Marchessault wins Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP
Vegas Golden Knights forward Jonathan Marchessault was voted the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as MVP of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs on Tuesday night.
Marchessault ranked second among all skaters this spring with 25 points in 22 games - trailing only teammate Jack Eichel - while his 13 goals tied Edmonton Oilers star Leon Draisaitl for the league lead.
The 32-year-old ended the postseason on a 10-game point streak. He scored eight goals and 15 points over that span.
"This year, I've never had so much fun in my life, honestly," Marchessault said after taking home the hardware, per Sportsnet. "All the guys in the locker room, everybody stepped in at the right time. I'd say it's the most proud group I've ever had, and I'm so happy with what we've done this year."
An original Golden Knight, Marchessault was part of the inaugural 2017-18 team that fell to the Washington Capitals in five games during the Stanley Cup Final.
Marchessault rebounded from that defeat Tuesday, beating the Florida Panthers - his former team - in a dominant 9-3 victory to lift the Stanley Cup for the first time in his career. Vegas selected Marchessault from the Panthers during the 2017 expansion draft.
"It's just a surreal feeling. ... All of us, we're winners," Marchessault said. "(The Conn Smythe) is great, but to get here and get the Stanley Cup, you need the whole organization to be great.
"It could've went to any one of those guys. Just happy to be a part of it."
Marchessault is the Golden Knights' all-time leader in goals (150), assists (198), and points (348) in the regular season.
He's the first undrafted player since Wayne Gretzky to win the Conn Smythe Trophy.