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Jonathan Marchessault wins Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP

Posted on by Jillian Wagner
NHL.com

The Vegas Golden Knights completed a sensational postseason run with a 9-3 blowout win over the Florida Panthers in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena.

Golden Knights thrash Panthers 9-3 in Game 5 to clinch first Stanley Cup in franchise history
The Vegas Golden Knights held a 3-1 series edge over the Florida Panthers coming into a critical Game 5 Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena. The Golden Knights delivered a statement performance as they demolished the Panthers in a 9-3 rout to clinch the first Stanley Cup in franchise history. Mark
Knights On IceJillian Wagner

It was the Golden Knights’ 16th win of the postseason, and it clinched the first Stanley Cup in franchise history.

Fifteen different players found the scoresheet for the Golden Knights, and all four lines scored at least a goal. The performance was a perfect example of how crucial Vegas’ depth has been all season, especially in the playoffs.

But it was Jonathan Marchessault who was awarded the distinct honor of being the 2023 recipient of the Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP of the playoffs.

Marchessault finished the playoffs second in scoring with 25 points and tied for first in goals with 13. He was one of several players in contention, but he played a major role for the Golden Knights throughout the last three rounds, particularly in the Final.

He scored 15 goals in his last 13 games and finished the playoffs on a 10-game point streak, the longest in franchise history and the longest of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. During that stretch, Marchessault tallied eight goals and 15 points.

He scored three game-winning goals and led all players with 19 even-strength points.

Much of Marchessault’s success was shared with linemates Jack Eichel – who finished first in scoring with 26 points – as well as Ivan Barbashev, a major deadline acquisition who finished fifth on the Golden Knights in scoring with 18 points. Vegas outscored the Oilers 7-1, the Stars 5-2 and Panthers 4-2 at 5-on-5 with that trio on the ice, giving Vegas’ top line a 16-5 scoring edge.

But Marchessault capitalized on chances generated by that line’s ferocious forecheck; he put the puck in the net, often when Vegas needed a goal.

He was held without a goal and recorded just two assists in the first seven games of the postseason, including the entire five-game series against Winnipeg in the first round. But starting in Game 3 against Edmonton, he was off to the races. He scored two goals in that game and had three multi-point efforts in the series.

His first goal of the playoffs was an important one, as he lit the lamp just 1:59 after the Oilers took an early 1-0 lead in Game 3, a game Vegas went on to win. Marchessault recorded three assists in Game 5 and, notably, scored a natural hat trick in the second period of the series-clinching Game 6 victory.

In total, he recorded five goals and eight points in six games against the Oilers; he followed that up with four goals and seven points in six games against the Stars.

Marchessault found the scoresheet in five straight games after being held without a point in Game 1.

He potted the game-winner in Game 3 against the Stars just 1:11 into the first period, which contributed to Jamie Benn’s infamous implosion.

In the final three games of the series, Marchessault lit the lamp twice and added two assists, including a goal in Vegas’ blowout win to advance.

But Marchessault found another gear in the Stanley Cup Final against his former team. The same team that left him exposed and deemed him expendable in the Vegas Expansion Draft six years ago.

Marchessault set the tone early, scoring Vegas’ first goal in each of the first two games, with both tallies coming on the power play.

He scored two goals in a three-point performance in Vegas’ 7-2 win in Game 2.

He then scored another power-play goal late in the second period of Game 3.

Though that was his final goal of the postseason, he recorded an assist on William Karlsson’s game-winning goal in Game 4, and he added an assist on Nicolas Hague’s first-period goal in Game 5.

The original Golden Misfit was Mr. Clutch for the Golden Knights, scoring timely goals, challenging his teammates and leading the charge.

Remarkably, Marchessault is the first undrafted player to win the Conn Smythe since Wayne Gretzky in 1988. He’s also just the second winger in the last nine years to be named MVP (Alex Ovechkin).

Though the Conn Smythe Trophy is secondary to the ultimate prize of the Stanley Cup, it’s still a testament to Marchessault’s long path to becoming a champion.

“It was a bumpy ride for sure,” he said. “Definitely a lot of hard work was put in, especially in the past few years, to achieve my goal. … It was a lot of bumps and bruises along the way, and it’s just a great feeling right now to see my journey, where it brought me, and it’s something that I’ll cherish for the rest of my life.”

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