(Las Vegas) There was a time when it spoke very Québécois in the streets of Las Vegas, thanks in part to Céline and her vast entourage. Jonathan Marchessault, Nicolas Roy and William Carrier may not take up as much space, but like Céline before them, they have made Vegas their playground.
In any case, the dry air of Vegas does them the greatest good. Marchessault is the club’s second scorer in the playoffs, with 17 points in 17 games. Roy has managed 9 points since the start of the playoffs, and Carrier is coming off his best season, having scored 25 points in 56 games during the 2022-2023 schedule.
With all these beautiful people in the place, we understand that they spoke a lot of French in one of the vast rooms of the T-Mobile Arena on this Friday noon.
Of course, we can communicate more easily with guys who speak our language. The three of us have always been close, we have fun together, but also, I have rarely met bad people in hockey. Nic and Will are very relaxed guys, it’s fun to be with them every day.
Jonathan Marchessault
Casually, Marchessault and Carrier have been here since the Golden Knights’ inaugural season, in 2017-2018, which ended with a loss in the Finals. Roy, he has been here for four seasons, having moved quickly to the Carolina Hurricanes.
PHOTO STEPHEN R. SYLVANIE, USA TODAY SPORTS
William Carrier
“Quebec players, we always get along really well together,” added Roy on Friday. We all know how much hockey, in Quebec, is super important. So, we would like to bring the Cup back to Quebec each in turn! »
Of the three, we feel that it is Marchessault who leads the widest. The 32-year-old forward speaks with such determination, and with such fire in his eyes, that it’s like seeing a young Martin St-Louis back in his days in Tampa Bay.
Marchessault, not protected in the draft from the expansion by the Florida Panthers, it should be remembered, is now trying to get closer to his dream, and also to bring others with him.
“As in all teams, we had to deal with changes, with players who had to leave, added Nicolas Roy. But I think the heart of the team is still here, with Jonathan… So what hasn’t changed is that all the guys here want to win. All the guys here hate losing. »
PHOTO JEROME MIRON, USA TODAY SPORTS ARCHIVES
Nicholas Roy
What seems quite clear in any case is that the three Quebec players of the Golden Knights feel so close, so close to this goal that has eluded them for too long.
Maybe this time it will be different. Because if the Canadiens can’t bring the Cup back to Quebec, maybe they can.
“There have been a lot of Quebecers here in the past, including David Perron and Marc-André Fleury, noted William Carrier. We are almost the club with the most Quebec players in the league! I think our CEO [Kelly McCrimmon] likes Quebec players. You can never doubt the work ethic of Quebecers, so I think that’s why! »