Hockey

“I think Marchessault would love to join the Canadiens and go home”
Marc-Olivier Cook
“I think Marchessault would love to join the Canadiens and go home”
Credit: Getty Images

In the summer of 2024, Jonathan Marchessault's name was circulating in Montreal.

The Canadiens were interested in offering him a contract and were among the finalists to acquire him, but the Québécois ultimately chose the Nashville Predators.

He signed a five-year contract, valued at $5.5 million per season. The Habs weren't ready to give him that many years, because Marchessault was still 33 at the time.

But now, even though the player has a no-movement clause, it seems he's ready to leave the Preds organization after just one season.

It's hard to blame him… because in Nashville, things seem to be a bit all over the place at the moment.

And if the player decides to exercise his clause to go elsewhere, Frank Seravalli thinks the Québécois would like to come to Montreal to play with the Habs.

I think Jonathan Marchessault would love to join the Canadiens and go home. – Frank Seravalli

What's a little more complicated?

Let's go through the list:

1. Clearly, you have to look at his contract. Marchessault has four years left on his current deal, he's 34 years old (35 in December) and that's what could scare Kent Hughes.

Because in two or three years, if Marchessault stops playing because of his age, his contract will go negative on the Habs' books. And if the Canadiens want to give themselves the best chance of being dominant…

Unless Kent Hughes can convince Barry Trotz to keep some of his salary?

2. Jonathan Marchessault isn't the biggest player in the National League.

He's 5'9, weighs 185 pounds… and in light of the Canadiens' playoff shattering loss to the Capitals, it might be illogical to look for “another” little player. Especially since his style resembles Cole Caufield's: two little guys who like to score goals and have a truly offensive style.

Does the Habs really need two Cole Caufields in the line-up? Especially since Marchessault doesn't play center: he plays wing. And it's at center that the Habs really want to improve.

3. The Preds aren't going to let him go for free because he's good-looking or thin.

Kent Hughes will have to pay – probably a pretty hefty price – to get him out of Nashville… and it makes you wonder if the Habs GM is willing to part with picks / prospects to acquire a 34-year-old who preferred the Preds to the CH not even a year ago.

If Marchessault were to tick an important box in Montreal – that of adding a forward who can help offensively – the idea might make sense on paper.

But it's clear that there are downsides too. And if there's uncertainty… staying away from a scenario like this might be more ideal for Kent Hughes and the Canadiens.

Remember, in all this, that the player openly said after signing with the Preds that he didn't want to be pressured by the market in Montreal. Did his club's miserable year in Nashville change his mind?

Or… is he thinking that, at his age, he'd like to return to a big market to enjoy it for the rest of his NHL career?

There are questions to be asked in this case. And it's likely to be the talk of the town in the months to come…


Overtime

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– The Jets captain has undergone surgery.

– Wow…

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