Just a day after he scored an overtime game-winning goal for the Minnesota Wild, defenseman Marco Scandella agreed to a five-year contract extension with the team that’s worth a reported $20 million.
“Marco has shown tremendous improvement in his career and is one of the best young, two-way defensemen in the NHL,” said Wild GM Chuck Fletcher in a statement released by the team. “He is a hard-working, energetic player who is just scratching the surface of his potential in the NHL.”
WATCH as #mnwild GM Chuck Fletcher speaks to media after locking up Marco Scandella for 5 more years: http://t.co/oik2AzgzAD
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) November 30, 2014
Scandella, 24, has scored eight points (5-3=8), including three game-winning goals for Minnesota so far this season. The 6-foot-2, 217-pound native of Montreal, Que., leads NHL defensemen in game-winning goals and leads Minnesota in game-winning goals, according to the team.
Fletcher: "Marco had a strong desire to stay here. He likes the direction of this team, his role on the team and his teammates." #mnwild
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) November 30, 2014
Scandella was selected by Minnesota in the second round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.
The Star Tribune quoted the $20 million figure for Scandell’s contract, which it says buys out three of his unrestricted free-agent years.
