Jonathan Marchessault buries the Golden Knights after ugly departure

The Vegas Golden Knights and Jonathan Marchessault have gone their separate ways on the opening on free agency when the star forward signed a five-year, $27.5 million contract with the Nashville Predators.

Marchessault had been one of the original misfits in Vegas, who took a chance on him in the 2017 expansion draft and he had expressed his desire to remain a Golden Knight.

He now believes it was not mutual.

In an interview with TSN soon after he decided to join the Predators as a free agent, Marchessault expressed his disappointment with a shot at his former team saying:

“It was pretty tough to be honest, the tough part of it also was there wasn’t really a decent offer on the table, I don’t think they tried their best to keep me.”

While Vegas general manager Kelly McCrimmon said that “couldn’t be further from the truth”, actions do speak louder than words.

“Marchy is a fiery guy,” McCrimmon said. “He would perhaps feel that way. I think anybody who knows me, knows Marchy, our time together in this organization and the value and respect we have for each other, I would disagree with that.”

Marchessault, who was the 2023 Conn Smythe Trophy winner for playoff MVP when the Knights won the Stanley Cup, was looking for term and it looks like McCrimmon was not comfortable with the idea of signing him to a five-year deal.

That’s what he got in Nashville and will be 38 once his contract ends.

But I mean, Marchessault scored a career-high 42 goals last season and has proven he still has a lot to offer. He will get to do so now with the Predators, who loaded up on Free Agency Day, signing longtime Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos to a four-year, $32 million contract and pried defenseman Brady Skjei out of Carolina with a seven-year, $49 million deal.

In Vegas, it will be quite the challenge to replace Marchessault on or off the ice. Now, there are only three Original Misfits — Bradyden McNabb, center William Karlsson and defenseman Shea Theodore, left in Sin City.

Let’s hope they get treated well and won’t feel like Marchessault does when they part ways.