Jonathan Marchessault (; ; born December 27, 1990) is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward for the Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has previously played for the Columbus Blue Jackets, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Florida Panthers.
After being selected by the Golden Knights in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft, Marchessault has been one of the core pieces of the team offense, and helped Vegas become the first expansion team to reach the Stanley Cup Finals in their inaugural season since the 1967–68 St. Louis Blues. Marchessault went on to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the Golden Knights' victory in the 2023 Stanley Cup Finals, becoming the first undrafted player to win the award since Wayne Gretzky in 1988. Marchessault helped Vegas become the sixth team to win the Stanley Cup in their first six years.
Playing career
As a youth, Marchessault played in the 2003 and 2004 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments with a minor ice hockey team from Rive-Nord, Quebec.
Junior
Marchessault played his entire junior hockey career with the Quebec Remparts in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). He originally joined the team as a 16-year-old for the 2007–08 season after being drafted by them in the 12th round.
In the 2009–10 season, Marchessault won the Gaétan Duchesne Trophy as the QMJHL's best defensive player. He was also named Player of the Week in both the QMJHL and Canadian Hockey League (CHL) for the week ending December 13, 2010.
As Quebec's alternate captain in his final junior hockey season, Marchessault finished sixth in the QMJHL in scoring during the regular season. He also led the League in game-winning goals for the season, with 11. In the 2011 playoffs, he led the QMJHL in scoring despite Quebec having been eliminated in the semi-finals; he became the first player to lead the QMJHL in playoff scoring despite not playing in the final round.
Marchessault was named the QMJHL Top Star of the Week for the week ending September 19, 2010. He was also named CHL Player of the Week for the week ending April 3, 2011, during the QMJHL playoffs. At the end of the season, Marchessault was awarded the Bud Light Cup as Quebec's player of the year. Moreover, he was named a QMJHL First Team All-Star.
Professional
Connecticut Whale
Not having been selected in any NHL Entry Draft, on June 23, 2011, Marchessault signed his first professional contract with the New York Rangers' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Connecticut Whale, on a recommendation by Dean Stork, coach of the ECHL's Greenville Road Warriors. Upon signing, Marchessault joined former Rempart teammates Ryan Bourque and Kelsey Tessier within the Rangers organization. Marchessault began his professional career in 2011–12 with the Whale.
On October 9, 2011, in his second professional game, Marchessault scored the game-winning shootout goal against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. He scored his first professional non-shootout goal on October 22, 2011, in a game against the Springfield Falcons. In his first professional season, Marchessault tied for the Whale team lead with 64 points, leading the team with 40 assists and adding 24 goals.
Columbus Blue Jackets
After the 2011–12 season, Marchessault did not re-sign with the Whale, instead signing a three-year, entry-level contract as a free agent with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He played the following season for Columbus' AHL affiliate Springfield Falcons, leading the team in scoring and being named a First Team AHL All-Star.
Beginning with the 2013–14 season, Marchessault dropped "Audy" from his last name. In his second season with Columbus, on March 5, 2014, that season's trade deadline, he was traded with Dalton Smith to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Dana Tyrell and Matt Taormina.