The Utah Mammoth have signed defenceman John Marino to an eight-year, $54 million contract extension.
The deal will carry an average annual value of $6.75 million for the 29-year-old blueliner, who was previously scheduled to reach unrestricted free agency next summer. He will spend this season playing under the last of a six-year deal that carries a $4.4 million cap hit.
Marino posted four goals and a career-high 36 points in 80 games with the Mammoth last season, adding one goal in six playoff games. He was acquired by Utah ahead of the 2025 trade deadline from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for two second-round picks.
“We value John’s long-term commitment to Utah and what he brings to our group every day,” Mammoth president of hockey operations Chris Armstrong said. “His professionalism and competitiveness as well as the stability and puck-moving ability that he provides on our blue line, makes him an invaluable cornerstone for our franchise.”
Selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the sixth round of the 2015 draft, Marino made his NHL debut with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2019. He was dealt to the New Jersey Devils in 2022 and spent a season and a half with the team before being moved to Utah.
In 443 career games with the three teams, Marino has 23 goals and 157 points.
Marino is the latest player to sign long-term with the Mammoth. Now under contract until 2035, he joins a core group of Logan Cooley, Nick Schmaltz, Dylan Guenther, Mikhail Sergachev and Mackenzie Weegar to be signed through at least 2030-31.
“We view John as a foundational piece of our future,” general manager Bill Armstrong added. “His ability to control the game from the back end, his play in transition and our trust in him to make the right decisions in critical situations allows him to be a difference maker on most nights.
“Beyond his skill, John brings a level of calmness under pressure that our group feeds off of and that’s exactly what you need from your veteran players.”
