Canucks have interest in Penguins defenceman John Marino

On this edition of 32 Thoughts, Elliotte Friedman and Jeff Marek discuss the possibility of a new women's professional hockey league, players to watch as the NHL trade deadline approaches, and whether Edmonton could be the next Heritage Classic host.

The Vancouver Canucks‘ search for a young defenceman recently zeroed in on the Pittsburgh Penguins’ John Marino, but their pursuit has run into a roadblock.

“The Canucks, it’s known, they’ve been looking for a young defenceman,” Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman said Saturday on the 32 Thoughts segment of Hockey Night in Canada. “One of their targets is John Marino of Pittsburgh, that’s one of the players they’ve looked at. I don’t know if this is going to happen, though.

“First of all, I think the Penguins consider him a very good player. And, secondly, it just sounds like it’s been difficult to get a match. So, he’s a target, but I’m not convinced that’s going to occur.”

Marino, 24, a sixth-round pick by the Edmonton Oilers in 2015, has a goal and 17 assists for 18 points in 59 games this season for the Penguins.

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