700-game NHL veteran Marco Scandella unexpectedly retires mid-season

Marco Scandella is a veteran NHL defenseman who has played for several teams, and he has unfortunately called it a career after refusing to continue in Europe.

Veteran NHL defenceman Marco Scandella has announced his retirement from professional hockey. After being offered a chance to continue playing overseas this season, Scandella has decided to officially retire. The news was first reported by NHL insider Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports, who shared a video of Scandella chatting with a member of the St. Louis Blues' training staff. It was hard to make out, with all the background noise, but it signaled the end of a very long and successful NHL career.

Scandella was originally drafted by the Minnesota Wild in the second round, 55th overall, back during the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. In total, he played in 784 games, where he gathered 30 goals and 119 assists for a combined 149 points. During his tenure in the league, he has sported jerseys for the Wild, Buffalo Sabres, St. Louis Blues, and his hometown team, the Montreal Canadiens. He was a very reliable sort of defenseman, valuable to each franchise, although not really a household name over the course of his career.

While Scandella never won the Stanley Cup, he did have successes on the international stage. He represented Canada in the 2008 U-18 World Championship, where he won gold, and took silver at the 2010 World Junior Championship. With such a talented player, his perseverance finally paid off, even though it wasn't crowned with an NHL championship.

Beyond the statistics, Scandella's influence on the game was cemented in his work ethic and professionalism. He was a stable and dependable presence on the blue line, often tasked with shutting down opposing teams' top offensive threats. Teammates and coaches around the league spoke to his high character both on and off the ice, and his presence will be missed in the room.

As Marco Scandella goes into retirement, he does so having carved a career in commitment and dependability. While his professional life perhaps missed out on the ultimate jewel that is the NHL Championship, his contributions at both league and world levels speak to a commendable amount of accomplishment. We wish him the best as he heads into this new stage of his life.

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