Before the Devils' two-game road trip, John Marino sat down with Kristy Flannery of The Hockey News to discuss his second season in New Jersey.

On July 16, 2022, the New Jersey Devils acquired defenseman John Marino from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Ty Smith and a 2023 third-round pick.

The trade left some Devils fans feeling the organization gave up too early on Smith and even more fans wanting to know about Marino, a player who was a mystery to some in New Jersey.

The North Easton, Massachusetts native appeared in 189 games for the Penguins over three seasons and tallied 64 points (10 goals, 54 assists). He averaged 20 minutes of ice time and was credited with 215 blocked shots and 193 hits.

Penguins fans were not exactly pleased that Marino was dealt, but the overall consensus was that the Penguins wanted to open up salary cap space.

When the 6-foot-1 defenseman stepped into Prudential Center for Devils training camp in September 2022, he had no outside expectations to haunt him.

He could suit up, skate onto the ice, and simply play his game.

Marino has now played 110 games for New Jersey and has solidified himself as a top defenseman for the Devils.

Before the team departed for their two-game road trip, I caught up with Marino before the team boarded the bus for the airport. As many have said, the 26-year-old is polite, soft-spoken, and a man of few words. 

In the past, players have shared that when joining a new team, they are more comfortable in their second season with the organization. 

Marino agreed. 

"Yeah, I would say after a couple of years," he said. "It takes a little while (and) depends on the position too. For defense, it takes a little longer than most positions to get accustomed to it."

Anyone who watched Marino on the ice last season knows his transition to Devils hockey was seamless. Some called him the team's unsung hero after a successful debut in New Jersey. 

It is not exactly news that players are more comfortable in their second season with a new team, it makes complete sense. That said, as I've spoken to players and learned more about the game from their perspective, an interesting point was brought to my attention.

While a sophomore season with a club can be more comfortable, it can also be accompanied by pressure and a newfound weight of expectations. 

"It comes down to expectations. You have to live up to that, and there's a lot of pressure on that, too, for you to live up to whatever you did," Marino said. 

He added that it takes time to figure out what kind of player you are and know your role on the team. 

Over the summer, the Devils' blue line got a makeover and a lot younger, thanks to the departure of Ryan Graves and Damon Severson. 

For the 2022-23 season, Marino was glued to Graves. Together, they were the team's top shutdown pair and, on a nightly basis, would defend their opponent's star forwards and top lines. 

This season, Marino has not seen that same on-ice consistency.

Over the past few months, he has played with Kevin Bahl, 23, and rookie Luke Hughes, 20. With injuries to veterans Dougie Hamilton, Jonas Siegenthaler, and Brendan Smith, he was briefly bumped to the top defensive pair alongside another rookie, Simon Nemec, 19, before reuniting with Hughes. 

Overall, the Devils' defense has regressed, which was expected with the loss of two veterans. So, it was no surprise to hear the word Marino used when asked to evaluate his own game. 

"I think it's been inconsistent. Obviously, (I would) like to be more consistent."

He quickly followed that by saying there are no excuses. But from my perspective, as a writer covering the team, there is a difference between excuses and realities.

The reality is there are challenges when it comes to playing with rookie defensemen. Marino's teammate, Brendan Smith, previously spoke to me in an exclusive interview about playing alongside a first-year blueliner.

The three partners Marino has played with the season have a combined 185 games of experience. Graves finished last season with 302 NHL games under his belt.

There is an outside expectation and pressure for Marino to replicate last season's impressive performance, but it is accompanied by the reality that his situation has slightly changed due to injuries and new personnel.

Through 46 games, Marino has 15 points (three goals, 12 assists). Unsurprisingly, he is averaging the most time on ice among New Jersey's skaters at 21:06. He has a team-leading 58 blocked shots and is the team's top penalty killer. 

It has not always been perfect, but Marino remains a defenseman that head coach Lindy Ruff relies on nightly. In his 300th career NHL game, he will look to help his team earn two much-needed points Saturday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning.