Penguins’ receptive to Canucks ‘strong’ trade interest in John Marino

Former Penguins GM Jim Rutherford, now President of Hockey Operations with the Vancouver Canucks has long believed Pittsburgh defenseman John Marino is a special player with a #1 pairing ceiling.

Meanwhile, the Penguins’ current brass likes Marino but they don’t see Marino in the same breathe by any means that the Penguins former GM did and still does. That has had Rutherford seeing an opening and exploring avenues to acquire Marino from his former club.

Top NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman first reported Saturday night on the Canucks interest in Marino, though, Friedman casted some doubt that a deal will get done by the deadline.

Multiple NHL sources say the Penguins have been “receptive” to the Canucks interest in Marino.

As the trade deadline inches closer, the Penguins have been viewed around the league as much more inclined to spend assets on a top-6/top-9 caliber winger with term than doing anything significant on the rental market.

There’s room for a potential match here.

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