Original Vegas Golden Knights forward Jonathan Marchessault could end up being a UFA to watch in NHL free agency if the team can't find cap space to sign him.
Original Vegas Golden Knights forward Jonathan Marchessault could end up being a UFA to watch in NHL free agency if the team can't find cap space to sign him.
The Vegas Golden Knights recently made headlines by signing Noah Hanifin to an eight-year, $58.8-million contract extension. However, that move raised questions over Jonathan Marchessault's future.
Marchessault, 33, is slated to become a UFA on July 1 after completing a six-year, $30-million deal. He's among the four players remaining from their original expansion roster in 2017-18, nicknamed the “Golden Misfits.”
Since the Golden Knights' inaugural campaign, Marchessault has been their most productive player. The veteran winger holds the franchise records for career goals (192), assists (225) and points (417) and is their career playoff leader with 34 goals and 71 points. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Golden Knights marched to the Stanley Cup last season.
The Hockey News' Julian Gaudio last month cited a report that Marchessault's agent Pat Brisson said he'd had plenty of contract discussions with Golden Knights management. However, it seemed unlikely he'd get an extension offer until the end of the season.
That was before the Hanifin signing, leaving the Golden Knights with a projected cap space of $2.56 million with 19 active roster players under contract for 2024-25, per PuckPedia. They'll get another $5 million in wiggle room if goaltender Robin Lehner remains on long-term injury reserve.
Danny Webster of the Las Vegas Review-Journal observed the Golden Knights lack the cap flexibility for Marchessault or other pending UFAs such as Chandler Stephenson, William Carrier, Alec Martinez and Anthony Mantha. The Hanifin signing likely means Martinez won't be back while the acquisition of Tomas Hertl at the trade deadline suggests Stephenson could be on his way out.
Vegas Hockey Now's Kevin Allen also pondered Marchessault's future in Sin City. He thinks the Golden Knights will have to move one or two contracts to free up sufficient space to keep him.
Much will depend on what Marchessault seeks in his next contract. Given his age, he won't get a long-term deal but might accept a three or four-year deal worth $6.5 million annually. If the Golden Knights won't pay it, other teams will if he hits the open market.