Before John Marino locked up an eight-year, $6.75 million extension with Utah on Tuesday, he was a sixth-round afterthought the Edmonton Oilers gave up on entirely. This one is going to sting a little for Oilers fans who remember he was a prospect who got away.
Edmonton drafted Marino 154th overall back in 2015, a late-round flier out of the USPHL with modest offensive numbers and no clear NHL path. He spent three seasons at Harvard, developing quietly, while the Oilers never signed him.
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In July 2019, with his rights about to require a decision, Edmonton shipped him to Pittsburgh for nothing more than a conditional sixth-round pick — the kind of trade nobody notices in the moment.
A tht time, then-GM Jim Rutherford said, “John is a mobile defenseman who excels at moving the puck while also playing with an edge to his game. We are excited to acquire him as we continue to add defensive depth to the organization. The next step is to work on getting a contract done with him.”
That was something the Oilers elected not to do.
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It didn’t take long to look like a mistake. Marino made his NHL debut with the Penguins that same year and quickly established himself as a legitimate top-four, puck-moving defenseman. He was traded to New Jersey and then Utah, building a reliable, stabilizing reputation at every stop.
Utah recognized his potential and locked him up to an eight-year deal.
Sixth-round picks rarely turn into eight-year veterans with two-way trust from three different organizations. Edmonton had him first, gave up on the projection, and watched him become exactly what a good asset-management department hopes a late pick eventually becomes.
Marino had 36 points last season, which would have placed him just behind Mattias Ekholm. His plus/minus – +42 would have been a big help for the Oilers as well.
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