Jonathan Marchessault: “Vegas doesn’t treat players who deserve it well”

This summer, Jonathan Marchessault had to pack up his bags. The forward, who spent the last seven years of his career in Vegas, headed for Nashville on the independent market.

We know that the Habs had him in their sights… but he preferred to join the Predators.

That said, we can sense that he didn’t necessarily appreciate the way negotiations went in Vegas. The club wanted to pay him until 2042, but that’s obviously not what he wanted.

And during his appearance on The Cam & Strick Podcast, Marchessault talked a bit about all this… and offered some pretty frank answers.

Of the lot, he decried the lack of loyalty in Vegas towards the organization’s key players.

Jonathan Marchessault on the lack of “loyalty” in Vegas regarding him and Fleurys departure

: https://t.co/usZ5iG0XAe
: https://t.co/FnHRaMMVSJ pic.twitter.com/iunpepAQg9

– The Cam & Strick Podcast (@CamandStrick) September 11, 2024

Basically, Marchessault explains that the mentality in Vegas is to improve the team as much as possible no matter what sacrifices have to be made. The departure of Marc-André Fleury, who was treated like an old rag immediately after winning a Vézina trophy, is a good example.

And even if Marchessault isn’t necessarily against this mentality… you can sense that he’s got something on his mind:

There are guys who deserve to be treated well, and that’s something that doesn’t happen in Vegas. – Jonathan Marchessault

In fact, the club’s Stanley Cup triumph in 2023 shows that this approach is paying off. That said, in doing so, we can understand the frustration of the guys who helped get the club to where it is today. Marchessault, who arrived in the expansion draft, is a good example.

But as Marc Bergevin used to say, if you want loyalty… buy a dog. And Marchessault learned this well when he had to ask management if they were “really going to let him go”.

Jonathan Marchessault didn’t mince words when it came to his conversations with Vegas’ management before free agency 🫨

(via @CamandStrick, h/t @Sportsnet) pic.twitter.com/7JKBBsNbRI

– B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) September 11, 2024

Overtime

And speaking of McDavid, he’s only 18 points away from the 1,000 career plateau.

Connor McDavid is just 18 points shy of 1,000 and can become the third-fastest and third-youngest player in NHL history to reach the milestone.

More on the @EdmontonOilers captain in one of our latest #NHLStats Packs: https://t.co/8XPzVFjEeW pic.twitter.com/QOp6LPrBy2

– NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) September 11, 2024