Winning has been central to the Vegas Golden Knights’ culture from the start, but managing the salary cap has always been a challenge. Every offseason, their tight cap situation forces them to let go of key players, making fans somewhat desensitized to these losses. Recent departures, such as Max Pacioretty and Reilly Smith, have been met with resignation by fans who are used to the team’s pragmatic asset management approach.
However, the potential loss of original team member and fan favorite Jonathan Marchessault might be different.
Amidst a wave of departing notable free agent forwards—Chandler Stephenson (Seattle Kraken), Michael Amadio (Ottawa Senators), Anthony Mantha (Calgary Flames), and fellow original William Carrier (Carolina Hurricanes)—Marchessault stands out. The 33-year-old, who is heading to Nashville, leaves a significant void both as a charismatic presence in the locker room and as a top scorer among the forwards.
Successful Beginnings
When the Vegas Golden Knights acquired Jonathan Marchessault in the 2017 Expansion Draft, it was a significant loss for the Florida Panthers. Florida made the surprising choice to expose the speedy winger, choosing instead to protect depth defensemen Alex Petrovic and Mark Pysyk. This decision came despite Marchessault being a 26-year-old coming off a 30-goal season. The Quebec native went on to score 27 goals and tally 75 points during Vegas’ impressive inaugural season, outperforming Petrovic and Pysyk, who collectively managed fewer goals and points over the rest of their Panthers careers.
Not only did Vegas secure a future franchise all-time scoring leader for free, but they also managed to acquire Smith and his newly-signed five-year contract extension from Florida for a 2018 fourth-round pick. In their expansion season, Marchessault and Smith became the team’s second- and fourth-leading scorers, respectively.
Marchessault’s Vegas Legacy
Marchessault’s departure in free agency removes a 42-goal scorer and a significant part of the Golden Knights’ heart and soul. Though he didn’t fit the typical Vegas profile of being big, physical, and defensively dominant, he was crucial to their winning culture during his seven years at T-Mobile Arena. Over those years, he scored 192 goals and tallied 417 points. During the 2023 Stanley Cup run, he led the NHL with 13 goals and accumulated 25 points in 22 games, earning Conn Smythe honors. He leaves the franchise with a 40-goal lead over the second-highest all-time goal scorer and a 50-point lead over the second-highest all-time point-getter, both held by William Karlsson.
Regarding Jonathan Marchessault’s off-ice impact, his former teammates’ comments during the locker cleanout at the end of the 2023-24 season highlighted his character. Brayden McNabb emphasized that Marchessault has “done everything” for the franchise and found it hard to imagine the locker room without him. Alex Pietrangelo noted that “everyone in this locker room loves having Marchy around.” Head coach Bruce Cassidy and captain Mark Stone praised the energy he brings to the team. Collectively, his teammates portrayed him as someone who will undoubtedly be difficult to replace.
