Ryan Wilson: All the way to Marino All the way to Marino

Has the makings to be an excellent deal, at worst just fair value IMO.

Can’t be any worse than the Jack Johnson deal. 4.4m for a member of your number 1 pairing is a good deal. If goes out and repeats last years efforts, it’s good for both sides.

Just glad that training camp begins today.

Can't think Marino doesn't easily outplay this contract every single year...

He's a solid #3/4... cannot see him being a 1/2... I like the deal.

He's a solid #3/4... cannot see him being a 1/2... I like the deal.
- hipcheck_goalie

He's a 2/3 in my mind. Really good #3 and a solid #2 at this point. But we'll see how it goes.

I’m still wary about this. I love Marino’s play after, you know, one (frank)ing season. But this is either gonna be an enormous steal or a major overpay. I don’t think it will be a bad deal, I hope it’s not a bad deal and on the surface it’s very team-friendly. But you never know. Hopefully it’ll at least be easy to move. Good signing for now...but could end up being dead money. He’s had one year. It wasn’t long ago that most of us anointed Mattaa the next Lidstrom after the same amount of time.

He's a solid #3/4... cannot see him being a 1/2... I like the deal.
- hipcheck_goalie

I think he's a legit #2. I've heard people like Yohe say he's their future #1, but I don't agree with that. I think you're actually describing Dumo as a solid 3/4. I think we'll eventually see Marino add a little more offense to his game. Great signing IMO. Worth the gamble.

I think trying to peg Marino as a #1, 2 or 3 dman is something you can't really argue because it depends on what you consider a #1 dman to be.

Is a #1 simply a top defender?
Is a #1 a dman who can put up 50+ points?

I think Marino is proving to be a 1st pairing dman. Maybe that's just semantics, but I think it's more accurate. You would need to pair him with a more offensive-minded dman.

What's my guess? Letang is now definitely gone after this season and they want to see if Matheson has the offensive chops to be his partner on the first pair. THIS IS NOT WHAT I WANT OR BELIEVE WILL HAPPEN. I'm simply saying I believe this is the line of thinking JR probably wants to see play out.

If Matheson can't, the Pens will probably be on the hunt to for a top pairing offensive LD to go with Marino which would likely mean the departure of Pettersson or Dumoulin next year as well.

I think trying to peg Marino as a #1, 2 or 3 dman is something you can't really argue because it depends on what you consider a #1 dman to be.

Is a #1 simply a top defender?
Is a #1 a dman who can put up 50+ points?

I think Marino is proving to be a 1st pairing dman. Maybe that's just semantics, but I think it's more accurate. You would need to pair him with a more offensive-minded dman.

What's my guess? Letang is now definitely gone after this season and they want to see if Matheson has the offensive chops to be his partner on the first pair. THIS IS NOT WHAT I WANT OR BELIEVE WILL HAPPEN. I'm simply saying I believe this is the line of thinking JR probably wants to see play out.

If Matheson can't, the Pens will probably be on the hunt to for a top pairing offensive LD to go with Marino which would likely mean the departure of Pettersson or Dumoulin next year as well.
- Rinosaur

In todays NHL, I'd say a "true #1" is a guy who puts up 50 points and is decent in his own end.

I think Letang plays out his deal.....JMO.

Didn't see Ryan include this, but as of yesterday, Kap is stuck in Finland with visa issues. Likely will miss at least some of camp and some games as well.

I think trying to peg Marino as a #1, 2 or 3 dman is something you can't really argue because it depends on what you consider a #1 dman to be.

Is a #1 simply a top defender?
Is a #1 a dman who can put up 50+ points?

I think Marino is proving to be a 1st pairing dman. Maybe that's just semantics, but I think it's more accurate. You would need to pair him with a more offensive-minded dman.

What's my guess? Letang is now definitely gone after this season and they want to see if Matheson has the offensive chops to be his partner on the first pair. THIS IS NOT WHAT I WANT OR BELIEVE WILL HAPPEN. I'm simply saying I believe this is the line of thinking JR probably wants to see play out.

If Matheson can't, the Pens will probably be on the hunt to for a top pairing offensive LD to go with Marino which would likely mean the departure of Pettersson or Dumoulin next year as well.
- Rinosaur

I don't consider Dumo a true #1 but a #2 so if Marino doesn't put up some points with his play then I can't consider Marino to be a true #1. He might be able to but who knows.

Didn't see Ryan include this, but as of yesterday, Kap is stuck in Finland with visa issues. Likely will miss at least some of camp and some games as well.
- madmike71

Yea sucks, right off the bat he's behind. Not a good start.

I'm going to play the "if" game, so please be advised I'm still NOT in favor of moving Letang. This is only under the guise that Letang is gone after this season no matter what...

If Letang is being moved next season
If Matheson proves not to be up to snuff for top pairing offense
If Marino continues his trajectory for top pairing ability

I would look to acquire OEL with a little retention. AZ has had a very difficult time trying to move him because of his clause, so if he was interested in playing for the Penguins, the Pens may have some leverage there.

OEL/Marino as a first pairing would look pretty damn good to me.

This would mean moving Dumo or Pettersson if neither of them are moved this season. I would say Matheson, but my guess is he's not going anywhere soon because of his contract.

I have no idea what the return for Letang would look like and would depend on what the Pens' goal would be in moving him. Immediate help? Futures?

I'm going to play the "if" game, so please be advised I'm still NOT in favor of moving Letang. This is only under the guise that Letang is gone after this season no matter what...

If Letang is being moved next season
If Matheson proves not to be up to snuff for top pairing offense
If Marino continues his trajectory for top pairing ability

I would look to acquire OEL with a little retention. AZ has had a very difficult time trying to move him because of his clause, so if he was interested in playing for the Penguins, the Pens may have some leverage there.

OEL/Marino as a first pairing would look pretty damn good to me.

This would mean moving Dumo or Pettersson if neither of them are moved this season. I would say Matheson, but my guess is he's not going anywhere soon because of his contract.

I have no idea what the return for Letang would look like and would depend on what the Pens' goal would be in moving him. Immediate help? Futures?
- Rinosaur

I'm an OEL fan and like the look of that first pair, however who would be your second pair. Our right side would take a big hit.

Solid deal.

I'm going to play the "if" game, so please be advised I'm still NOT in favor of moving Letang. This is only under the guise that Letang is gone after this season no matter what...

If Letang is being moved next season
If Matheson proves not to be up to snuff for top pairing offense
If Marino continues his trajectory for top pairing ability

I would look to acquire OEL with a little retention. AZ has had a very difficult time trying to move him because of his clause, so if he was interested in playing for the Penguins, the Pens may have some leverage there.

OEL/Marino as a first pairing would look pretty damn good to me.

This would mean moving Dumo or Pettersson if neither of them are moved this season. I would say Matheson, but my guess is he's not going anywhere soon because of his contract.

I have no idea what the return for Letang would look like and would depend on what the Pens' goal would be in moving him. Immediate help? Futures?
- Rinosaur

Petts is the guy I move.....easy decision. I'm hoping POJ is ready next year. Kind of sucks he's likely to lose most of this season.

Yea sucks, right off the bat he's behind. Not a good start.
- 668710

Seems like Kap won't be permitted to travel until Friday. Then he'll need to quarantine for a full week while taking Covid tests. I wonder what kind of shape he's in 'cause he's going to miss all of camp. Probably miss at least the first week of games at best. Somebody dropped the ball. Seems like both Kap and the team should have been on top of it.

I don't consider Dumo a true #1 but a #2 so if Marino doesn't put up some points with his play then I can't consider Marino to be a true #1. He might be able to but who knows.
- 668710

I guess I look at it more as pairing than 1-6 because in this era of the NHL an effective pair is a balance. You have one guy who handles more of the offnesive side and the other focuses more on defensives side while hoping both are responsible.

So I look at it more as is Marino a 1st pairing dman or a 2nd pairing dman? IMO he's tracking towards a first pair which means if he did play in the 1st pair we'd need someone paired with him that is more of an offensive-minded dman.

Petts is the guy I move.....easy decision. I'm hoping POJ is ready next year. Kind of sucks he's likely to lose most of this season.
- madmike71

I would move whomever gets the better return. I think moving either one sucks, so if Dumo can do more then move him since we know Petts is an effective 2nd pairing dman then I'd do that. Essentially Marino would be taking over Dumo's role. A Dumo/Marino pairing would shut people down, but it wouldn't contribute enough offensively.

Oel refused to move unless it was to Vancouver or Boston. So even without retention I just don’t se that happening although that would be a good pairing.

I don’t ever see a return for Letang being worth it. This gonna be some defence next year. The left side needs drastic thinning.

I guess I look at it more as pairing than 1-6 because in this era of the NHL an effective pair is a balance. You have one guy who handles more of the offnesive side and the other focuses more on defensives side while hoping both are responsible.

So I look at it more as is Marino a 1st pairing dman or a 2nd pairing dman? IMO he's tracking towards a first pair which means if he did play in the 1st pair we'd need someone paired with him that is more of an offensive-minded dman.
- Rinosaur

Yea I will agree with that. Marino does have a way better shot than Dumo though, that's why I think he definitely has the chance to be the offensive guy as well.

Yea I will agree with that. Marino does have a way better shot than Dumo though, that's why I think he definitely has the chance to be the offensive guy as well.
- 668710

I think Marino will definitely contribute more offensively than Dumo, but not enough to be that PP QB we need or that mold of a what people view as a #1.

Oel refused to move unless it was to Vancouver or Boston. So even without retention I just don’t se that happening although that would be a good pairing.

I don’t ever see a return for Letang being worth it. This gonna be some defence next year. The left side needs drastic thinning.
- 10inchTerror

I think that was only true as far as teams who were shopping for a dman. The Pens weren't even an option at that point. if they came to him and asked him you never know.

I think Marino will definitely contribute more offensively than Dumo, but not enough to be that PP QB we need or that mold of a what people view as a #1.
- Rinosaur

Marino has a high hockey IQ, I could see him being a PP QB full time eventually. I think we'll see him getting some looks this year.