Marco Scandella
A steady, stay-at-home NHL defenseman who played over 700 games with a quiet effectiveness that coaches trusted for 14 seasons.
Born 1990 (age 36)·Canadian ice hockey player·Birthday: February 23·Millennials
Biography
Marco Scandella built a long and respectable NHL career not on flashy statistics, but on consistency, reach, and defensive responsibility. The Montreal-born defenseman of Italian descent was a second-round pick by the Minnesota Wild, who valued his size and maturity developed in the QMJHL. Scandella's game was fundamentally sound: he used his long stick to break up plays, was reliable in his own end, and could deliver a punishing check. He became a fixture on the Wild's blue line for parts of eight seasons, often paired with more offensive-minded partners. Trades took him to Buffalo, Montreal, and finally St. Louis, where he hoisted the Stanley Cup in 2019 as a depth contributor. His value was in his dependability; coaches knew what they were getting—a smart, physical defender who could kill penalties and handle tough minutes. His 14-year journey is a blueprint for the kind of unheralded player essential to any team's foundation.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Marco was born in 1990, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Marco Was Born
The biggest hits of 1990
#1 Movie
Home Alone
Best Picture
Dances with Wolves
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Marco's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1990Born
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1995Started school
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2003Became a teenager
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Could drive
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2008Could vote
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2011Turned 21
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2020Turned 30
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 36 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Stanley Cup as a member of the St. Louis Blues in 2019.
- Played over 700 regular-season games in the NHL for four different teams.
- Was a consistent top-four defenseman for the Minnesota Wild for several seasons, including during deep playoff runs.
Did You Know?
His father, Francesco Scandella, was a professional soccer player in Italy.
He and his brother, Julian, faced each other in an NHL game when Marco played for Buffalo and Julian for Montreal.
Scandella represented Canada at the 2010 World Junior Championships, winning a silver medal.
“My job is to be reliable in our own end every single night.”
