(Paradise) Vegas Golden Knights forward Jonathan Marchessault, who tallied 25 points during the Stanley Cup playoffs, was named spring tournament MVP.
Marchessault received the Conn-Smythe Trophy, moments before celebrating the Golden Knights’ first triumph in the Stanley Cup Finals.
“I couldn’t be more proud of our team and our organization,” Marchessault said. Everyone has done their part at one point or another. This is what made us the champions. »
The native of Cap-Rouge became the first Quebecer to receive this honor since Jean-Sébastien Giguère in 2003. Giguère had been at the heart of a masterful career with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, but his team had finally lost in the final against to the New Jersey Devils.
Marchessault, 32, has been an important part of the Golden Knights this spring. He scored 13 goals and 12 assists in 22 games.
All 13 goals were scored in a span of 13 games.
Six of the goals broke a tie and four more created a deadlock.
In the final, against the Florida Panthers, he provided four goals and as many assists in five games. He has amassed at least one point in each of his last 10 games.
He is one of six Golden Knights players who lost in the Finals to the Washington Capitals in 2018, during the Nevada club’s inaugural season.
“We’ve waited a long time for another chance,” Marchessault said. We wanted to make sure we capitalized this time around. »
Marchessault was passed over in the NHL Entry Draft.
He is the first Conn-Smythe recipient to go undrafted since Wayne Gretzky in 1988.
After two games with the Columbus Blue Jackets, then 47 with the Tampa Bay Lightning, he stood out with a 30-goal season with the Panthers in 2016-17.
He thus caught the eye of the management of the Golden Knights, who chose him during the expansion draft.
He has since become the team’s all-time leading scorer, with 348 points in 432 games.