Position: C
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 201 lbs
Birthdate: April 11, 1988 (23 years old)
Birthplace: Poprad, Slovakia
Acquired: Draft, 4th round, 115th overall, 2006 NHL Entry Draft
Contract Status: 1 year, 2-way: $605K/$62.5K
2010-2011 Team: Bridgeport Sound Tigers
2010-2011 Stats: 66 GP - 4 G - 7 A - 11 P - 56 PIM
2011-2012 Team: Bridgeport Sound Tigers
Team Role: Fourth Line Center
Last year: Marcinko finished his third and final year of his entry level contract by having a solid AHL season on Bridgeport's fourth line, scoring 11 points in 66 games. The depth player may not have had developed as well as the Isles would have liked as a fourth round pick, but Marcinko has proven to be a solid presence on the Sound Tiger bottom line. Marcinko is big and a good skater, but focuses more on the defensive side of the game. Playing with mostly ECHL call-ups as Bridgeport struggled in the standings last season.
Expectations: This year, it could be more of the same for Marcinko and the Sound Tigers. In somewhat of a surprise move, Marcinko was qualified for next season, in which he will most likely regain his spot on the Sound Tiger fourth line. With centers David Ullstrom, Casey Cizikas, and Trevor Frischmon, Bridgeport is not very strong down the middle. It's important that Marcinko have a healthy season and play well defensively so the Tigers do not get stretched even thinner down the middle.
Projections: 71 GP - 6 G - 9 A - 15 P
Thoughts:
CH: It's clear Marcinko has not developed to what the Islanders thought they were getting when they drafted him. That said, he has become a solid depth player for the Sound Tigers, even though his offensive talents are limited at best. If nothing else, he seems to be more of an AHL placeholder at this point as the Islanders wait for prospects such as Anders Lee and Brock Nelson to push other prospects down the depth chart. Long term, the Islanders have the ability to develop a factory of a thriving AHL team, but that hasn't been the case as of yet due to a lack of league veterans who can help bring the kids along. Marcinko is getting to the point where he is becoming an AHL veteran, which hopefully means he will come into his own as a bottom-6 AHL player and one that can contribute in some capacity, be it offensively or defensively.
AT: At 23, I think Marcinko has accepted his role as a depth player in the AHL. Obviously, nobody wants to be a career AHL guy, but players like him are quintessential to having an elite AHL team to provide a winning culture for the younger players on the team, especially incoming players like Casey Cizikas and Calvin De Haan, assuming they don't make the Islanders out of camp. After such an abysmal season in 2011, the Sound Tigers look poised to make a major turnaround. Players like Marcinko, while playing smaller roles, are absolutely invaluable to the team. Just as Marty Reasoner will play his role for the Islanders on the 4th line, Marcinko will play his on Bridgeport.
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