What a joy to see Jonathan Marchessault lift the Conn-Smythe trophy in front of his loved ones, including his father who had tears in his eyes.
• Read also: Jonathan Marchessault’s relatives savor his triumph
• Read also: Marchessault achieves a first since Wayne Gretzky
Marchessault fully deserves this award. He had some extraordinary streaks, including scoring important goals for the Golden Knights.
At 5’9″, he’s Vegas’ little bulldog. Plus, he’s the perfect complement for center Jack Eichel. Marchessault is appreciated by Eichel as Brad Marchand is by Patrice Bergeron with the Bruins. He disturbs, he scores when it counts and he is angry when he loses.
With 26 points, the American could also have been chosen the playoff MVP, but Marchessault’s 13 goals (25 points in total) probably tipped the scales.
And when Commissioner Gary Bettman announced number 81 as the Conn-Smythe winner, Eichel hugged his teammate in congratulations. The scene said it all.
A first Quebecer in 20 years
In addition to becoming the first undrafted player to win this honor since Wayne Gretzky in 1988, Marchessault is also the first Quebecer to win the Conn-Smythe since Jean-Sébastien Giguère in 2003. That’s 20 years!
The former goalkeeper of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, with whom I work at TVA Sports, was also very happy for Marchessault.
The latter also joins Patrick Roy, Claude Lemieux, Mario Lemieux, Mike Bossy, Guy Lafleur, Bernard Parent and Yvan Cournoyer, all Quebecers who have been named playoff MVPs.
Not the easiest path
The course of Marchessault also has something to impress. The native of the Cap-Rouge district, in Quebec, had been a choice of 12e tower of the Quebec Remparts, in the QMJHL. Only seven other players had been selected after him! At the time, he was only 5’6″, and he weighed 140 lbs. This did not prevent him from developing under the orders of Patrick Roy.
Never drafted into the NHL, Marchessault went through the American League and didn’t have any real luck with the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Tampa Bay Lightning. Then the Florida Panthers let him go to the Vegas expansion draft… How ironic!
A city of winners
Six years later, Marchessault and the Knights are NHL champions, as their owner, Bill Foley, predicted. The team was mostly built with deals and signings. Among the most notable are certainly Eichel and star defenseman Alex Pietrangelo.
Chairman George McPhee, who served as the team’s first managing director, has a lot to do with the club’s success, as do current CEO Kelly McCrimmon and head coach Bruce Cassidy. What an adventure for the former Bruins pilot, fired a year ago. After watching his former troop experience a historic season, he is the one who lifts the Stanley Cup!
While you can quickly find yourself on the losing side with empty pockets in a casino, Vegas has proven itself to be a city of winners too. And when I looked at Renaud Lavoie near the Knights locker room, everything seemed easy, nothing was complicated.
In health
The Knights were also much healthier than the Panthers. Matthew Tkachuk notably played despite a fractured sternum. He needed his teammates to get dressed and ultimately didn’t play the final game.
But even if Tkachuk had been there, in great shape, the carrots were cooked. The Knights were too strong. Even their fourth goaltender, Adin Hill, was up to the task.
The Panthers outsmarted the pundits by reaching the final. Entering through the back door, a bit like the St. Louis Blues in 2019, they eliminated Boston, Toronto and Carolina. They can be proud.
– Interview by Mylène Richard
Echoes of Bergie
Patrick Roy still ignored
I don’t know how Patrick Roy feels, but personally I’m discouraged. I can’t believe he hasn’t found a job in the NHL yet after winning everything with the Remparts. I really saw it with the Rangers. But no, his ex-teammate Chris Drury preferred him an old hand in Peter Laviolette. I have nothing against my former defenseman in New York, but he is on his sixth team in the NHL. He must be quite a salesman to convince people to give him another chance. Roy didn’t even have an interview! He made his mea culpa and he will not make the same mistakes as in Colorado. There are still a few coaching positions to be confirmed. In the meantime, Roy will play golf. And good luck to Simon Gagné, who takes over with the Remparts, as well as to Nicole Bouchard, who officially becomes assistant to the GM. A first in the QMJHL. I’ve known her since the days of the Nordiques and she dedicated her life to hockey.
CH and the hot potato
The Canadian could steal the show in the repechage, the first round of which will be presented on June 28. We are expecting a bang from the CH. Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton probably want to avoid hot potato Matvei Michkov. The Russian attacker would represent a risk, according to many experts. The DG of the Habs could therefore want to improve his rank. If he speaks earlier than the fifth pick, no one could fault Hughes for not picking Michkov. But it will be very expensive.
From statistician to commissioner
I had the chance to attend the party in honor of Gilles Courteau recently, in Sherbrooke. The new commissioner of the QMJHL, Mario Cecchini, was present, as were several relatives of Gilles. He is happy with his decision. He was at the helm of the QMJHL for 37 years. I have always had a good bond with him. It must be said that I hired him as a statistician at 17 with the Draveurs de Trois-Rivières. Between periods, Gilles gave me the stats and he ordered the food.