John Marino just cashed in with the Utah Mammoth — and I think Nate Schmidt deserves a little thank-you present for helping make it happen.

On this episode of SLC Puck, I break down Marino’s massive 8-year, $54 million extension and why Utah clearly believes he’s a long-term top-four piece. Marino is coming off a career year: 80 games played, 4 goals, 32 assists, 36 points, and a plus-42 season after averaging more than 20 minutes a night. That’s a huge jump from the 35-game, 14-point season he had the year before.

The biggest reason? That second pair with Nate Schmidt was absolutely lights out. Marino and Schmidt played 991 five-on-five minutes together, posted a 56.3% expected goal share, allowed just 2.19 goals against per 60, and finished plus-29 in actual goal differential as a pair. I get into why Schmidt’s arrival helped unlock Marino’s best season, why this contract makes sense with the cap rising, and why the JJ Moser contract comp is a really interesting wrinkle when you look back at the Mikhail Sergachev trade.

Also: I open the show by showing some love to firefighter and Utah Puck Report host Jay Stevens after the end of that KSL Sports chapter. A true Utah hockey guy.

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