The Daily Courier

Penguins reward Marino Blackhawks extend Strome

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PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Penguins are betting big on defenceman John Marino.

The team signed the 23-year-old Marino on Sunday to a six-year contract extension that carries an average annual value of $4.4 million.

The deal caps a meteoric rise for Marino, who was acquired from Edmonton in July 2019 in exchange for a sixth-round pick. Marino impressed as a rookie last season, scoring six goals to go with 20 assists in 56 games to go with a plus-17 rating. He is the sixth rookie defenceman in team history to register 20 assists.

“I don’t know if it’s really hit me yet,” Marino said. “But a really cool experience, just thinking back to when you were skating as a kid and your parents were taking you to the rink. All those sacrifices that paid off.”

The move gives Pittsburgh added long-term security on the blue line. Marcus Pettersson signed a five-year contract extension last January.

The Chicago Blackhawks and forward Dylan Strome agreed to a two-year contract extension Sunday. The extension runs through the 2021-22 season and carries a $3 million salary-cap hit.

The 23-year-old Strome had 12 goals and 26 assists in 58 games last season. With captain Jonathan Toews sidelined by an illness and fellow forwards Kirby Dach and Alex Nylander out with injuries, the play of Strome is more important than ever for Chicago.

Strome was selected by Arizona with the No. 3 pick in the 2015 entry draft. He had seven goals and nine assists in 48 games for the Coyotes before he was traded to the Blackhawks in 2018.

Strome played well after the trade, scoring 17 goals and adding 34 assists in 58 games.

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