Jonathan Marchessault has revealed more about his final discussions with the Vegas Golden Knights before the two sides parted ways in July.
In an appearance on The Cam and Strick Podcast released Monday night, Marchessault said he picked up the phone himself in the final days before free agency and called Golden Knights management after his agent, Pat Brisson, was unable to land an extension.
“In Vegas, I called the GM (Kelly McCrimmon) on Friday, I called the president (George McPhee) on Saturday, I’m like, ‘What’s going on, what do you guys want to do? I need to know, are you guys actually letting me go for real?’ Then, when Sunday showed up, nothing was budging,” Marchessault said, adding that he was asking for a four-year contract but the Golden Knights were offering three.
Marchessault ultimately joined the Predators on a five-year, $27.5-million contract, the same day Steven Stamkos also signed by Nashville.
The 33-year-old was an original Golden Knight and is the franchise’s all-time leader in goals and points. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2023 while helping lead Vegas to a Stanley Cup victory.
The Golden Knights have been a perennial contender since joining the NHL in 2017 but that aggressiveness has meant fan-favourite players Marc-Andre Fleury, Nate Schmidt, Alex Tuch and Reilly Smith have been traded away. Now departed from Vegas himself, Marchessault said the club’s lack of loyalty is necessary but still difficult to deal with as a player.
“There’s definitely no loyalty but, at the same time, you’re there to win. I don’t mind that mindset, personally,” Marchessault said. “Obviously, I’m disappointed that I left. I didn’t have any real things to consider and that’s what disappointed me. I thought I had done good enough in the past seven years for them that I could deserve what I deserved. I was not asking for something outrageous, I was not trying to steal the bank or anything.
“But it’s life and you move on, and they’re still going to have a really good team … and only the future will tell us if they were right or wrong.”
