Minnesota Wild Re-Sign Defenseman Marco Scandella
By Dakota Case
May 5, 2013; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane (88) protects the puck from Minnesota Wild defenseman Marco Scandella (6) during the first period in game three of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
According to the team’s official website, the Minnesota Wild locked up what could possibly be a key piece of the future in defenseman Marco Scandella for another two seasons.
The big 6’3” 210-pound blue liner is a serious candidate to fill the role of top-4 defenseman for the club and proved he can rise to the occasion in Minnesota’s first round playoff series against the Blackhawks. Scandella, 23, was given the task of shutting down dynamic winger Patrick Kane, and he seemed to relish the opportunity, giving one of the most dangerous players in the league very little room to work and limiting him to just two assists in the series. Drafted in the second round (55th overall) in 2008, Marco played all five games of the series, leading all Wild defenders with a goal and an assist while ranking fourth in time on ice with an average of 18:01 per game.
Scandella played just six regular season games with the Wild this season, but played 45 games with Houston, scoring two goals and 15 assists for 17 points and a plus-2 rating. In parts of the past three seasons with Minnesota, the Montreal, Quebec native has scored four goals and 11 assists for 15 points in 89 career NHL games.