to say Marino can't do what Letang can is nonsense. Marino is a puck mover, who has great defensive skills. Hell they are grooming him to be a 1RD.
He's that kind of player.
The only thing Marino doesn't have is years of experience doing it at this level. That's it.
But the truth is, you don't see Marino costing his team games. And the years where Letang actually wins the team games are over.
I'm not saying Letang isn't a good player, what I am saying though is the gap between the two if there is any at this point is small.
You can go look at all the stats.
Marino gets more defensive starts, plays with lower lines and he's right up there with him.
Letang has what 2 more goals in 5v5 play, but considering the lines he plays with and how much time he gets on the ice, I don't really think that's saying much.
At this point right now, I don't even think anyone can argue that Marino makes smarter decisions with the puck. Which is why he doesn't turn it over all over the place. Nor do I think anyone can argue that Letang is better in his own end.
He's really not at this point.
Letang is still a good player. But if you don't realize what they have in Marino that's on you not everyone else.
There is no doubt he's a better defense man than the 4 other guys they dress, including Dumo at this point. And the argument can be made, as long as Letang is costing the team games with dumb turn overs, that he's been the better player back there.
I can tell you now, if the game was on the line, and they were starting in their own zone, I would rather put Marino back there than Letang. Because I know Letang is more likely to do something stupid with the puck.

You are the only person who would pick Marino over Letang when the game is on the line. In fact just today when the game was on the line they had Letang out there. Not Marino. You also need to look at the competition they are playing against. Letang is out against the other teams best players all night.

dude what game were you watching?
They scored the goal with like 7 minutes left. There was no final shift with the game on the line. Matter of fact at the end of the game Marino was out there just as much as letang until the power play. Where Sully always plays Letang. I hardly call that game on the line.