- According to oddsmakers, Jonathan Marchessault is an overwhelming favorite to win the NHL Stanley Cup Final MVP award.
- The 32-year-old forward has played a prominent role for the Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
- The Vegas Golden Knights are only one win away from winning their first Stanley Cup in franchise history.
The Vegas Golden Knights are closing in on the Stanley Cup in large part because of a huge team effort. However, there has been one player that has been more visible on the ice than the rest. Jonathan Marchessault is the odds-on favorite to win the 2023 Conn Smythe Trophy at -600 odds.
Marchessault was a member of the original Golden Knights roster in 2017-18. In their inaugural season, Marchessault and the Golden Knights reached the Stanley Cup Final against the Washington Capitals.
While the Golden Knights didnāt get the result they were looking for, it was a record-breaking and memorable first season in Las Vegas. Six years after arriving in Las Vegas, Marchessault is back in the Stanley Cup Final with the Golden Knights.
Currently, the Golden Knights have a 3-1 series advantage over the Florida Panthers. The Panthers were put through a gauntlet to reach this point. They defeated the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Carolina Hurricanes to get to this spot.
At one point, all of the teams that they beat were favored to win the Stanley Cup. However, the effort of Marchessault and this Golden Knights squad has been too much to handle thus far for the Panthers.
Marchessault On Fire In The Stanley Cup Playoffs
There are two logical choices to win the 2023 Conn Smythe Trophy. Three if you want to look at this series through a larger lens. If the Golden Knights close out the Panthers, Marchessault and goaltender Adin Hill are going to be prime options. But, don’t forget about Jack Eichel, as well.
However, with -600 odds to win the Conn Smythe at Bovada, it appears that the verdict is already in. According to the numbers, Marchessault is the easiest choice for voters. He has been hot through the Playoffs and it has continued in the NHL championship series.
JONATHAN MARCHESSAULT JUST KEEPS SCORING š³
His 13th goal of the postseason, all coming in his last 13 games! pic.twitter.com/0OT1etuf1D
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 9, 2023
In 21 games this postseason, Marchessault has scored 13 goals and 11 assists for a total of 24 points. Additionally, the native of Cap-Rouge, Quebec, has recorded a +/- of 16. When Marchessault has been on the ice, good things have occurred for the Golden Knights.
Through Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final, Marchessault has posted four goals and three assists. Objectively, Marchessault is playing the best hockey for the Golden Knights in the Playoffs. Eichel, who is +1200 to win the Conn Smythe, has set Marchessault up nicely in this series.
What About Jack Eichel and Adin Hill?
Eichel has racked up a staggering 24 assists through 21 games in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Finding Marchessault for top scoring chances has been his best contribution against the Panthers.
Without Eichelās playmaking ability, Marchessault is not scoring at this incredible clip. In addition to the 24 assists, Eichel has scored seven goals in the Playoffs. Overall, against the Panthers, he has compiled five assists to lead the Golden Knights.
It will be tough for Eichel to capture the Conn Smythe despite his terrific work. He will be one of the unsung heroes of the Stanley Cup Final for the Golden Knights. Another player who has to be in the MVP conversation is goaltender Adin Hill.
The Adin Hill save heard around the world. š #StanleyCup
(via IG/nhleurope) pic.twitter.com/j4qYikKoTU
— NHL (@NHL) June 5, 2023
Without a few timely stops by Hill early in the series, we may not be discussing a 3-1 lead for the Golden Knights. Hill was an outcast suddenly thrown into this role because of injuries.
The former Arizona Coyote had a 2.50 GAA and 0.915 save percentage in 27 games as a backup in the regular season. Across 15 playoff games, Hill owns a 2.11 GAA and 0.934 save percentage. The Golden Knights do not reach this stage if it isnāt for Hill.
However, Hill is facing tough odds to win the Conn Smythe. Largely due to Marchessaultās hot streak in the Playoffs, Hill is +800 to win the award. If the scoring was more balanced for the Golden Knights, Hill would likely have better odds right now.
While the odds don’t look promising for Hill, he can still win the Conn Smythe. For that to occur, it might require Hill getting a big shutout to win the Stanley Cup.
Marchessault Is An Original Golden Knight
There are just seven players remaining from the expansion roster in 2017-2018. Along with Marchessault, William Karlsson, Brayden McNabb, William Carrier, Reilly Smith, Shea Theodore, and Zach Whitecloud were on the original Golden Knights roster.
Marchessault was drafted eighth by the Golden Knights in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft. He likely has an added incentive to play well during the Stanley Cup Final. The organization that made him available in the expansion draft was the Panthers.
The Conn Smythe favorite spent one season with the Panthers after one year in Columbus and two in Tampa Bay. Marchessault showed promise with 30 goals and 21 assists, but his time was short lived in Sunrise.
The decision by the Panthers has worked out extremely well for Marchessault. He is in his second Stanley Cup Final and a win away from hoisting Lord Stanley’s Cup.
It comes at the perfect time for Marchessault, too. In 2024, Marchessault is set to become an unrestricted free agent after his six-year $30 million contract expires.
Could Marchessault have a Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe Trophy to bring to the bargaining table next year? According to Bovada, it is certainly looking like the case.
