Jonathan Marchessault tears into the Vegas Golden Knights and their culture

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Cooper Godin
September 10, 2024 (6:26 PM)

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Nashville Predators forward Jonathan Marchessault was disappointed with the lack of loyalty from the Vegas Golden Knights ahead of free agency earlier this summer.

After seven years as a member of the Vegas Golden Knights, Jonathan Marchessault's time in Sin City came to an end on July 1st as he agreed to terms on a five-year contract with the Nashville Predators, who also managed to add Steven Stamkos and Brady Skjei on the opening day of free agency.

On Tuesday, Marchessault was a guest on The Cam & Strick Podcast where he spoke about his exit from the Vegas Golden Knights and wasn't too happy with how things went, saying that he's disappointed that he left.

Marchessault said that Vegas has the mentality that they need to be better every year, but they also need to treat people well, something he added is lacking.

"Every year they have the mentality that you need to always get better but at the same time there are a few guys you have to treat well and that is something that is lacking in Vegas." Marchessault said.

He added, "There's definitely no loyalty but at the same time you are there to win. I don't mind that mindset. Obviously I'm disappointed that I left. I thought I've done good enough in the last seven years to deserve what I deserve, but that's life and you move on."

The 33-year-old said that on the weekend leading up to free agency, he called General Manager Kelly McCrimmon and President of Hockey Operations George McPhee to see if they could hammer out a deal.

Understandably given Marchessault's age, the Golden Knights weren't comfortable going long-term with him and offered him a deal in the three-year range, while the forward was seeking four years. Marchessault said that the Golden Knights came back to him the next day saying they couldn't go where he wanted in terms of a contract and that's where things ended, adding that he hasn't talked to either McCrimmon or McPhee since that phone call.

"I called (Kelly) on Friday and (George) on Saturday and when Sunday showed up nothing was budging. They didn't want to go anything long-term, they were in the ballpark of three years, I wanted four. After the next day they were like 'we just can't' so I was like all things come to an end and that's it. There were some offers but nothing to consider really. So, we hung up and still to this day haven't talked to each other." Marchessault said.

At the end of the day, Marchessault is proud of his time as a Golden Knight, winning a Stanley Cup with them in 2023 and said that he has nothing bad to say about Vegas.

"I have nothing bad to say about Vegas for the last seven years."

The Cap-Rouge, Quebec native was taken by the Golden Knights in the 2017 Expansion Draft. Last season, Marchessault was one of only four members of the Golden Knights still apart of the team from that Expansion Draft along with William Carrier (now with Carolina), William Karlsson and Brayden McNabb.

With his time in Vegas now behind him, Marchessault is joining a solid group in Nashville that'll look to make some noise in the Central Division this season.