Marco Scandella Explained

Marco Scandella
Birth Date:February 23, 1990
Birth Place:Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Height Ft:6
Height In:3
Weight Lb:208
Position:Defence
Shoots:Left
League:NHL
Team:Free agent
Former Teams:Minnesota Wild
Buffalo Sabres
Montreal Canadiens
St. Louis Blues
Draft:55th overall
Draft Year:2008
Draft Team:Minnesota Wild
Career Start:2009

Marco Scandella (born February 23, 1990) is an Italian-Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played for the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously played major junior hockey in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) for the Val d'Or Foreurs prior to being selected by the Minnesota Wild in the second-round, 55th overall, in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. As well as the Wild, Scandella formerly played with the Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens.

Playing career

Amateur

Scandella began his junior career with the Val d'Or Foreurs of the QMJHL. Shortly after returning from the 2010 World Junior Championships tournament, Scandella was suspended for 15 games by the QMJHL for elbowing Alexandre Durette of the Rimouski Océanic in the head.[1]

Professional

Minnesota Wild

Scandella made his NHL debut for the Minnesota Wild on November 12, 2010, against the Florida Panthers.[2] He scored his first career NHL goal during the first game of the 2011–12 season against Steve Mason of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Scandella began his breakout year in the 2013–14 season, skating in 76 games with the Wild and playing the majority of his minutes on the second defensive pairing with close friend Jared Spurgeon. He scored three goals and added 14 assists for 17 points over the course of the season.

There were high expectations for Scandella entering the 2014–15 season. He immediately made an impact, going on a scoring streak and surpassing his career totals of goals scored. He scored the overtime winners against the Winnipeg Jets and Dallas Stars on November 14 and November 29, and on the latter date signed a five-year, $20 million contract extension with Minnesota.[3] Scandella was later fined $2,755.38 for an illegal check to the head of the St. Louis Blues' T. J. Oshie on December 1, and nine days later, he was suspended a further two games for the same infraction against the New York Islanders' Brock Nelson.[4]

Buffalo Sabres

After seven seasons with Minnesota, Scandella (alongside Jason Pominville and a 2018 fourth-round pick) was traded to the Buffalo Sabres on June 30, 2017 in exchange for Tyler Ennis, Marcus Foligno and a third-round pick.[5]

Montreal Canadiens

Entering the final year of his contract in the 2019–20 season, Scandella contributed with three goals and nine points in 31 games. On January 3, 2020, Scandella was traded to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for a 2020 fourth-round pick.[6] He scored his first goal for the Canadiens on February 8 in a 2–1 overtime win against the Toronto Maple Leafs.[7]

St. Louis Blues

On February 18, 2020, Scandella, after only one month with the Canadiens, was traded on to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for a 2020 second-round pick and 2021 conditional fourth-round pick.[8] Scandella made 11 regular season appearances with the Blues, registering 1 assist, before the season was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.

On April 16, 2020, the Blues signed Scandella as an impending free agent to a four-year, $13.1 million contract extension.[9]

International play

Scandella represented Canada internationally for the first time at the 2008 World Under-18 Championships, helping his country to a gold medal and recording one goal and one assist in seven games.[10] He also represented Canada at the 2010 World Junior Championships, helping the team to a silver medal and recording one goal and two assists in six games.

Personal life

Scandella is the nephew of former NHLer Sergio Momesso.[11] Marco's older brother, Giulio Scandella, plays professional hockey in Italy and is a member of the Italian national team with whom he appeared at the 2006 Winter Olympics.[12] Scandella's father, Francesco, is an Italian immigrant, and Marco is trilingual, speaking English, French and Italian.[13]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
2005–06Cégep Édouard-MontpetitQMAAA423474030002
2006–07Montréal Prédateurs QMAAA427132066301110
2007–08Val-d'Or ForeursQMJHL65410143540114
2008–09Val-d'Or ForeursQMJHL5810273764
2008–09Houston AerosAHL2000060002
2009–10Val-d'Or ForeursQMJHL31922314162464
2009–10Houston AerosAHL70117
2010–11Houston AerosAHL333161917202688
2010–11Minnesota WildNHL200222
2011–12Minnesota WildNHL63391219
2011–12Houston AerosAHL92354
2012–13Houston AerosAHL45215172321012
2012–13Minnesota WildNHL6101451120
2013–14Minnesota WildNHL763141720132130
2014–15Minnesota WildNHL6411122356102130
2015–16Minnesota WildNHL73516212261014
2016–17Minnesota WildNHL7149132550002
2017–18Buffalo SabresNHL825172237
2018–19Buffalo SabresNHL63671326
2019–20Buffalo SabresNHL313698
2019–20Montreal CanadiensNHL201238
2019–20St. Louis BluesNHL11011490000
2020–21St. Louis BluesNHL493692440000
2021–22St. Louis BluesNHL70311141840000
2022–23St. Louis BluesNHL201126
2023–24St. Louis BluesNHL6526815
NHL totals78451119170294566396

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2008CanadaU1871126
2010CanadaWJC61232
Junior totals132358

Notes and References

  1. News: Quebec junior hockey player suspended 15 games for headshot . 2010-02-09 . faceoff.com . 2014-11-30 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20150924010137/http://www.faceoff.com/story.html?id=75ca6476-ae28-4596-a763-687ac34dbfc7 . 2015-09-24 . live .
  2. Web site: Marco Scandella Minnesota Wild. Minnesota Wild. 2010-11-13.
  3. News: Wild rewards Scandella with five-year, $20 million contract extension . Russo . Michael . 2014-11-29 . . 2014-11-30 . Minneapolis, MN . https://web.archive.org/web/20141205072440/http://www.startribune.com/sports/wild/284233311.html . 2014-12-05 . live .
  4. Web site: Scandella suspended two games for hit on Nelson. sportsnet.ca. May 18, 2018. December 10, 2014.
  5. Web site: Sabres bolster defense and bring back Jason Pominville in trade . . 2017-06-30 . 2017-06-30.
  6. Web site: Canadiens acquire defenceman Marco Scandella from Sabres . . January 3, 2020 . January 3, 2020.
  7. News: Cowan. Stu. Canadiens beat Leafs in OT to boost playoff hopes. 2020-02-09. Montreal Gazette. 2020-02-09.
  8. Web site: Blues acquire Scandella from Montreal . . February 18, 2020 . February 18, 2020.
  9. Web site: Scandella agrees to four-year contract extension with Blues . . April 16, 2020 . April 16, 2020.
  10. Book: IIHF Guide & Record Book 2014. Fenn/McClelland & Stewart . Podnieks, Andrew . Toronto . 401.
  11. Web site: Canadian juniors advance to gold-medal game . . 2014-11-30 . 2010-01-03 . Wharnsby . Tim . https://web.archive.org/web/20141224171920/http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/canadian-juniors-advance-to-gold-medal-game-1.898667 . 2014-12-24 . live .
  12. Web site: Scandella, Marco . National Hockey League . 2014-11-30 . https://archive.today/20141130213051/http://www.nhl.com/ice/draftprospectdetail.htm?dpid=82&year=2008 . 2014-11-30 . live .
  13. News: Just Enjoy It. Erickson. Kelly. December 15, 2013. Minnesota Wild Hockey Club Website. National Hockey League. December 2, 2014.