John Marino’s new contract in Utah gives the Montreal Canadiens another clean way to measure just how expensive dependable defense has become.
Marino is officially staying put after signing an eight-year extension worth $6.75 million per season, a deal that takes one of next summer’s top potential unrestricted free agents off the market. And for Canadiens fans, it adds another useful reference point when looking at Montreal’s blue line.
His cap hit lands above Kaiden Guhle’s $5.55 million, but still below Lane Hutson’s $8.85 million and Noah Dobson’s $9.5 million. Mike Matheson checks in at $6 million.
The numbers tell the story of the different jobs these defensemen are being asked to do. Hutson put up 78 points last season.
Dobson had 47. Matheson finished with 37.
Marino had 36 in 80 games, and he paired that with a +43 rating that helps explain why Utah moved quickly to lock him in long term.
Utah is not paying Marino to run the power play or pile up offense. It is paying for reliable top-four minutes, defensive steadiness, and a player it trusts against strong competition.
There is still some risk in an eight-year deal, since Marino will spend most of it in his 30s. But the contract also underscores a broader NHL reality: even the sturdy, non-flashy defensemen are getting paid.
For Montreal, the comparison is especially useful. Guhle remains the cheaper option despite handling a major defensive role. Matheson produced one more point than Marino last season while carrying a $750,000 lower cap hit.
Hutson and Dobson sit in a different bracket altogether, because Montreal expects them to drive play, create offense, and contribute on the power play. Marino’s deal shows the premium teams now pay for stability, even when the offense isn’t elite.
That kind of spread is part of Kent Hughes’ work on the blue line. He has assembled defensemen with different skill sets and different price tags, while keeping enough flexibility to adjust the roster as Montreal’s young core continues to develop.
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