Veteran NHL defenseman abruptly and unexpectedly retires from professional hockey

News broke on Monday that defenseman Marco Scandella is hanging his skates up and retiring from pro hockey. According to insider Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports, the update was that he declined an offer to continue his career overseas. Rather than take the opportunity to play in Europe, Scandella has retired, officially ending his career. An announcement was made via a short video of Scandella talking with a member of the St. Louis Blues training staff, but much of the conversation is inaudible because of background noise.

Scandella, a defenseman who was selected 55th overall in the second round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft by the Minnesota Wild, had a long career in the league. He was playing in 784 NHL games in which he scored 30 goals and 119 assists for a total of 149 points. In his career, he suited up for multiple teams like the Minnesota Wild, Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens, and St-Louis Blues where he contributed his solid defensive play to each roster that he suited up for.

While Scandella never hoisted the Stanley Cup during his time in the National Hockey League, his career is otherwise marked by significant achievements, particularly on the international front. He won a gold medal for Team Canada at the 2008 Under-18 World Championship and later earned a silver medal at the 2010 World Junior Championship. These are some of the major highlights of a career that has spanned well over a decade at the professional level.

But beyond his on-ice performance, Scandella was a leader and always steady in the locker room. His teammates and coaches praised his professionalism and commitment to the game, many things that no doubt played into the reasons for his lengthy time in the league. He has a lot to look back on in his career: valuable performances and memorable moments for both his club and country.

As Marco Scandella moves on to the next phase in his life, we'd like to take this opportunity to wish him all the best in whatever he chooses to pursue following hockey. Whether that's remaining within the game in some capacity or beginning an entirely new path, his legacy as a reliable, talented defenseman will be intact.