Jonathan Marchessault was cast aside from the Florida Panthers in 2017. He was selected by Vegas Golden Knights during the NHL Expansion Draft that year. This was in spite of a promising 2016-17 season where he scored 51 points. But Marchessault made the best of the opportunity and was rewarded last season.
Marchessault won the Stanley Cup with the Golden Knights. And he defeated the Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final to do so. Furthermore, the Quebec City native earned the Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It was a full-circle moment for the veteran winger, and it may be his final major moment with the Golden Knights.
Vegas failed to defend their Stanley Cup title in 2024. And Marchessault is entering NHL Free Agency this summer. With the Golden Knights lacking salary cap space, there is a good chance Marchessault heads to a new team. With this in mind, here are the best landing spots for the veteran winger on the open market.
Jonathan Marchessault, Panthers could reunite
This is an interesting scenario. But, it is something that could certainly happen. The Panthers are currently one game away from their second trip to the Stanley Cup Final. And this summer, they are set to lose two of their better wingers. Both Sam Reinhart and Vladimir Tarasenko are headed for NHL Free Agency.
Marchessault could return to Florida and immediately slide into their top-six. Furthermore, he'd still have a good chance at contending for the Stanley Cup. Even if the Panthers fail to win it all this season, they are set up to contend for a few years moving forward.
The Panthers are projected to have a little less than $20 million in cap space this summer. It's unlikely that they are able to retain both Tarasenko and Reinhart. If they can work out a deal with Marchessault, he'd certainly help soften the blow of losing one of their two established wingers in NHL Free Agency.
Red Wings seek top-six option
The Detroit Red Wings were one of the NHL's best offensive teams in the league this past season. Their offense helped the team play out of their minds between January and February. But Detroit could lose star winger Patrick Kane in NHL Free Agency this summer. And that's a presence they need to replace before the 2024-25 campaign.
Marchessault would provide a veteran presence for Detroit's younger forwards to lean on. Furthermore, he immediately slots into the top-six. He is more of a goal scorer than Kane is, as Marchessault scored a career-high 42 goals with the Golden Knights this season. But he can certainly generate offense for his teammates, which the Red Wings need.
The Red Wings have nearly $30 million in projected salary cap space. While a good amount of this will go toward extending Lucas Raymond and Mortiz Seider, Detroit should still have room to add to their roster. And Jonathan Marchessault would be a smart addition for them in NHL Free Agency.
Utah Hockey Club has money to spend
The Utah Hockey Club will play its first season in the NHL after the relocation of the Arizona Coyotes. And the league's newest franchise has a solid foundation in place. Young players such as Mattias Maccelli, Logan Cooley, and Dylan Guenther look poised to lead this team into the future.
However, Utah needs to put veteran talent around its young stars. And Marchessault could certainly play a big role within this team. He could help mentor the younger players while helping them be more competitive in 2024-25. The former Coyotes showed they could compete early in the 2023-24 season before a brutal losing streak after the new year.
Utah has the highest projected amount of cap space with over $43 million to work with this summer. And all indications are that the team will spend big in NHL Free Agency. Jonathan Marchessault could cost a pretty penny, but he would also be a smart pickup for the NHL's newest franchise this offseason.
Follow Us
Subscribe