Conn Smythe Trophy 2023: Jonathan Marchessault Wins Coveted Award

The Vegas Golden Knights won the Stanley Cup Finals on Tuesday night, beating the Florida Panthers 9-3 in Game 5.

And Jonathan Marchessault—who finished second this postseason with 25 points (13 goals, 12 assists, behind only teammate Jack Eichel (26 points)—was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player during the playoffs:

A number of players on Vegas made a strong case.

There was Eichel, who led all players in scoring. Mark Stone was tied for third in scoring this postseason (24 points), capping off a fantastic run with a hat trick on Tuesday. Goalie Adin Hill went 11-4 in the playoffs with two shutouts and eight games with 30 or more saves.

But few people took much issue with Marchessault—one of the truly great stories in the NHL, given his background as a player who went undrafted and was claimed by Vegas in its expansion draft—claiming the award:

The 32-year-old Marchessault has been a solid regular-season performer in his six seasons in Vegas, notching 28 goals and 29 assists in the 2022-23 campaign. But he comes alive in the playoffs, with 34 goals and 36 assists across 87 playoff games for the Golden Knights.

These playoffs were the second time in five playoff appearances with Vegas that he recorded 20 or more points.

So yes, let the party begin for Marchessault and his teammates:

It was appropriate that Marchessault—one of the six original Golden Knights still on the roster who are aptly named the "Misfits"—earned this prestigious award. He went from being unwanted at the draft to one of the unprotected players snagged by Vegas in the expansion draft.

A number of teams would certainly want him now.