In Jason Botterill’s first offseason as GM of the Buffalo Sabres, his most notable acquisition came in the form of a trade with the Minnesota Wild. As part of a deal which most fans felt the Sabres got the better end of, he was able to acquire defenseman Marco Scandella.
On a cap-strapped Minnesota roster flush with talented blueliners, the 28-year-old was the odd-man out. A $4 million cap hit is a steep price for a player who had been forced down the depth chart, serving primarily on the third pair in 2016-17.