The hits just keep on comin.’ Reports this morning revealed that Penguins defenseman John Marino suffered three broken bones in his left cheek when he was struck by a deflected shot off the stick of teammate Zach Aston-Reese in the waning minutes of Thursday’s 4-2 loss at Tampa Bay.
Shades of 2013, when Sidney Crosby suffered a broken jaw on a shot that deflected off the stick of Brooks Orpik, sidelining him for several weeks and costing him a scoring title.
The unwelcome news contradicts earlier reports from coach Mike Sullivan and the medical staff that “Marino would be fine.”
This is a potentially crippling blow. The Pens are already playing without their top shutdown defenseman, Brian Dumoulin. By all accounts Marino was enjoying an extraordinary rookie season and had established himself as a bona fide Calder Trophy candidate.
He was second among black-and-gold (make that black-and-blue) rearguards in scoring with five goals and 20 assists in 51 games, and second in plus-minus at plus-14. His Corsi a solid 51.0, especially given his offensive-zone starts percentage of 47.5.
A true do-it-all defenseman and an excellent skater, Marino hit, blocked shots and moved the puck with skill and aplomb. Thanks to his extremely low panic threshold and coolness under fire, he was often deployed in critical situations. Indeed, the 22-year-old was second among Pens blueliners in shorthanded ice time. He was a minutes muncher, too, averaging over 20 minutes of ice time per game.
More than that, he was the glue-guy…the problem solver on defense…slotting anywhere from the third pairing to the top tandem. Most recently he’d settled in beside fellow youngster Marcus Pettersson to form an effective second pairing.
He’ll be returning to Pittsburgh for further evaluation. It’s unclear if his injury will require surgery and/or how long he’ll be out. One thing is clear…it’s going to be next-too-impossible to replace him.
For now, Juuso Riikola will join Chad Ruhwedel on the bottom pairing. Struggling Justin Schultz bumps up to replace Marino on the second pair.
Hey Rick,
Some more quick Trade chatter that I ran across from Dan Kingarski;
The Pens may be interested in getting Gudbranson back.
Another name Derek Forbort from LAK (6’4, 219lbs)
I could see JR trading for Gudbranson back after he tried to get Hagelin back last year.
However, Matt Dumba was also on Kingarski’s list. Dumba would push Schultz back down to 3rd pairing and cost a whole lot more. However, the Penguins Cupboard is really bare, they couldn’t afford both Dumba and a JRs top 6 Forward. (Zucker?)
Sorry though, I am not on board with much of that. I will acknowledge Dumba and Gudbranson present interesting thoughts. I don’t think any of those discussions improve the teams ability to win the Cup enough to justify what the asking price will be.
The grass is rarely greener on the other side. There is no player out there that will significantly improve this team compared to the price that will have to be paid (Paid not only in trade able assets and dollar signs but price in Chemistry and Morale). Right now the team is in a very interesting position to not only make a strong run this year (if Sully and JR don’t blow it) but make a real strong run at a back-to-back run, or strong runs for several seasons to come.
Hey Other Rick,
I would love…no make that LOVE…to get Gudbranson back. Heading into the most competitive portion of the schedule where the intensity is ratcheted up a notch…I’d love to have the big guy patrolling our blue line.
Plus, he was popular here…knows the system…and would fit right in.
For the record, he’s held up very well for a bad Anaheim team. In 44 games with the Ducks he has an even plus-minus, a Corsi of 50.5 and four goals…more than any of our present defensemen except Letang and Marino. His 5-on-5 shot attempts differential is a minus-8…again very respectable on a bad team. And he’s logging 20 minutes of ice time a game.
I’d be less excited about Forbort. Like Gudbranson, he’s big and a former first-round pick. Looking at his stats, he’ll use the body. Not much of a fighter, though. If I’m getting a big guy I want someone who can throw ’em. Plus, he’s a left-handed shot.
Dumba’s intriguing. (Gotta love the name.) Another former first rounder (7th overall), he’s talented, fast, feisty and aggressive. Perhaps a sorta-kinda Kris Letang clone? Also pricey at $6 mil a season, which means salary would definitely need to go out (Schultz at $5.5 mil?).
He’d probably be the best fit for Sullivan and our style of play.
Anyway…interesting.
Rick
Hey Rick,
I also like Gudbranson. I wouldn’t mind seeing the team get him back.
another name I wlll throw out there for you and Mike is Andrey Pedan. I keep bringing his name up. I would love to see JR get that guy back over here when the KHL season is over. I saw that his contract was up this year and haven’t seen anything about him resigning over there, I would love to get him back (Although Sully may not). He’s big, He hits, blocks shots, and owns a very hard shot of his own.
I am not on board for Forbort either. With Dumoulin eventually getting back, Riikole, Johnson, Pettersson and the rights to Pedan, the team doesn’t need another LHD.
Dumba? He is very intriguing. However, he would spell the end of Schultz’s career here as well as make me think Addison is on the trading block.
Hey Rick,
I read an interesting article from Matt Vensel, talking about how the team has relapsed into giving up odd-man break after odd-man break again – just like last season when they lead the league in that dubious stat and it cost them a sweep in the playoffs. I can’t help think that part of that reversal has been Sully’s pigheadedness in deploying 2 RHD on the 3rd pairing.
More importantly, Sullivan’s insistence on playing Ruhwedel as if he is a top 6 defenseman. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind Ruhwedel, but he is no top 6, he is at best a 7th. In fact on this team I would rate him behind Trotman on the R side. When all are healthy, I would think that Letang, Marino, Schultz, Trotman, then Ruhwedel should be the depth chart.
Schultz is struggling right now a -10, but he has shown himself to be at least a top 3 if not top 2 defenseman. Perhaps he is struggling right now due to not only still recovering from his injury plagued season but being saddled with a 7th or 8th defenseman who is also being deployed out of position.
So, the latest injury during this epidemic is truly ill-timed. Without Marino, who has shown that he may be capable of replacing Letang as the teams no 1 very soon, the Penguins chances seem to be really crippled. If this team has to play long without him, they should still get into the playoffs, but as struggling Wild Card.
On the other hand, if Marino is not out that long; if he gets back before the trade deadline and Schultz can regain some level of form with the increase in quality TOI, the injury could be a blessing in disguise. If Schultz can regain form, the team could use him as a bargaining chip to a team like Toronto, so you and JR can get the top 6 Winger you both seem hell-bent on playing for. I say Tor and not NY Rick as no slight to you, I know that you would prefer Kreider, but I don’t think the team will be able to win that bidding war.
The rumor monger types are suggesting that Tor wants to stock up on talent by placing Reilly on the LTIR until the playoffs so they can clear Cap space. Since the Cap doesn’t count during playoffs they can play with a lineup well beyond the cap and since Schultz is UFA he could be a great replacement. The rumors surround Andreas Johnsson and he does seem to be a Sully type player (he is a massive 5′-10″, 181 lbs) and maybe that is all the team could pry off of Tor for Schultz at this point. Johnsson scored 20 goals and had 43 points last season while notching a +14, certainly a far better option than Simon.
I personally would rather hold out for Kapanen, he was roughly similar to Johnsson last season with 20 goals, 44 points, and +2. More importantly for me, if, when the honeymoon phase bump in play, that always seems to follow a trade, is over the team woun’t be as tied down with Kapanen. Kapanen is only signed 21-22 while Johnsson is signed thru 22-23 with a M-NTC in his last season.
Another option that may present itself for the Penguins is that if Riikola gets more quality TOI, he may look like an option to add in for trade bait to get Tatar off of Montreal, but Montreal may still be asking for more than the Penguins have.
Sorry, Rick again I am not looking at Kreider, but I have resigned myself to that concept. I don’t even think the team will be able to get Tatar, not without completely crippling their future and trading away Poulin and/or Addison and Legare.
Hey Other Rick,
Agree 100 percent about Ruhwedel. Although his advanced stats aren’t so hot, I think he did a serviceable job of filling in on the third pairing. But frankly, he’s been awful on the left side. I don’t blame him…he’s being placed in a position to fail by the coaching staff.
His struggles playing the off side certainly haven’t helped Schultz to re-assimilate…it’s a match made in hockey hell. Although the Marino injury is a crippling blow, the one benefit is to separate Schultz and Ruhwedel and give them both at least a chance to be effective again.
I agree…I rate Ruhwedel behind Trotman, too. Speaking of, I really wouldn’t mind seeing Zach get a shot over Ruhwedel. I like his game, simple, physical, straightforward and effective. I’d be tempted to give him a chance prior to running out and making a deal for another defenseman. But that’s me.
In terms of forwards, I’m not sure if I want Tatar. He failed in Vegas last season as a trade deadline pickup, and he may not play the straight-line game Sullivan prefers. However, I’d read earlier this season that Montreal has an interest in Riikola. So who knows?
I really like Kapanen…Lord, can he fly…and would be glad to get him back. But my ideal is Kreider…again for the power element he’d provide.
Rick
The Other Rick
Hearing a couple of names – Brenden Dillon (San Jose) – not sure what
the prize tag would be. He’s UFA at season’s end – cheap rental at 3.2mil.
The asking price may be steep – I hear JR is kicking the tires.
Hey Mike,
I saw that too about Dillon a couple of days back. He is the kind of pick up I wouldn’t mind seeing the Pens go after, a veteran low profile guy, sort of like Hainsey was several years back.
I am not sure what the asking price would be, and I am a bang for your buck type person; I wouldn’t take out a mortgage for him.