Jonathan Marchessault is only focused on the present as the Vegas Golden Knights still need to close out the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference finals. But there’s a potential match-up looming with his former team in the Stanley Cup Finals: the Florida Panthers.
Marchessault was tossed into the 2017 expansion draft and became a Golden Knight. He admitted that he thought the Panthers were going to protect him, but he’s moved on from that decision and is only thinking about his team’s success.
In the 2017 expansion draft, Vegas received two foundational pieces: Jonathan Marchessault and Reilly Smith. Marchessault, who had already scored 30 goals off his second full NHL season, was a surprise exposure. On the other hand, the Panthers traded Smith in a cost-cutting move, so Vegas took a chance on the forward. Now, they’re both crucial to the Golden Knights’ success and have played a vital role in the team’s playoffs clinch this year.
Dale Tallon, the GM for the Florida Panthers at the time, justified it as, ‘You win championships with defense first.’ Despite the long-lasting effect on the Golden Knights, Marchessault has moved on from the Panthers’ decision. While it still surprises him, he said he is solely focusing on the Vegas team this year, keeping the past as a memory and not affected by it.
Marchessault and Smith have an old Panthers connection they talk about, and that’s how they built the Golden Knights’ organization. The trades they made were instrumental in shaping the team. Now, they’re still aiming for the ultimate goal, which is winning it all in the playoffs this season. Their focus is entirely on bringing home the championship.
When the Golden Knights face-off against the Panthers, they’ll be facing a team that is similar to the Vegas inaugural squad that made it to the championship round. Marchessault compared the two teams in the same light, calling them both Cinderella stories. They both worked hard and earned their way up, proving that sometimes, hard work and effort really do pay off in the end.
Amidst the recent success of the Golden Knights, Marchessault is still humble and focused on the job at hand. He acknowledges that he has come a long way since the 2017 draft, but he still looks at that experience to keep his game tight. He understands that sometimes, things don’t go his way, but he is willing to put in extra work to get to where he wants to be.
Marchessault is confident about the Golden Knights’ championship chances this year, and he knows that his team has the talent and drive to win it all. He believes that his team has worked extremely hard to get to this point and that they’re going to make the most of their opportunity to bring home another title for Vegas.
For Marchessault, being a part of the Golden Knights has meant everything to him and the team. It’s been an unforgettable experience from being excluded in the expansion draft to being part of a successful journey that’s taken them to the Western Conference finals this season
The Golden Knights have had impressive playoff runs these past few years, and Marchessault and Smith have been integral components of the team’s success. Marchessault has been able to reach incredible milestones like scoring 30 goals in a single season, while Smith has brought in valuable experience and skill to the ice.
The Golden Knights’ team culture is built on resilience and grit, and that shows from their playoff performance in the past three years. Marchessault knows that hard work and tough times are necessary to become a championship-winning team, and he’s grateful to be on the Vegas team that has come so far in just a few years.
While Marchessault doesn’t spend too much time thinking about his former team, he’s proud of the Panthers’ success this year and the progress they’ve made. He acknowledges that the team has some key players that have played a significant role in the team’s performance throughout the season, and he wishes them all the best in all of their future endeavors.
Marchessault believes that the Golden Knights have a shot at the Stanley Cup Finals, but he also understands that the competition is fierce, and they’ll need to put up an incredible fight to come out on top. He believes that his team has what it takes to win, and he knows that they’ll put up a strong fight to make sure they bring home the championship this season.
The Golden Knights have been through so much as a team in the past few seasons, and Marchessault has been at the forefront of the team’s success. He’s looking forward to helping his team bring home another championship this year and playing the best hockey he can in order to make that happen.
The Golden Knights are a team of hard workers and dedicated players, and that’s what has gotten them this far in the playoffs this year. Marchessault is proud of his team and what they’ve accomplished, but he understands that there’s still hard work to be done, and he’s ready to put in the effort to bring home another championship for the Vegas Golden Knights.
Marchessault loves being a part of the Golden Knights and believes that the team has a bright future ahead of them. He’s been through a lot with the team in the past few years, and he knows that they’ll continue to work hard and put in the effort to make sure that they’re one of the best teams in the NHL.
The Golden Knights have already accomplished so much, but Marchessault knows that there’s still a lot of work to be done. He’s confident in his team’s abilities and knows that they’ll need to give it their all to come out on top. Marchessault is ready to do whatever it takes to help his team bring home another championship to Las Vegas.
