Vegas player Jonathan Marchessault, who has a career-high 42 goals this season, said Tuesday he has not discussed a new deal with the Golden Knights.
If the sides do not reach an agreement by July 1, Marchessault will become a free agent. The 33-year-old winger, who was an initial member of the Golden Knights, won the Conn Smythe Trophy as NHL playoffs MVP last season.
Marchessault signed a six-year contract in January 2018, worth $5 million per year.
“We don’t have a call yet or anything,” Marschessault said before competing in the World Series of Poker’s opening day. “They said they were interested in signing me.” They have until June 30 or so.
The Golden Knights did not immediately reply to a request for comment, but general manager Kelly McCrimmon stated after the season that he admired Marchessault’s contributions on and off the ice.
Marchessault, who was one goal away from tying William Karlsson’s single-season franchise record, is one of the team’s more vocal leaders.
“There’s certainly a real strong willingness from both sides to have real good discussions,” McCrimmon stated at the time. “That’s what we’re going to work on.”
It would not be shocking if Vegas let Marchessault depart, given its track record of fast moving on, like as when it sold goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury to the Chicago Blackhawks in July 2021. When the Golden Knights acquired Tomas Hertl and Noah Hanifin before the trade deadline, they hinted that they would be moving on. Hanifin later signed an eight-year contract worth $7.35 million per year.
Furthermore, the Golden Knights had an opportunity to re-sign Marchessault last summer.
“I asked last summer,” Marchessault remarked. “I replied I’d rather do it in the summer, before the season. They indicated they weren’t ready to do that, despite the fact that I hadn’t spoken with them once this season. I do not know. As an organization, you have signed a player for six years, correct? So you have the full six years and then you can deal with it, so let’s see.”
Marchessault led the Golden Knights to their first Stanley Cup championship last year, scoring 13 goals and adding 25 points in the playoffs. Vegas’ aspirations of repeating were dashed when the Dallas Stars defeated the Knights in seven games in the first round.
The Stars are still playing, with a 2-1 lead against the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference Finals.
“I still think us and Dallas were the two best teams in the West and the winner of that series was going to make it to the finals,” Marchessault stated. “I don’t believe the other teams in the conference were anywhere near our two teams. I think Dallas will make it to the finals, and I believe they will win.”
Marchessault played under Stars coach Pete DeBoer, who coached the Golden Knights for two and a half seasons, ending in 2022. Steve Spott and Misha Donskov, Dallas’ assistant coaches, have also been with Vegas.
Marchessault stated that he would like to see such coaches “win a cup, as well as someone like Joe Pavelski.” Such a fantastic career. He has done everything except win (the championship). So I’d like to see him win the cup.”
