Could Jonathan Marchessault Be On His Way Out?
Sportsnet's Jeff Marek joined SiriusXM NHL Network Radio with Scott Laughlin and Gord Stellick, and when asked about the Vegas Golden Knights and Jonathan Marchessault, Marek said GM Kelly McCrimmon will have some tough decisions to make this summer.
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Scott Laughlin: “I've brought this up before, Jeff, but Vegas has decisions to make, and they don't repeat their Cup champions. And that always hurts because that is a team that has been used to winning since birth and the remarkable story that they were and continue to be. That said they have some decisions, and you wonder about Jonathan Marchessault in particular,
So here's a 33-year-old guy who was a fan favorite and a big part of that team on and off the ice. He is 33 years old. He could hit the market on July 1, and is coming off a 42-goal season in all competitions, which is significant for a youngster. So, where is Vegas going? What do you think of Marchessault? Because this is a franchise in Vegas, as we've always agreed, of course, Jeff has no problem making the tough decisions to ask a beloved player to leave. “
Jeff Marek: “And this is going to be tough again. I mean, this is one of the real negatives. This is one of the most popular players in the short history of the Vegas Golden Knights but you are right when there is no sensitivity here you know there is no loyalty. Look at the Marc-Andre Fleury thing because he thought that would get us closer to the Stanley Cup and you know, they were finally proven right.
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I think hanging up here will be time. I think Kelly McCrimmon, even if you're right, Jonathan Marchessault is still playing at the peak of his power, he's having a great season, he continues to do well, he continues to do well, but like any team, you know, aging curves are real and when players fall, they fall quickly. And the decline can be sudden, and even if Jonathan Marchessault is still performing at a very high level, there is no guarantee that it will continue if you sign a long-term contract.
So I mean, we're looking at somewhere between five to six to seven years. I don't think he's going to hit eight on the year for the Vegas Golden Knights. I think that will be a hang up. I am sure they would like to bring him back not only at the right price, but also at the right time.
I wonder and I think we all do about Chandler Stephenson and, about Marchessault, so he has to enter the market, I mean, pick how many 25 teams would be interested in Jonathan Marchessault? So that would be something we all look forward to on July 1st.
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I think there is a decision to be made about Chandler Stephenson here as well. Will they even accommodate you, that's one of the best trades George McPhee ever made. Yes, they helped win the Stanley Cup. I mean, there's going to be decisions there with William Carrier, which is probably the first time in his career that he's now in a position to set himself up financially for the rest of his life. So I'm wondering what's going on there but you're right, there seems to be some big decisions here for Kelly McCrimmon.
And the Vegas Golden Knights and so on, look, this is what Vegas is like as one team that has, I should say one team but a very obvious team that found that, you know, during the season, you can screw it up. your salary as often as you want as long as you take the offseason and clean it up. That's what Vegas does as you know what, we're going to mess this room up pretty good and it doesn't matter because we're going to take the summer and get a clean or cap situation. We will break the eggs along the way to make an omelette, and then in the summer, the cap shape will be erased.
This year there are new wrinkles in it because there is an emotional relationship with players like Jonathan Marchessault. Tough decisions about Stephenson and Carrier, but you're right this is a team and I always use this as a compliment even though there are people in Vegas who really don't like it when I say this, this is a team that doesn't want to win.
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Emotions and feelings do not interfere with Kelly McCrimmon's decision-making and that is why she is so successful. And that's why we see that Vegas is going to run something next year that you know now has a side dish of upsets. And this is a team that will be disappointed that they didn't make it that they couldn't repeat.
And I think they will take that frustration out of the league next summer, next year, rather, and they will have a complete summer to rest all their players. “
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