Jonathan Marchessault

Jonathan Marchessault (born Jonathan Audy-Marchessault on December 27, 1990) is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward for the Nashville Predators in the NHL. He has also suited up for the Columbus Blue Jackets, Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers, and Vegas Golden Knights. Despite going undrafted and being considered undersized, he turned pro in the AHL in 2011. He signed his first NHL deal with Columbus the next year but spent most of his time with their AHL farm team. He became a more regular NHL presence with Tampa Bay during the 2015–16 season, then moved to in-state rival Florida that summer, where he broke out with a 30-goal season.

Selected by Vegas in the 2017 expansion draft, Marchessault became a key offensive piece for the Golden Knights. He helped them become the first expansion team since the 1968 St. Louis Blues to reach the Stanley Cup Final in their debut season. He represented Vegas at the 2022 All-Star Game and led the team to a Stanley Cup championship in 2023. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, making him the first undrafted player to earn that honor since Wayne Gretzky in 1988.

As a youth, Marchessault played in the 2003 and 2004 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments with a minor team from Rive-Nord, Quebec.

He played his entire junior career with the Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL, joining them as a 16-year-old in 2007–08 after being drafted in the 12th round. In 2009–10, he won the Gaétan Duchesne Trophy as the QMJHL’s best defensive player. He was named Player of the Week in both the QMJHL and CHL for the week ending December 13, 2010. As alternate captain in his final junior season, he finished sixth in QMJHL scoring and led the league with 11 game-winning goals. In the 2011 playoffs, he led the QMJHL in scoring despite Quebec being eliminated in the semifinals—the first player to do so without reaching the final round. He was named QMJHL Top Star of the Week for the week ending September 19, 2010, and CHL Player of the Week for the week ending April 3, 2011. He received the Bud Light Cup as Quebec’s player of the year and was named a QMJHL First Team All-Star.

Going undrafted in the NHL, Marchessault signed his first pro contract on June 23, 2011, with the New York Rangers’ AHL affiliate, the Connecticut Whale, on a recommendation from ECHL coach Dean Stork.