Jonathan Marchessault Bio
Jonathan Marchessault, born December 27, 1990, in Cap-Rouge, Quebec, Canada, is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who currently plays for the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League (NHL). Undrafted and long regarded as undersized, Marchessault built a reputation as a relentless scorer and playmaker across the American Hockey League (AHL) and NHL before becoming one of the cornerstones of the Vegas Golden Knights. He helped Vegas reach the Stanley Cup Finals in their inaugural season and later captured the Stanley Cup with the Golden Knights in 2023, earning the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff most valuable player.
Early Life and Background
Jonathan Marchessault grew up in Cap-Rouge, a community in the Quebec City region, where hockey is woven into daily life. As a youth, he played in the 2003 and 2004 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournaments with a minor ice hockey team from Rive-Nord, Quebec, an early sign of the talent that would eventually carry him to the professional ranks.
Marchessault played his entire junior ice hockey career with the Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), joining the team as a 16-year-old for the 2007–08 season after being drafted by them in the 12th round. In 2009–10, he won the Gaétan Duchesne Trophy as the QMJHL’s best defensive player and was later named Player of the Week in both the QMJHL and the Canadian Hockey League.
During his final junior season in 2010–11, Marchessault served as Quebec’s alternate captain and finished sixth in QMJHL regular-season scoring while leading the league with 11 game-winning goals. He also led the QMJHL in playoff scoring even though Quebec was eliminated in the semifinals, becoming the first player to top playoff scoring without playing in the final round. He was later named a QMJHL First Team All-Star.
Path to Hockey
Not having been selected in any NHL Entry Draft, Marchessault signed his first professional contract on June 23, 2011, with the Connecticut Whale, the New York Rangers’ AHL affiliate, on the recommendation of Dean Stork, then coach of the ECHL’s Greenville Road Warriors. He joined former Remparts teammates Ryan Bourque and Kelsey Tessier within the Rangers organization and began his professional career in 2011–12.
In his second professional game, on October 9, 2011, Marchessault scored the game-winning shootout goal against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. He scored his first professional non-shootout goal on October 22 against the Springfield Falcons and finished his rookie AHL campaign tied for the Whale team lead with 64 points, pacing the club with 40 assists and 24 goals.
After declining to re-sign with the Whale, Marchessault signed a three-year entry-level contract as a free agent with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He spent the following season with Columbus’ AHL affiliate, the Springfield Falcons, where he led the team in scoring and was named a First Team AHL All-Star, laying the groundwork for his eventual NHL breakthrough.
Jonathan Marchessault Career
Early Career (2011–2015)
Marchessault spent his first three professional seasons moving between AHL affiliates and brief NHL looks. On March 5, 2014, he was traded with Dalton Smith to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Dana Tyrell and Matt Taormina, beginning a new chapter within the Lightning organization.
On April 11, 2015, Tampa Bay recalled Marchessault from the Syracuse Crunch to replace an ill Jonathan Drouin in the final game of the regular season. That night, he scored his first career NHL goal and point in a 3–2 shootout victory over the visiting Boston Bruins and was named the game’s first star. He later made his Stanley Cup playoff debut in a 4–1 Lightning win over the Montreal Canadiens, appearing as a Black Aces replacement after Ryan Callahan’s emergency appendectomy.
Tampa Bay Lightning Breakthrough (2015–2016)
After re-signing with the Lightning on a one-year, two-way contract on June 28, 2015, Marchessault split 2015–16 between Tampa Bay and Syracuse. He appeared in two NHL regular-season games and recorded one goal, while also playing 68 AHL games with Syracuse, where he ranked sixth in the league in assists with 43.
The season gave Marchessault his first sustained taste of NHL action and set the stage for his breakout the following year. Although his time in Tampa Bay was brief, the experience helped establish him as a dangerous offensive contributor at the top level.
Florida Panthers Breakout (2016–2017)
On July 1, 2016, Marchessault left Tampa Bay as a free agent and signed a two-year, one-way contract with the Florida Panthers. In 2016–17, he got off to a quick offensive start and produced a true breakout season in his first full NHL campaign, leading the Panthers with 30 goals and 51 points in 75 games. He became the first Panthers player to reach the 30-goal mark since David Booth in 2008–09.
Vegas Golden Knights Era (2017–2024)
On June 21, 2017, after being exposed by Florida, Marchessault was selected by the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft. On January 3, 2018, he signed a six-year, $30 million contract extension and immediately became one of the franchise’s offensive cornerstones.
In the Golden Knights’ inaugural 2017–18 season, Marchessault recorded 75 points in the regular season and added 21 points in the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs, leading the team with eight postseason goals as Vegas became the first expansion team to reach the Stanley Cup Finals in their inaugural season since the St. Louis Blues in 1968.
Over the following seasons, Marchessault continued to produce at a high level, scoring 25 goals with 34 assists in 2018–19 and netting his first career playoff hat trick against the Colorado Avalanche on June 6, 2021, in Game 4 of the second round. In 2021–22, he equalled his career high in goals and led Vegas in points, serving as the team’s representative at the 2022 NHL All-Star Game.
The 2022–23 campaign marked the high point of Marchessault’s career. After scoring 28 goals and 57 points in the regular season, he found another gear in the playoffs. He scored a natural hat trick in Game 6 of the second round to eliminate the Edmonton Oilers and recorded a late tying goal in Game 2 of the conference finals against the Dallas Stars. The Golden Knights reached the Stanley Cup Finals for the second time in franchise history and defeated the Florida Panthers in five games to win the Stanley Cup. Marchessault tied Leon Draisaitl for the playoff goal-scoring lead with 13 goals and finished with 25 points, earning the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. He became the 10th undrafted player to win the award and the first since Wayne Gretzky in 1988.
In 2023–24, Marchessault posted a career-high 42 goals for the Golden Knights before leaving as a free agent.
Nashville Predators Era (2024–Present)
Following the 2023–24 season, Marchessault signed a five-year, $27.5 million contract with the Nashville Predators on July 1, 2024, beginning a new chapter of his career in the Central Division.
Driving Style and Strengths
Marchessault is known for his quick release, offensive instincts, and ability to generate chances from the perimeter and around the net. Despite being listed at 5’9″ and 184 pounds, he plays with a physical edge and is willing to go to high-traffic areas, making him a difficult matchup for opposing defenders in five-on-five play and on the power play.
Notable Events and Milestones
Signature moments include his Conn Smythe-winning performance in the 2023 Stanley Cup Finals, his natural hat trick against Edmonton in the 2023 second round, and his Game 7 tying goal against San Jose in 2019. He also won the Gaétan Duchesne Trophy and was named a QMJHL First Team All-Star in junior.
Jonathan Marchessault Career Wins
Jonathan Marchessault has built an impressive trophy case since turning professional in 2011, headlined by the 2023 Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe Trophy with the Vegas Golden Knights.
NHL Highlights
Marchessault’s top NHL achievements include the 2023 Stanley Cup championship with Vegas and the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. He led the Panthers with 30 goals in 2016–17, was the Golden Knights’ representative at the 2022 NHL All-Star Game, and registered a career-high 42 goals in 2023–24.
Other Wins and Performances
In junior, Marchessault won the Gaétan Duchesne Trophy as the QMJHL’s best defensive player in 2009–10 and was named a QMJHL First Team All-Star in 2010–11. Internationally, he won a silver medal with Canada at the 2019 World Championship, recording three goals and seven assists in 10 games.
Jonathan Marchessault Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Marchessault was known as Jonathan Audy-Marchessault early in his career. He dropped Audy from his legal surname in 2013 in order to shorten it for his child.
Personal Life
Marchessault and his wife have four children. The family resides in Summerlin, Nevada.
2025 Season Performance
Jonathan Marchessault entered the 2024–25 season with the Nashville Predators after signing a five-year, $27.5 million contract on July 1, 2024. The move gave him a fresh start on a young, retooling roster looking to climb back into playoff contention in the Western Conference.
Throughout the season, Marchessault has continued to serve as a top-six offensive catalyst, leaning on his quick release and power-play creativity to drive Nashville’s attack. His veteran presence has been a steadying influence in the dressing room, helping the Predators integrate new talent alongside established core pieces.
Looking ahead, Marchessault’s playoff experience and Conn Smythe pedigree make him a key figure in Nashville’s push for a postseason return, and his goal-scoring touch will remain central to the Predators’ outlook as the 2024–25 campaign progresses.