- Utah is signing John Marino to an eight-year extension worth $6.75 million per season
- The deal keeps the 29-year-old right-shot defenseman in Salt Lake City through 2034-35
- Read below for the full contract breakdown and what it means for Utah’s blue line
The Mammoth just pulled one of their steadiest defensemen off next summer’s market.
Utah is signing John Marino to an eight-year extension at a $6.75 million cap hit. Elliotte Friedman broke it Tuesday:
Marino was a year away from unrestricted free agency. Now he’s tied to Utah through 2034-35, which makes him one of only four players in the league signed that far out.
The structure is all salary, no signing bonuses. PuckPedia laid out the breakdown:
He gets $8 million a year over the first four seasons, $6 million in years five and six, then $5 million across the final two. There’s a full no-movement clause right away, a no-trade clause through year four, and modified protection after that. Pat Brisson of CAA reps him.
The 29-year-old is exactly the kind of right-shot Utah wanted to keep. He eats big minutes and tilts the ice the right way. Last season he put up four goals and 36 points in 80 games while averaging around 20 minutes a night, and he finished with a 62.1 percent goals-for rate.
He also chipped in a point during Utah’s six-game first-round loss to Vegas, the franchise’s first playoff trip since relocating from Arizona.
Keeping Marino fits everything the Mammoth have been selling this offseason. Nate Schmidt already framed this roster as one ready to take the next step toward Cup contention, and the front office clearly agrees.
Marino isn’t going anywhere for a long time.
