Predators continue loading with long term agreement with forward Marchessault

*Photo from the Las Vegas Weekly*

   One of the original misfits is gone. RW Jonathan Marchessault and the Nashville Predators have agreed to a 5 year, $27.5 million contract, according to Pierre Lebrun of TSN. Nashville has confirmed the deal.

   Chosen by the Vegas Golden Knights in the expansion draft from the Florida Panthers, Marchessault departs in free agency, leaving just 3 original Golden Knights left on the team even as they enter only their 8th season in the league.

   He was an instrumental part in helping Vegas win the Stanley Cup in 2022-2023, winning the Conn Smythe trophy as the most valuable player of the postseason. He gets a slight raise in free agency, going from a $5 million annual salary with the Golden Knights to making $5.5 million annually in a Predators uniform.

   Marchessault departs the Golden Knights holding a few franchise records, albeit for such a young franchise. He leads the team in games played with 514, goals with 192, and points with 417. He came to Vegas on the heels of a 30 goal season with the Panthers and continued his ascension as a bona fide scorer.

   Asked about leaving Vegas, Marchessault said "The tough part is there wasn't really a decent offer on the table. I don't think they tried their best to keep me, but that's part of the business, and they probably have other plans. That's the business we're in, so you move on."

   The past season was another dominant one for Marchessault, his 7th season in Vegas. He potted 42 goals and added 27 assists, posting a -2 rating while averaging 17:54 of ice time per game across 82 games. He added a pair of goals and a pair of assists in 7 playoff games.

   Across 11 years in the league, Marchessault has played for the Golden Knights, Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Columbus Blue Jackets. He has 230 goals and 257 assists to his name, averaging 17:05 of ice time while posting a +35 rating in 638 regular season games. He has 36 goals and 40 assists over 102 career playoff games.

   Nashville had a busy first day of free agency, adding Marchessault, Steven Stamkos, and Scott Wedgewood while also re-signing Alexandre Carrier and extending star goalie Juuse Saros to an 8 year contract that will start when the 2025-2026 season begins.