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Coyotes GM ‘dumbfounded’ at suggestions he traded John Scott to keep him from All-Star Game

Anaheim Ducks v Phoenix Coyotes

GLENDALE, AZ - NOVEMBER 23: General manager Don Maloney of the Phoenix Coyotes speaks during a press conference to announce the contract signing of Kyle Turris (not pictured) before the NHL game against the Anaheim Ducks at Jobing.com Arena on November 23, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

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It’s the All-Star saga that doesn’t seem to be going away any time soon.

On Friday, the Arizona Coyotes traded John Scott, voted to the 2016 NHL All-Star Game as the captain for the Pacific Division, to the Montreal Canadiens. The Habs have declared their intentions for Scott to join their AHL team in St. John’s, which puts the enforcer’s status for the upcoming All-Star Game in Nashville in jeopardy.

Naturally, this latest development has drawn the ire of fans and members of the media who wanted to see Scott compete in the three-on-three event. It was reported on Twitter by TSN’s Bob McKenzie that both the Coyotes and NHL talked to Scott about bowing out of the event, but he refused.

On Saturday, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet spoke with Coyotes general manager Don Maloney, who shed light on the situation.

“We have (the maximum) 23 players on our roster,” Maloney told Sportsnet. “Someone had to go. When you look at our lineup, he made the most sense. To suggest that this was part of us not wanting him in All-Star, or to be working in the NHL…I’m dumbfounded by that.

“We wanted Tinordi, we think our coaching staff can work with him.”