforcers - a dying breed, no doubt - along with him.

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Scott's had conflicting emotions about his All-Star selection, he told ESPN's Pierre LeBrun on Wednesday, but when he laces them up out there in Nashville with the best the NHL has to offer, he'll be thinking about the guys who came before him and paid unfathomable dues.

"I hope everyone who has done my job can take a little bit out of this and say, 'You know what? Finally, one of us is getting recognized.' If not for just fighting all the time, we do bring a lot to the team in terms of doing a lot things that go unseen," Scott said. "It's nice to get a bit of props once in a while for that."

Scott was honest - when the campaign to get him to Nashville started, he wasn't too happy about it. But as the movement gained momentum, he decided to buy in, especially considering he thought he was facing retirement last summer.

"I thought I was done last year," Scott admitted. "You just never (know) when you're going to get the next opportunity. So I'm looking at this as maybe being my last year in the NHL and this is a huge deal for someone like me.

"I would never in a million years dream of going to an All-Star Game. That's crazy. So I figured, 'Why not? Just do it.'"

It's not the fighting that's the hard part of his role, Scott said, but not knowing when he'll play, and constantly sitting out.

"This year, geez, I've only played 10 games, I haven't played at all," Scott said. "But I get bag-skated and worked out more than anyone I know. I do bust my hump here. It's a tough job to be in and out of the lineup and fighting. It's just not very fun. It's good to get a perk from it."

Sidney Crosby will be at home watching Scott at the All-Star Game. It is what it is. In some way, Scott's hoping his play in the tournament will bring more viewers to the game, and to hockey in general.

John Scott in the All-Star Game is happening. We may as well enjoy it. And in some way, perhaps he does actually deserve it.