After making a splash in free agency last season, Nashville Predators [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators] forward Jonathan Marchessault [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/tempest-predators-ci02e1591db00025c7] could be on the move again. Frank Seravalli said on Wednesday on Daily Faceoff Live [https://x.com/NHLRumourReport/status/1927769083350766001]that Marchessault is reportedly "open to the idea of being traded this offseason," with Montreal being a desired location. Marchessault is from Quebec City. Marchessault signed a 5-year, $27.5 million contract with the Predators on July 1, 2024 [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/nashville-predators/tempest-predators-ci02e1591db00025c7], after the Vegas Golden Knights [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vegas-golden-knights] passed on resigning him. He had spent the majority of his career in Vegas, picked up by the team in the 2017 Expansion Draft from the Florida Panthers. Marchessault made a name for himself as a Golden Knight, playing 514 games, recording 417 points and winning the 2023 Stanley Cup and Conn Smyth Trophy. When his contract expired at the end of the 2023-24 season, Marchessault expressed that he didn't want to leave Vegas and wanted to finish his career as a Golden Knight. “I’ve done everything I can to stay here,” Marchessault said to local media [https://lasvegassun.com/news/2024/may/16/marchessaults-future-looms-as-the-focus-of-the-gol/]on May 15, 2024. “I would love to stay. This is my home. I’ve been part of the guys that started this. It’s the most proud thing I’ve done in my life." Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon [https://lasvegassun.com/news/2024/jul/01/no-deal-done-jonathan-marchessault-to-hit-free-age/] cited the length of Marchessault's desired contract, five years, and his age by the time it'd expire, 38 years old, as the reasons why Vegas didn't resign him. Marchessault and Steven Stamkos' signing as free agents made the Predators look like a preseason playoff favorite [https://thehockeynews.com/news/tempest-thn-ci02e1c0b0f0002699], but the offense never really clicked. Marchessault finished with 56 points in 78 games, 13 points behind his 2023-24 total. Stamkos finished with 53 points in 82 games, 28 points behind his previous season's total. The Predators finished with a 30-44-8 record, finishing sixth in the Central Division. If Marchessault was traded, and depending on who the Predators would receive, offloading his contract could open up a ton of space in the salary cap. This would allow Nashville to shop for some big-name free agents come July 1, potentially. Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner [https://thehockeynews.com/news/1ZTd3lv44aeUGrR5mAgt] is expected to be the hottest free agent on the market this summer. He just finished a six-year, $65.41 million contract.
