You couldn't have ended 2019 on a worse note. The Buffalo Sabres rang out the old with a very disappointing loss to the surging Tampa Bay Lighting by the score of 6-4. Tampa scored an empty-netter for the final which capped off a five goal run that erased a 4-1 Buffalo lead.
The set-up to the Tampa game had some weird circumstances as the Sabres didn't forget what Nikita Kucherov and Eric Cernak did to their players in previous meetings. While over in Stockholm, Sweden for the 2019 Global Series, Kucherov submarined an unsuspecting Vladimir Sobotka and sent him to injured reserve. He probably won't be back this season. Just over two weeks later, a high elbow from Cernak connected with Rasmus Dahlin's head resulting in a concussion for the 19 yr. old defenseman. Neither hit was penalize and neither was taken care of on the ice by the Sabres. The Kucherov hit wasn't looked at by the NHL Department of Player Safety while Cernak received a two-game suspension for an illegal hit to the head on Dahlin.
Showing posts with label Marco Scandella. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Marco Scandella. Show all posts
Monday, January 13, 2020
Friday, November 15, 2019
"Twenty-one games to Christmas"
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 11-14-2019
That was Buffalo Sabres head coach Ralph Krueger talking to the gathered media post practice yesterday concerning their upcoming schedule. His Sabres squad had just come back from participating in the 2019 Global Series which featured a somewhat compact schedule in October and early November, five days to travel and acclimate to Stockholm, Sweden for their back-to-back against the Tampa Bay Lightning last weekend and another four days to reacclimate to North America. Sunday was a travel day with Monday and Tuesday being mandated days off. The Sabres resumed practice yesterday and will have a game tonight at home against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Krueger said that the team will have a pregame skate this morning because they haven't been on the ice and mentioned how he and his club will be approaching 21 games in 39 days leading up until the Christmas break. "The reality is we have the 21 games 'til Christmas and we're breaking it up into little groups. We've got five games, two-day pause; six games, two-day pause; six games, two-day pause; four games."
That was Buffalo Sabres head coach Ralph Krueger talking to the gathered media post practice yesterday concerning their upcoming schedule. His Sabres squad had just come back from participating in the 2019 Global Series which featured a somewhat compact schedule in October and early November, five days to travel and acclimate to Stockholm, Sweden for their back-to-back against the Tampa Bay Lightning last weekend and another four days to reacclimate to North America. Sunday was a travel day with Monday and Tuesday being mandated days off. The Sabres resumed practice yesterday and will have a game tonight at home against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Krueger said that the team will have a pregame skate this morning because they haven't been on the ice and mentioned how he and his club will be approaching 21 games in 39 days leading up until the Christmas break. "The reality is we have the 21 games 'til Christmas and we're breaking it up into little groups. We've got five games, two-day pause; six games, two-day pause; six games, two-day pause; four games."
Monday, September 30, 2019
Scandella, Girgensons lead comeback in Pittsburgh last night. Training camp closes.
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 9-29-2019
That headline was a fun to write because it will draw the ire from a number of fans in Sabreland who see Buffalo Sabres defenseman Marco Scandella and forward Zemgus Girgensons, among others, as utter deplorables. Having both players score to help Buffalo overcome a 2-0 deficit at Pittsburgh before the Sabres eventual 3-2 win in the shootout was satisfying in a way. About the only thing better would have been for Vladimir Sobotka to score the shootout winner instead of Casey Mittelstadt, which would have a medal-sweep by "The Deplorables."
Of course, it's only preseason, unless you're talking about 18 yr. old Dylan Cozens whom many believe should have a spot on the Sabres roster based upon one very strong preseason game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Or Rasmus Asplund who performed very well in his role as a two-way forward to the point where a case could be made for him to be in a fourth-line role in Buffalo. Asplund outperformed fourth-line/depth players on the Sabres as well as Mittelstadt and there was a groundswell calling for Mittelstadt to be cut and Asplund up with the big club. Both Cozens and Asplund would be welcome faces to replace a group we've seen plenty of the past two-plus seasons. And they will be in Buffalo, just not now.
As we head towards the final cuts this year, fans in Sabreland are tired of seeing the likes of Scandella, Girgensons, Johan Larsson and Vladimir Sobotka on the team and would gladly throw the likes of Mike Card and Michael Funk in there if just for a change of faces. Last year young players Alexander Nylander and Tage Thompson were pined for as replacements for some in that group even though Nylander wasn't ready. Nor was Thompson, as we found out after watching him for a couple months.
That headline was a fun to write because it will draw the ire from a number of fans in Sabreland who see Buffalo Sabres defenseman Marco Scandella and forward Zemgus Girgensons, among others, as utter deplorables. Having both players score to help Buffalo overcome a 2-0 deficit at Pittsburgh before the Sabres eventual 3-2 win in the shootout was satisfying in a way. About the only thing better would have been for Vladimir Sobotka to score the shootout winner instead of Casey Mittelstadt, which would have a medal-sweep by "The Deplorables."
Of course, it's only preseason, unless you're talking about 18 yr. old Dylan Cozens whom many believe should have a spot on the Sabres roster based upon one very strong preseason game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Or Rasmus Asplund who performed very well in his role as a two-way forward to the point where a case could be made for him to be in a fourth-line role in Buffalo. Asplund outperformed fourth-line/depth players on the Sabres as well as Mittelstadt and there was a groundswell calling for Mittelstadt to be cut and Asplund up with the big club. Both Cozens and Asplund would be welcome faces to replace a group we've seen plenty of the past two-plus seasons. And they will be in Buffalo, just not now.
As we head towards the final cuts this year, fans in Sabreland are tired of seeing the likes of Scandella, Girgensons, Johan Larsson and Vladimir Sobotka on the team and would gladly throw the likes of Mike Card and Michael Funk in there if just for a change of faces. Last year young players Alexander Nylander and Tage Thompson were pined for as replacements for some in that group even though Nylander wasn't ready. Nor was Thompson, as we found out after watching him for a couple months.
Thursday, September 12, 2019
Building the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster--LHD, Marco Scandella
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 9-11-2019
In this series we build the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster one by one leading up to the season opener on October 3.
LHD--Marco Scandella
29 yrs. old
6'3" 210 lbs.
2008, 2nd round (55th-overall, MIN)
Career Stats: 518 games | 38 goals | 86 assists | 124 points | -38
One can almost feel the angst and anger emanating from Sabreland with the placing of left-handed defenseman Marco Scandella in this slot on the third pairing. Hell, there's a large contingent that are upset just seeing his name in print as part of the Buffalo Sabres and will just rail on him ad infinitum and another group that will bust out charts and colorful graphics to back their opinion that he shouldn't be on the team. Maybe any team.
Make no mistake, Scandella had a rough 2018-19 season. Everything from an offensive or possession standpoint went south last season for the former second-round pick and he, like other defensemen on the Sabres, looked as if he was just plain lost much of the time. Some of that might be traced back to coaching where former head coach Phil Housley produced a train wreck on defense. As he was trying to bring his Nashville system to a Buffalo team that had nowhere near the high-end personnel the Predators had, the only full-time Sabre last season to rise above the malaise on the blueline was Rasmus Dahlin who, as a first-overall pick with a franchise label attached to him, has the talent to rise above almost anything. Even as an 18-yr. old.
In this series we build the 2019-20 Buffalo Sabres roster one by one leading up to the season opener on October 3.
LHD--Marco Scandella
29 yrs. old
6'3" 210 lbs.
2008, 2nd round (55th-overall, MIN)
Career Stats: 518 games | 38 goals | 86 assists | 124 points | -38
One can almost feel the angst and anger emanating from Sabreland with the placing of left-handed defenseman Marco Scandella in this slot on the third pairing. Hell, there's a large contingent that are upset just seeing his name in print as part of the Buffalo Sabres and will just rail on him ad infinitum and another group that will bust out charts and colorful graphics to back their opinion that he shouldn't be on the team. Maybe any team.
Make no mistake, Scandella had a rough 2018-19 season. Everything from an offensive or possession standpoint went south last season for the former second-round pick and he, like other defensemen on the Sabres, looked as if he was just plain lost much of the time. Some of that might be traced back to coaching where former head coach Phil Housley produced a train wreck on defense. As he was trying to bring his Nashville system to a Buffalo team that had nowhere near the high-end personnel the Predators had, the only full-time Sabre last season to rise above the malaise on the blueline was Rasmus Dahlin who, as a first-overall pick with a franchise label attached to him, has the talent to rise above almost anything. Even as an 18-yr. old.
Sunday, July 21, 2019
A mid-July look at the Buffalo Sabres NHL depth-chart on defense
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 7-19-2019
Please note the hyphenated word, "mid-July" as things could change with training camp still two months away. It also should be noted that the Buffalo Sabres traded for Jeff Skinner (CAR) on August 2 which goes to show that trades can happen at any time.
Buffalo's roster for 2019-20 will (must) change. As we saunter through the dog days of summer the Sabres have a full roster if you include the probable signings of three restricted free agents and two defensemen, Zach Bogosian and Lawrence Pilut, eventually coming back from off-season surgery. Bogosian is expected to be back for the start of the season while Pilut will take a little longer and will probably be spending time in Rochester before trekking into his sophomore campaign.
A crowded Sabres d-corps has eight NHL players already signed, another in Jake McCabe who's unsigned and filed for arbitration, and two more in Pilut and recently acquired Henri Jokiharju (CHI,) who played a significant time in the NHL last season. It's a good situation to be in as it's never a bad idea to have an overabundance of NHL-caliber defensemen but it will also force Buffalo to make some decisions.
For the sake of the following exercise we're going to move ahead under the premise that McCabe will re-sign with Buffalo.
Please note the hyphenated word, "mid-July" as things could change with training camp still two months away. It also should be noted that the Buffalo Sabres traded for Jeff Skinner (CAR) on August 2 which goes to show that trades can happen at any time.
Buffalo's roster for 2019-20 will (must) change. As we saunter through the dog days of summer the Sabres have a full roster if you include the probable signings of three restricted free agents and two defensemen, Zach Bogosian and Lawrence Pilut, eventually coming back from off-season surgery. Bogosian is expected to be back for the start of the season while Pilut will take a little longer and will probably be spending time in Rochester before trekking into his sophomore campaign.
A crowded Sabres d-corps has eight NHL players already signed, another in Jake McCabe who's unsigned and filed for arbitration, and two more in Pilut and recently acquired Henri Jokiharju (CHI,) who played a significant time in the NHL last season. It's a good situation to be in as it's never a bad idea to have an overabundance of NHL-caliber defensemen but it will also force Buffalo to make some decisions.
For the sake of the following exercise we're going to move ahead under the premise that McCabe will re-sign with Buffalo.
Tuesday, May 7, 2019
Impressions of, and questions concerning--D, Marco Scandella
Defenseman--Marco Scandella
DOB: February 23, 1990 (age (29)
Draft: 2008, 2nd round (55th overall) MIN
How acquired: Trade with Minnesota, June 30, 2017
Last contract signed: November 29, 2014, 5yr./$20 million
Final year of contract: 2019-20
Draft: 2008, 2nd round (55th overall) MIN
How acquired: Trade with Minnesota, June 30, 2017
Last contract signed: November 29, 2014, 5yr./$20 million
Final year of contract: 2019-20
2018-19 Stats: 63 games | 6 goals | 7 assists | 13 points | -13 | 17:37 ATOI
Buffalo Career Stats: 145 games | 11 goals | 24 assists | 35 points | -28 | 20:50 ATOI
What we wrote preseason: To say it was a rude awakening for Buffalo and new head coach Phil Housley to start last season would be an understatement. The honeymoon lasted all of three games as the Sabres got bludgeoned twice after playing a solid season opener. Through it all, however, Scandella was able to hold his own but it was quiet evident early on that the depth chart was out of whack a bit with a number of players playing in roles that were above their pay grade.
The struggles of the team weighed on Scandella as well with the 6'3" 208 lb. Montreal, Quebec native also having difficulties keeping up with the top-end talent he faced on a nightly basis. Scandella has a lot of great attributes which includes being an excellent skater for a man his size, but after watching him for a full season in Buffalo, it looks as if he was in the proper top-four, regular season role in Minnesota.
The struggles of the team weighed on Scandella as well with the 6'3" 208 lb. Montreal, Quebec native also having difficulties keeping up with the top-end talent he faced on a nightly basis. Scandella has a lot of great attributes which includes being an excellent skater for a man his size, but after watching him for a full season in Buffalo, it looks as if he was in the proper top-four, regular season role in Minnesota.
Scandella is a true pro. He doesn't say much off the ice but says a lot with how he approaches the game and how he plays it on the ice. He's got size and skill, can skate, defend, score a bit and sees the ice very well. And when you see him and Ristolainen hitting the HarborCenter ice as some of the earliest players to skate in preparation for the upcoming season, you see a quiet leadership that positively influences the youngins, which includes a superstar in the making in Dahlin. Buffalo is lucky to have him at this point in his career.
What we wrote mid-season: Bogosian's health, McCabe's strong game and Pilut's fit thus far with the big club has pushed Scandella down to the third pairing and it's good for him as well as the team. The 28 yr. old had been struggling with top-four minutes but was strong as an anchor for Buffalo's penalty kill prior to an injury which saw him miss a chunk of time from late November to mid December. Upon his return Scandella's ice-time went from 23:33 in his first game back to the high teens in two of the last three games and with his spot in the d-corps rounding out Buffalo's top-six, it looks as if the Sabres have a solid group that can at least compete with any team in the league.
Impressions on his play this year: Scandella is 29 yrs. old but looked older out there. Perhaps it's the weight of playing for a Buffalo team that has really struggled since he was traded for or maybe he's aged quickly because of the hard minutes he's played. Sabres GM Jason Botterill traded for Scandella thinking that the second-pairing d-man from the Minnesota Wild might have more to offer and he put him on the top-pairing with Rasmus Ristolainen averaging 23:19/game. Buffalo finished in last place and that season alone probably shortened his career by two or three years.
Scandella took a beating on the ice and in social media where it seemed as if every mistake, or perceived mistake, he me made was dissected to the nth degree and every loss somehow had something to do with him. Such is the role of whipping boy, especially in Buffalo where losing has messed with the collective psyche of the fan-base and they'll put together a caravan to the airport quicker than you can say Tom Barrasso.
That statement wasn't meant to excuse Scandella for his poor play, to absolve Botterill of overstating his potential in Buffalo or to be a cover for this writer who believed the big, minute-eating defenseman would be a net positive for the Sabres in a top-four role. It didn't work out all that well and save for his strong work on the penalty kill, Scandella had his problems on the ice. But obsessing over him serves no purpose.
Questions moving forward: What will the new coach see in him? Is he a trade chip come draft day? Over the summer? At the trade deadline? With the Bogosian injury possibly affecting the opeining night roster, is Scandella back in the top-four to start next season? If fellow whipping boy Ristolainen is traded, is Scandella back in the top-four? Is there a younger player in the system ready to replace him? Would Botterill entertain bringing in a comparable bottom-pairing d-man or save himself the trouble and just keep Scandella? What would happen to the collective psyche of the fan base if Bogosian, Ristolainen and Scandella were all a part of Buffalo's defense corps next season?
Contract info via CapFriendly, stats via sabres.com and hockey reference.com.
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
Hello T.O. Sabres in Toronto with a little wind in their sails
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 2-25-2019
Sabres GM Jason Botterill made the big move last night in trading for Anaheim Ducks defenseman Brandon Montour. Buffalo gave up one of it's three 2019 first round picks (but not their own) and 21 yr. old d-prospect Brendan Guhle for Montour although the 24 yr. old Brampton, Ontario native won't be in the lineup tonight against his the Toronto Maple Leafs. Botterill told the gathered media that the team wasn't interested in rushing Montour to Toronto on a red-eye to play tonight but that he'll be in the lineup tomorrow night in Philadelphia against the Flyers.
In the only other move by Botterill and the Sabres, defenseman Nathan Beaulieu was traded to the Winnipeg Jets for a 2019, sixth round draft pick. Beaulieu was acquired by Botterill on June 17, 2017 from the Montreal Canadiens for a third round pick (Scott Walford) and played in 89 games for the Sabres scoring four goals and adding 12 assists with a minus-18 rating while averaging 15:32 of ice time. Beaulieu's time dwindled with Buffalo this season and he was often a healthy scratch causing him to ask for more ice-time while indirectly saying he wanted to be traded if Buffalo couldn't accommodate. His wishes came true today as the Jets added him for defensive depth.
Sabres GM Jason Botterill made the big move last night in trading for Anaheim Ducks defenseman Brandon Montour. Buffalo gave up one of it's three 2019 first round picks (but not their own) and 21 yr. old d-prospect Brendan Guhle for Montour although the 24 yr. old Brampton, Ontario native won't be in the lineup tonight against his the Toronto Maple Leafs. Botterill told the gathered media that the team wasn't interested in rushing Montour to Toronto on a red-eye to play tonight but that he'll be in the lineup tomorrow night in Philadelphia against the Flyers.
In the only other move by Botterill and the Sabres, defenseman Nathan Beaulieu was traded to the Winnipeg Jets for a 2019, sixth round draft pick. Beaulieu was acquired by Botterill on June 17, 2017 from the Montreal Canadiens for a third round pick (Scott Walford) and played in 89 games for the Sabres scoring four goals and adding 12 assists with a minus-18 rating while averaging 15:32 of ice time. Beaulieu's time dwindled with Buffalo this season and he was often a healthy scratch causing him to ask for more ice-time while indirectly saying he wanted to be traded if Buffalo couldn't accommodate. His wishes came true today as the Jets added him for defensive depth.
Monday, February 18, 2019
Win one for Kyle plus, Mitts returns and lines get a good shakeup.
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 2-17-2019
Plain and simple, Sabres forward Kyle Okposo got smoked at the hands of NY Rangers d-man Tony DeAngelo in a one-punch fight on Friday night. Props to Okposo for defending himself for a "hit" that wasn't even close to being as malicious as the Rangers took it to be, but then again, Okposo really shouldn't be dropping his gloves in the first place.
First off, fighting is just not in his makeup. At 30 years old and with over 700 NHL games played Okposo has been in a total of five fights over his 12 yr. career with his last one being over four years ago, according to hockeyfights.com. In addition, considering what he went through with his March, 2017 concussion, the follow-up treatment that landed him in the Intensive Care Unit and the long, slow process of once again playing the game without reservations, all potential hits to the head should be avoided at all costs. Yet, there he was going toe-to-toe with a young buck who's had 10 fights in just over three years.
Plain and simple, Sabres forward Kyle Okposo got smoked at the hands of NY Rangers d-man Tony DeAngelo in a one-punch fight on Friday night. Props to Okposo for defending himself for a "hit" that wasn't even close to being as malicious as the Rangers took it to be, but then again, Okposo really shouldn't be dropping his gloves in the first place.
First off, fighting is just not in his makeup. At 30 years old and with over 700 NHL games played Okposo has been in a total of five fights over his 12 yr. career with his last one being over four years ago, according to hockeyfights.com. In addition, considering what he went through with his March, 2017 concussion, the follow-up treatment that landed him in the Intensive Care Unit and the long, slow process of once again playing the game without reservations, all potential hits to the head should be avoided at all costs. Yet, there he was going toe-to-toe with a young buck who's had 10 fights in just over three years.
Thursday, August 30, 2018
Building the 2018-19 Buffalo Sabres roster--LHD, Marco Scandella
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 8-29-2013
Marco Scandella
28 yrs. old
6'3" 208 lbs.
2008, 2nd round (55th-overall, MIN)
Acquired in a trade with Minnesota June 30, 2017
Career Stats: 455 games | 32 goals | 79 assists | 111 points | -25
When defenseman Marco Scandella landed in Buffalo he was leaving a stable Minnesota Wild team that had been to the playoffs five consecutive seasons. Scandella had played in a top-four role for the Wild and despite seeing decreased ice time (and a decrease in production) in 2016-17 under a new head coach, when it came to the playoffs he carried a heavy load. His ice-time went from 20:42 during the regular season to just under 23 minutes in the playoffs, which was second only to Ryan Suter.
New Sabres GM Jason Botterill, anxious to upgrade a defense that was one of the worst in the league, brought in the 27 yr. old as a d-partner for Rasmus Ristolainen and Scandella entered the season with a new role and plenty of excitement. After his first practice with the club Scandella was all smiles calling the first day "great day" and saying that it's "exciting with a young, talented group, a new coach and we're ready to Rock 'n Roll right now."
Unfortunately that upbeat outlook soon got hammered into the ice leaving Scandella and the Sabres singing the blues.
To say it was a rude awakening for Buffalo and new head coach Phil Housley would be an understatement as the honeymoon lasted all of three games as the Sabres got bludgeoned twice after playing a solid season opener. Through it all, however, Scandella was able to hold his own but it was quiet evident early on that the depth chart was out of whack a bit with a number of players playing in roles that were above their pay grade.
The struggles of the team weighed on Scandella as well with the 6'3" 208 lb. Montreal, Quebec native also having difficulties keeping up with the top-end talent he faced on a nightly basis. Scandella has a lot of great attributes which includes being an excellent skater for a man his size. He has a good shot, sees the ice well and doesn't mind the rough stuff. After watching him for a full season in Buffalo, it looks as if he was in the proper top-four regular season role in Minnesota with an uptick in responsibility during a more rugged post season.
When the Sabres won the draft lottery and the rights to select franchise defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, Scandella's future was pretty much sealed. Although Dahlin can easily play either side on the blueline, it looks as if he'll start out on the left side and from what we've gathered this off season, the coaching staff may shelter the 18 yr. old by giving him second-pairing minutes to start the season. In that scenario Scandella will eventually move back to his top-four role while also continuing to anchor the Sabres penalty kill. And that's the thing with Dahlin eventually taking over that No. 1 role, the rest of the defense can fall into place.
Scandella is a true pro. He doesn't say much off the ice but says a lot with how he approaches the game and how he plays it on the ice. He's got size and skill, can skate, defend and score a bit as well. And when you see him and Ristolainen hitting the HarborCenter ice as some of the earliest players to skate in preparation for the upcoming season, you see a quiet leadership that positively influences the youngins, which includes a superstar in the making in Dahlin. Buffalo is lucky to have him at this point in his career.
Building the 2018-19 Buffalo Sabres roster:
LW, Conor Sheary / C, Jack Eichel / RW, Sam Reinhart
LHD, Marco Scandella /
Marco Scandella
28 yrs. old
6'3" 208 lbs.
2008, 2nd round (55th-overall, MIN)
Acquired in a trade with Minnesota June 30, 2017
Career Stats: 455 games | 32 goals | 79 assists | 111 points | -25
When defenseman Marco Scandella landed in Buffalo he was leaving a stable Minnesota Wild team that had been to the playoffs five consecutive seasons. Scandella had played in a top-four role for the Wild and despite seeing decreased ice time (and a decrease in production) in 2016-17 under a new head coach, when it came to the playoffs he carried a heavy load. His ice-time went from 20:42 during the regular season to just under 23 minutes in the playoffs, which was second only to Ryan Suter.
New Sabres GM Jason Botterill, anxious to upgrade a defense that was one of the worst in the league, brought in the 27 yr. old as a d-partner for Rasmus Ristolainen and Scandella entered the season with a new role and plenty of excitement. After his first practice with the club Scandella was all smiles calling the first day "great day" and saying that it's "exciting with a young, talented group, a new coach and we're ready to Rock 'n Roll right now."
Unfortunately that upbeat outlook soon got hammered into the ice leaving Scandella and the Sabres singing the blues.
To say it was a rude awakening for Buffalo and new head coach Phil Housley would be an understatement as the honeymoon lasted all of three games as the Sabres got bludgeoned twice after playing a solid season opener. Through it all, however, Scandella was able to hold his own but it was quiet evident early on that the depth chart was out of whack a bit with a number of players playing in roles that were above their pay grade.
The struggles of the team weighed on Scandella as well with the 6'3" 208 lb. Montreal, Quebec native also having difficulties keeping up with the top-end talent he faced on a nightly basis. Scandella has a lot of great attributes which includes being an excellent skater for a man his size. He has a good shot, sees the ice well and doesn't mind the rough stuff. After watching him for a full season in Buffalo, it looks as if he was in the proper top-four regular season role in Minnesota with an uptick in responsibility during a more rugged post season.
When the Sabres won the draft lottery and the rights to select franchise defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, Scandella's future was pretty much sealed. Although Dahlin can easily play either side on the blueline, it looks as if he'll start out on the left side and from what we've gathered this off season, the coaching staff may shelter the 18 yr. old by giving him second-pairing minutes to start the season. In that scenario Scandella will eventually move back to his top-four role while also continuing to anchor the Sabres penalty kill. And that's the thing with Dahlin eventually taking over that No. 1 role, the rest of the defense can fall into place.
Scandella is a true pro. He doesn't say much off the ice but says a lot with how he approaches the game and how he plays it on the ice. He's got size and skill, can skate, defend and score a bit as well. And when you see him and Ristolainen hitting the HarborCenter ice as some of the earliest players to skate in preparation for the upcoming season, you see a quiet leadership that positively influences the youngins, which includes a superstar in the making in Dahlin. Buffalo is lucky to have him at this point in his career.
Building the 2018-19 Buffalo Sabres roster:
LW, Conor Sheary / C, Jack Eichel / RW, Sam Reinhart
LHD, Marco Scandella /
Wednesday, April 25, 2018
Impressions of, and questions concerning--D, Marco Scandella
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 4-24-2018
Defensman--Marco Scandella
DOB: February 23, 1990 (age (28)
Draft: 2008, 2nd round (25th overall) MIN
How acquired: Trade with Minnesota, June 30, 2017
Last contract signed: November 29, 2014, 5yr./$20 million
Final year of contract: 2019-20
2017-18- Stats: 82 games played | 5 goals | 17 assists | 22 points | -15 | 23:19 ATOI
Buffalo Career Stats: 82 games | 5 goals | 17 assists | 22 points | -15 | 23:19 ATOI
What we wrote preseason: Said GM Jason Botterill of trading for Marco Scandella (via Jourdan LaBarber of Sabres.com.) "It was a priority for us to try to find another guy that can play some heavy minutes. We think [he] did a little bit of that in Minnesota, but he was certainly surrounded by some good defensemen and I think now playing a bigger role here (in Buffalo,) he's ready to take the next step in his career."
Head coach Phil Housley, who had seen plenty of Scandella while an assistant with the Nashville Predators, called him a "terrific player" and a "fierce competitor" and that the 27 yr. old was "a key element" the team added. "It'll be interesting to see how much his offensive numbers really increase," he continued. "Whether he gets the assists or not, he's going to start our transition game out of our own end and in the neutral zone and then with his size and his compete down low, his reach, we really think he's going to be able to log a lot of minutes on our PK and be able to play against other teams' top two lines."
Although he had a rough regular season, Scandella turned it on in the playoffs averaging nearly 23 minutes of ice-time in the five-game series vs. the St. Louis Blues. That number was second only to top defenseman Ryan Suter.
What we wrote mid-season: Botterill acquired Scandella in a trade with the Minnesota Wild this past off season saying that he believed the big, 6'3" 208 lb. defenseman could transition from second-pairing in Minnesota to top-pairing in Buffalo. He's in that role now and although he's had his good moments, that top-pairing designation looks to be a stretch. Speed is a problem for him, not so much his own, which is pretty good for a man his size, but the speed of the game playing against top players. In an ideal world he'd be on the second pair in Buffalo, but as we've seen, it's been anything but ideal with the club this year. The 28 yr. old Scandella is under contract until 2019-20 with a reasonable $4 million cap-hit.
Impressions on his play this year: To say it was a struggle for the team and Scandella would be an understatement. We all know the numbers and the general feel in Buffalo while watching this club might have been worse. Scandella, however, seemed to pick things up later in the season and at one point in February found himself paired with an up-and-coming Casey Nelson as a d-partner. The six-game stint yielding 3-2-1 stretch for the Sabres. We know what the eight-year veteran has to offer, and we're pretty sure right now that ideally he's a top-notch second-pairing d-man who can log big minutes in all situations.
Questions moving forward: What pick do the Sabres end up with in the upcoming draft? If they miss out on defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, are the Sabres forging ahead with a Rasmus Ristolainen-Scandella top-pairing? Will the Sabres re-sign Nelson? Will the 28 yr. old Scandella become more of a vocal leader than he was both on and off the ice?
Contract info via CapFriendly, stats via sabres.com and hockey reference.com.
Defensman--Marco Scandella
DOB: February 23, 1990 (age (28)
Draft: 2008, 2nd round (25th overall) MIN
How acquired: Trade with Minnesota, June 30, 2017
Last contract signed: November 29, 2014, 5yr./$20 million
Final year of contract: 2019-20
2017-18- Stats: 82 games played | 5 goals | 17 assists | 22 points | -15 | 23:19 ATOI
Buffalo Career Stats: 82 games | 5 goals | 17 assists | 22 points | -15 | 23:19 ATOI
What we wrote preseason: Said GM Jason Botterill of trading for Marco Scandella (via Jourdan LaBarber of Sabres.com.) "It was a priority for us to try to find another guy that can play some heavy minutes. We think [he] did a little bit of that in Minnesota, but he was certainly surrounded by some good defensemen and I think now playing a bigger role here (in Buffalo,) he's ready to take the next step in his career."
Head coach Phil Housley, who had seen plenty of Scandella while an assistant with the Nashville Predators, called him a "terrific player" and a "fierce competitor" and that the 27 yr. old was "a key element" the team added. "It'll be interesting to see how much his offensive numbers really increase," he continued. "Whether he gets the assists or not, he's going to start our transition game out of our own end and in the neutral zone and then with his size and his compete down low, his reach, we really think he's going to be able to log a lot of minutes on our PK and be able to play against other teams' top two lines."
Although he had a rough regular season, Scandella turned it on in the playoffs averaging nearly 23 minutes of ice-time in the five-game series vs. the St. Louis Blues. That number was second only to top defenseman Ryan Suter.
What we wrote mid-season: Botterill acquired Scandella in a trade with the Minnesota Wild this past off season saying that he believed the big, 6'3" 208 lb. defenseman could transition from second-pairing in Minnesota to top-pairing in Buffalo. He's in that role now and although he's had his good moments, that top-pairing designation looks to be a stretch. Speed is a problem for him, not so much his own, which is pretty good for a man his size, but the speed of the game playing against top players. In an ideal world he'd be on the second pair in Buffalo, but as we've seen, it's been anything but ideal with the club this year. The 28 yr. old Scandella is under contract until 2019-20 with a reasonable $4 million cap-hit.
Impressions on his play this year: To say it was a struggle for the team and Scandella would be an understatement. We all know the numbers and the general feel in Buffalo while watching this club might have been worse. Scandella, however, seemed to pick things up later in the season and at one point in February found himself paired with an up-and-coming Casey Nelson as a d-partner. The six-game stint yielding 3-2-1 stretch for the Sabres. We know what the eight-year veteran has to offer, and we're pretty sure right now that ideally he's a top-notch second-pairing d-man who can log big minutes in all situations.
Questions moving forward: What pick do the Sabres end up with in the upcoming draft? If they miss out on defenseman Rasmus Dahlin, are the Sabres forging ahead with a Rasmus Ristolainen-Scandella top-pairing? Will the Sabres re-sign Nelson? Will the 28 yr. old Scandella become more of a vocal leader than he was both on and off the ice?
Contract info via CapFriendly, stats via sabres.com and hockey reference.com.
Sunday, February 25, 2018
0.2 seconds. Plus, a brief history of Evander Kane
The Buffalo Sabres managed to barely beat the clock last night in overtime as they took down the Detroit Red Wings 3-2. Defenseman Marco Scandella buried a feed from Johan Larsson with 0.2 seconds left in overtime for the win.
(via nhl.com)
It was a great sight to see, one that brought a lot of happiness to a bedraggled team that's been struggling all season.
Although overtime was great with a lot of rushes and scoring chances going both ways, the main event in regulation was a battle between two teams in the lower portion of the Atlantic Division with the Sabres dead last. The Red Wings have been in transition since losing Pavel Datsyuk and head coach Mike Babcock while the Sabres have been transitioning for about seven years now. Both teams have some talent up front, a suspect defense and goaltending that has a tendency to disappear when needed.
The win for Buffalo puts them at 18-32-11 on the season (47 points) while dropping the Red Wings to 24-26-10 (58 pts.) With both teams out of the playoffs and with the NHL trade deadline this coming Monday at 3 pm, the Sabres and the Red Wings both have something to offer teams looking at the playoffs and beyond.
*****
*****
In Buffalo the big name on the trade front is winger Evander Kane and if you don't know his story by now, here's a brief history.
Kane was a multi-faceted powerforward drafted fourth-overall by the Atlanta Thrashers in 2009 and was with the team when the franchise moved to Winnipeg in May, 2011. He was a beast in 2011-12, his first season in Winnipeg, scoring a career-high 30 goals for the Jets and as luck would have it was also coming off of his entry-level deal. On September 15, 2012 he signed a six-year, $31.5 million deal with the Jets.
His time in Winnipeg after that first season was marred by injuries and rumors of tumult in the dressing room. In the two seasons following his breakout year Kane's numbers took a hit as he scored only 36 goals in 111 games. In 2014-15 his numbers tumbled as he was limited to 37 games scoring 10 goals. Those are the tangibles.
Off the ice there was a number of issues which included the famous "track suit" incident where he was said to have violated the team dress code with teammate Dustin Byfuglien throwing the suit in the shower. Fans in Winnipeg (as well as many throughout the NHL) didn't take kindly his infamous money phone photo during the NHL lockout of it's players in 2012 nor did Jets fans seem to like his choice of hair engravings. Then again, Jets fans didn't take kindly to him possibly because, according to Kane, he was a black man in a mostly white city. Said Kane of the latter, "I think a good portion of (criticism) is because I'm black and I'm not afraid to say that," Kane told The Hockey News' editor in chief Jason Kay for a THN Magazine story on March 4, 2012.
Whatever the reasons, any or all, the Jets wanted to trade Kane and Sabres GM Tim Murray wanted him. On February 11, 2015 Kane was part of an eight-piece blockbuster trade that brought him to Buffalo. A bonus for the tanking Sabres at the time, Kane underwent surgery on his shoulder less than a week prior to the trade and would be out 4-6 months so he would not be a detriment to their overall plan of landing a top-two pick in the 2015 NHL Draft.
Kane's recovery went as planned, Buffalo drafted Jack Eichel that June and both hit the ice for the 2015-16 season. After a slow start the Sabres improved mightily over their previous tank season and headed into the summer with plenty of positives. They even had the 2016 NHL Draft in Buffalo that year, which as great. Until Kane was involved in an off-ice incident during draft weekend that put a bad light on him and the organization. This was in addition to a sexual misconduct charge in late December, 2015 and missing a team practice after attending the NBA All-Star game in Toronto only two months later (for which he was suspended.)
It was reported after the draft incident that owners Terry and Kim Pegula wanted him out as he'd done a lot of damage to their brand image. Kane didn't have a spectacular first season in Buffalo as he missed 17 games because of injury, but he still managed 20 goals. His stock was at an all-time low in the summer of 2016 but regardless of that he hit 20 goals in a shortened 65-game season, most would have taken a bag of pucks just to move on from him.
Yet Murray held firm and kept him in the fold.
The 2016-17 season started out like a trainwreck for Kane. In the opener on October 13 he crashed into the boards at full speed and broke his ribs then later in the month a Buffalo City Court judge ruled that his incident at the draft was in "adjournment in contemplation of dismissal." He was basically put on probation with the order saying that if Kane kept his nose clean for six months "the charges, four harassment and one trespassing charge, will be dismissed and sealed," according to WKBW TV in Buffalo.
He would keep his nose clean the rest of the season.
After an 11-game adjustment coming back from the opening game rib injury, Kane went on a tear and scored 28 goals in the remaining 58 games he played in. However, the Sabres regressed and the Pegulas fired Murray and his head coach Dan Bylsma following the 2016-17 season.
Buffalo struggled out of the gate this year with an 0-4-1 mark to start and went 6-15-4 through the first two months of the season. The only bright spot was Kane as he scored 12 goals and 23 points through those first 25 games. He would add three more goals and eight more assists in December bringing his totals to 15 goals and 31 points through 38 games for the 2017 portion of the program. Since then he's scored only five goals in his last 23 games which includes a 14-game goal-drought from January 5-February 8.
Whatever the reasons, any or all, the Jets wanted to trade Kane and Sabres GM Tim Murray wanted him. On February 11, 2015 Kane was part of an eight-piece blockbuster trade that brought him to Buffalo. A bonus for the tanking Sabres at the time, Kane underwent surgery on his shoulder less than a week prior to the trade and would be out 4-6 months so he would not be a detriment to their overall plan of landing a top-two pick in the 2015 NHL Draft.
Kane's recovery went as planned, Buffalo drafted Jack Eichel that June and both hit the ice for the 2015-16 season. After a slow start the Sabres improved mightily over their previous tank season and headed into the summer with plenty of positives. They even had the 2016 NHL Draft in Buffalo that year, which as great. Until Kane was involved in an off-ice incident during draft weekend that put a bad light on him and the organization. This was in addition to a sexual misconduct charge in late December, 2015 and missing a team practice after attending the NBA All-Star game in Toronto only two months later (for which he was suspended.)
It was reported after the draft incident that owners Terry and Kim Pegula wanted him out as he'd done a lot of damage to their brand image. Kane didn't have a spectacular first season in Buffalo as he missed 17 games because of injury, but he still managed 20 goals. His stock was at an all-time low in the summer of 2016 but regardless of that he hit 20 goals in a shortened 65-game season, most would have taken a bag of pucks just to move on from him.
Yet Murray held firm and kept him in the fold.
The 2016-17 season started out like a trainwreck for Kane. In the opener on October 13 he crashed into the boards at full speed and broke his ribs then later in the month a Buffalo City Court judge ruled that his incident at the draft was in "adjournment in contemplation of dismissal." He was basically put on probation with the order saying that if Kane kept his nose clean for six months "the charges, four harassment and one trespassing charge, will be dismissed and sealed," according to WKBW TV in Buffalo.
He would keep his nose clean the rest of the season.
After an 11-game adjustment coming back from the opening game rib injury, Kane went on a tear and scored 28 goals in the remaining 58 games he played in. However, the Sabres regressed and the Pegulas fired Murray and his head coach Dan Bylsma following the 2016-17 season.
Buffalo struggled out of the gate this year with an 0-4-1 mark to start and went 6-15-4 through the first two months of the season. The only bright spot was Kane as he scored 12 goals and 23 points through those first 25 games. He would add three more goals and eight more assists in December bringing his totals to 15 goals and 31 points through 38 games for the 2017 portion of the program. Since then he's scored only five goals in his last 23 games which includes a 14-game goal-drought from January 5-February 8.
With the Sabres in terrible shape and Kane a pending unrestricted free agent, the 6'2" 212 lb. powerfoward began reeling in is game as the calendar turned to 2018 in what looked like a player trying to save himself for a new team. Trade rumors had been swirling for a while, but they were becoming more and more real with each passing week. The was team not even having talks about a contract extension and reportedly there were (are) a number of suitors wanting him as a rental, and when you add it all up, the writing was on the wall in bold letters.
His goal last night was his fourth in his last seven games and got him to 20 goals, the third time he's hit the 20-goal mark in Buffalo. His totals as of right now are 68 goals and 118 points in 196 games for Buffalo.
New GM Jason Botterill had a high asking price for Kane some weeks ago but it's safe to say that that price has come down as supply and demand came into play. Kane was the marquis forward in the trade market prior to the NY Rangers struggles and their willingness to part ways with two other wingers. One of them, Michael Grabner, was traded yesterday to the New Jersey Devils for a 2018 second round pick and d-prospect, Yegor Rykov. Veteran Rick Nash is also on the market and, like Grabner, was pulled from the Rangers' lineup prior to their game last night.
Kane played last night and scored a goal on a powerful wrap-around. He displayed his speed and his on-ice intensity moreso last night than at most any time this calendar year. Some are of the opinion that Kane's goal-slump would hurt the return Buffalo gets and they may be right to a point. Yet scouts have been tracking him for months and know exactly what he brings to the table so it's hard to fully validate that point of view. If they want him, they want him for a reason and supposedly have done the legwork on him.
The best part for teams looking at Kane as a rental this season is that on the ice, he is what he's always has been which is what attracts team to him in the first place. To use the words of Murray after he made the trade for Kane, "He plays hard. He plays in traffic. He doesn't play a perimeter game. He plays a heavy game. He scores goals around the net. He plays the game right." And a bonus for teams weary of his incidents, they're only exposed to that potential for a handful of months.
In looking back at how Kane kept his nose clean when he had to, and in the process he came close to reaching a career high in goals-scored, it wouldn't be that far of a reach to think that he'll do so for his new team. It's also important to remember that he hasn't been on a playoff team his entire career, another incentive to just play the game and keep all outside foolishness at bay.
Then again, you just never know with him.
His goal last night was his fourth in his last seven games and got him to 20 goals, the third time he's hit the 20-goal mark in Buffalo. His totals as of right now are 68 goals and 118 points in 196 games for Buffalo.
New GM Jason Botterill had a high asking price for Kane some weeks ago but it's safe to say that that price has come down as supply and demand came into play. Kane was the marquis forward in the trade market prior to the NY Rangers struggles and their willingness to part ways with two other wingers. One of them, Michael Grabner, was traded yesterday to the New Jersey Devils for a 2018 second round pick and d-prospect, Yegor Rykov. Veteran Rick Nash is also on the market and, like Grabner, was pulled from the Rangers' lineup prior to their game last night.
Kane played last night and scored a goal on a powerful wrap-around. He displayed his speed and his on-ice intensity moreso last night than at most any time this calendar year. Some are of the opinion that Kane's goal-slump would hurt the return Buffalo gets and they may be right to a point. Yet scouts have been tracking him for months and know exactly what he brings to the table so it's hard to fully validate that point of view. If they want him, they want him for a reason and supposedly have done the legwork on him.
The best part for teams looking at Kane as a rental this season is that on the ice, he is what he's always has been which is what attracts team to him in the first place. To use the words of Murray after he made the trade for Kane, "He plays hard. He plays in traffic. He doesn't play a perimeter game. He plays a heavy game. He scores goals around the net. He plays the game right." And a bonus for teams weary of his incidents, they're only exposed to that potential for a handful of months.
In looking back at how Kane kept his nose clean when he had to, and in the process he came close to reaching a career high in goals-scored, it wouldn't be that far of a reach to think that he'll do so for his new team. It's also important to remember that he hasn't been on a playoff team his entire career, another incentive to just play the game and keep all outside foolishness at bay.
Then again, you just never know with him.
Monday, September 4, 2017
Building the 2017-18 Buffalo Sabres roster--D, Marco Scandella
Published by hockeybuzz.com, 9-3-2017
Marco Scandella
27 yrs. old
6'3" 208 lbs.
2008, 2nd round (55th-overall)
Acquired in a trade with Minnesota June 30, 2017
Career Stats: 373 games | 27 goals | 62 assists | 89 points | -10
Similar to last year, the Buffalo Sabres head into the 2017-18 season in a situation where Rasmus Ristolainen will be anchoring the defense as the team's only top pairing defenseman. It will then be up to the coaching staff and/or player chemistry to find out who will be joining him on Buffalo's top defensive pairing.
As it stands now, Marco Scandella looks as if he'll be in that No. 2 role heading into the season. Others like Jake McCabe or Nathan Beaulieu may make a push with a strong camp, but when the Sabres sent a trade-package to the Minnesota Wild for Scandella, which included taking back Jason Pominville's rather large $5.6 million cap-hit for the next two seasons, one would think that Buffalo GM Jason Botterill has designs on Scandella pairing with Ristolainen.
"It was a priority for us to try to find another guy that can play some heavy minutes," said Botterill of the trade for Scandella (via Jourdan LaBarber of Sabres.com.) "We think [he] did a little bit of that in Minnesota, but he was certainly surrounded by some good defensemen and I think now playing a bigger role here (in Buffalo,) he's ready to take the next step in his career."
Buffalo head coach Phil Housley saw a lot of Scandella when he was an assistant with the Nashville Predators. He told the post-trade gathered media that Scandella was a "terrific player" and a "fierce competitor" and that the 27 yr. old was "a key element" the team added. At 6'3" and 208 lbs. he's got size and he's also considered a shutdown defenseman but he skates very well to and is adept at moving the puck up ice. "The way he can skate," said Housley, "[he] is mobile ... A big part of our team is going to be mobility back there and he brings that.” He can also put up points although he had a down year last season.
Scandella's two-way game was very appealing to Botterill, especially with the way Housley is expected to coach the defensemen. "It'll be interesting to see how much his offensive numbers really increase," he said. "Whether he gets the assists or not, he's going to start our transition game out of our own end and in the neutral zone and then with his size and his compete down low, his reach, we really think he's going to be able to log a lot of minutes on our PK and be able to play against other teams' top two lines."
Last season under new coach Bruce Boudreau Scandella saw his year-over-year numbers drop. He went from 21 pints (5+16) in 2015-16 under then coach Mike Yeo to 13 points (4+9) last season and he also saw his ice-time drop from 20:42/game to 18:20/gm. Part of that ice-time reduction had to do with the quality of defensemen on the Wild while another part was his play, which dropped off.
Although he had a rough regular season, Scandella turned it on in the playoffs averaging nearly 23 minutes of ice-time in the five-game series vs. the St. Louis Blues. That number was second only to top defenseman Ryan Suter.
Chad Graff of the Twin Cities Pioneer Press said that Scandella was "eager to turn the page" after the regular season and that he was "thriving" in the post season. Having 34 games of playoff experience perhaps lead Boudreau to lean on him a little more and he made the most of it and although he didn't hit the score sheet, he really upped his game. “I’ve always thought my game works really well in the playoffs,” said Scandella in the Graff piece. “This is the way that I have to play every night, I find it’s been really effective. I just have to be an animal defensively. I have that long stick and a big body and I can skate, so I need to use that to my advantage.”
If Scandella hopes to once again thrive in the post season, he'll need to bring that same package every night during the regular season for Buffalo as Housley may need to lean heavily on him in a top-pairing role.
Building the 2017-18 Buffalo Sabres roster:
LW, Evander Kane / C, Jack Eichel / RW, Sam Reinhart
D, Marco Scandella / D, Rasmus Ristolainen
Marco Scandella
27 yrs. old
6'3" 208 lbs.
2008, 2nd round (55th-overall)
Acquired in a trade with Minnesota June 30, 2017
Career Stats: 373 games | 27 goals | 62 assists | 89 points | -10
Similar to last year, the Buffalo Sabres head into the 2017-18 season in a situation where Rasmus Ristolainen will be anchoring the defense as the team's only top pairing defenseman. It will then be up to the coaching staff and/or player chemistry to find out who will be joining him on Buffalo's top defensive pairing.
As it stands now, Marco Scandella looks as if he'll be in that No. 2 role heading into the season. Others like Jake McCabe or Nathan Beaulieu may make a push with a strong camp, but when the Sabres sent a trade-package to the Minnesota Wild for Scandella, which included taking back Jason Pominville's rather large $5.6 million cap-hit for the next two seasons, one would think that Buffalo GM Jason Botterill has designs on Scandella pairing with Ristolainen.
"It was a priority for us to try to find another guy that can play some heavy minutes," said Botterill of the trade for Scandella (via Jourdan LaBarber of Sabres.com.) "We think [he] did a little bit of that in Minnesota, but he was certainly surrounded by some good defensemen and I think now playing a bigger role here (in Buffalo,) he's ready to take the next step in his career."
Buffalo head coach Phil Housley saw a lot of Scandella when he was an assistant with the Nashville Predators. He told the post-trade gathered media that Scandella was a "terrific player" and a "fierce competitor" and that the 27 yr. old was "a key element" the team added. At 6'3" and 208 lbs. he's got size and he's also considered a shutdown defenseman but he skates very well to and is adept at moving the puck up ice. "The way he can skate," said Housley, "[he] is mobile ... A big part of our team is going to be mobility back there and he brings that.” He can also put up points although he had a down year last season.
Scandella's two-way game was very appealing to Botterill, especially with the way Housley is expected to coach the defensemen. "It'll be interesting to see how much his offensive numbers really increase," he said. "Whether he gets the assists or not, he's going to start our transition game out of our own end and in the neutral zone and then with his size and his compete down low, his reach, we really think he's going to be able to log a lot of minutes on our PK and be able to play against other teams' top two lines."
Last season under new coach Bruce Boudreau Scandella saw his year-over-year numbers drop. He went from 21 pints (5+16) in 2015-16 under then coach Mike Yeo to 13 points (4+9) last season and he also saw his ice-time drop from 20:42/game to 18:20/gm. Part of that ice-time reduction had to do with the quality of defensemen on the Wild while another part was his play, which dropped off.
Although he had a rough regular season, Scandella turned it on in the playoffs averaging nearly 23 minutes of ice-time in the five-game series vs. the St. Louis Blues. That number was second only to top defenseman Ryan Suter.
Chad Graff of the Twin Cities Pioneer Press said that Scandella was "eager to turn the page" after the regular season and that he was "thriving" in the post season. Having 34 games of playoff experience perhaps lead Boudreau to lean on him a little more and he made the most of it and although he didn't hit the score sheet, he really upped his game. “I’ve always thought my game works really well in the playoffs,” said Scandella in the Graff piece. “This is the way that I have to play every night, I find it’s been really effective. I just have to be an animal defensively. I have that long stick and a big body and I can skate, so I need to use that to my advantage.”
If Scandella hopes to once again thrive in the post season, he'll need to bring that same package every night during the regular season for Buffalo as Housley may need to lean heavily on him in a top-pairing role.
Building the 2017-18 Buffalo Sabres roster:
LW, Evander Kane / C, Jack Eichel / RW, Sam Reinhart
D, Marco Scandella / D, Rasmus Ristolainen
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