Report: Devils Shopping Defenseman John Marino

The New Jersey Devils have a lot of irons in the fire this summer. With the draft happening tonight, GM Tom Fitzgerald is as active as ever as he continues to try and improve his roster. Although the Devils are adding, we’ve already seen Kevin Bahl traded away in a deal with the Calgary Flames. According to a report, defenseman John Marino is being shipped by the Devils as well.

A source tells New Jersey Hockey Now that the 10th overall pick remains in play for the Devils via trade. It’s not a foregone conclusion that the pick is traded, but Fitzgerald is certainly trying to acquire immediate help rather than draft a player who won’t be on the roster for a few years.

According to DailyFaceoff insider, Frank Seravalli, John Marino is another asset Fitzgerald is shopping on the trade market. Seravalli named the Vancouver Canucks as a potential landing destination if Nikita Zadorov doesn’t remain north of the border. Rick Dhaliwal added shortly after Seravalli’s report he’s been told by player agent Patrick Allvin that Zadorov will go to the open market.

Allvin confirming Zadorov going to the open market could certainly increase the urgency from Vancouver to acquire Marino from the Devils. The Devils have continually been linked to Carolina Hurricanes pending free agent defenseman Brett Pesce, therefore, clearing out Marino’s contract makes sense.

Marino is gaining an eight-team no-trade clause on July 1st, therefore, if a trade comes to fruition, it will be before July 1st and potentially before the draft on Friday night.

Marino just completed his second season with the Devils after they acquired him from the Pittsburgh Penguins in July 2022. In 75 games during the 2023-24 season, the 27-year-old defenseman scored four goals and 25 points and registered a minus-six.