Marchessault of Golden Knights cherishes playing first NHL All-Star Game
Forward has goal, assist as late addition to event hosted by Vegas
© Ethan Miller/Getty Images
The forward, who leads the Vegas Golden Knights in goals (20) and is second in points (32) this season, wasn't chosen for the original roster for the Pacific Division or voted in as the Golden Knights player on the Last Men In ballot for the 2022 Honda NHL All-Star Game at Vegas' home, T-Mobile Arena.
After he heard this week that he was being added to his first All-Star Game as an extra player for the Pacific, he came home early from a family trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, arriving in Las Vegas on Friday in time to take part in the Honda Accuracy Shooting as part of the 2022 NHL All-Star Skills presented by DraftKings Sportsbook. When he wasn't competing, he was on the bench enjoying it with his four young children.
"It's meant a lot," Marchessault said after he had a goal and an assist in a 6-4 loss to the Metropolitan Division in the first All-Star Game semifinal Saturday. "Obviously I came a long way to be here and [am] pretty happy about it, and obviously happy as a father to give that experience to my kids that I know they'll be able to cherish for the rest of their life, so I think that's the biggest point that makes me the most proud."
Marchessault went undrafted before he was signed by the Columbus Blue Jackets on July 1, 2012. He played five seasons in the American Hockey League before scoring seven goals in 45 games with the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2015-16 season; he had played four NHL games to that point. Marchessault became an NHL regular the following season with the Florida Panthers, scoring 30 goals in 75 games.
"'Marchy' became a really good friend of mine," said Panthers forward and Atlantic Division All-Star Jonathan Huberdeau, who was Marchessault's teammate in 2016-17. "We didn't play together for a long time, but obviously he's a great person and a great player. He didn't get a chance in Tampa, and then with us, he came in and -- I got hurt that year and he kind of took my spot -- he got 30 goals, I think. He's a goal-scorer. His shot is tremendous, and I'm happy for him that he's doing well in Vegas."
After that season, Marchessault was selected by the Golden Knights in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft. He scored an NHL career-high 75 points (27 goals, 48 assists) in 77 games during their inaugural season of 2017-18 to help them reach the Stanley Cup Final, which they lost to the Washington Capitals.
The 31-year-old, who is in his ninth NHL season, is the Vegas leader in games played (321), goals (112), assists (145) and points (257).
"I couldn't be happier for somebody," Golden Knights and Pacific coach Peter DeBoer said. "Just talking to him, what it meant to him, you could tell prior to him leaving for Cabo when it was first mentioned he might be an option, I could tell how important it was for him and then how disappointed he was when he took off and it didn't look like he was going to get in. So I'm sure when he got that call, he would have walked back from Cabo to be in this game.
"Had his kids on the bench with him yesterday in the Skills. It might have been as important to him because of his journey and how he got to the NHL than it was to anybody in this game, so I was really happy for him."
Marchessault was joined on the Pacific team by Vegas teammates, forward Mark Stone and defenseman Alex Pietrangelo.
"I was pretty excited to have one of the of the original guys from the expansion be here and enjoy this experience," Stone said. "It was awesome that he was introduced last and the fans gave him the reception that he deserved. He's been a good ambassador for the city for five full years, so it's pretty cool to have him here and enjoy it with his family as well."
Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid, who was teammates with Marchessault on Saturday, said, "He's a guy that's been here since Day One, and he's been a great player for them and seems to be a crowd favorite, so for him to be able to play today and score [a goal] was I'm sure fun or him."
Marchessault cut the Metropolitan lead to 3-2 with a one-timer in the slot at 2:57 of the second period, then assisted on Stone's goal that made it 6-4 with 22 seconds left. But he had a goal overturned when video review determined the puck did not cross the goal line before the final horn.
"It was a good feeling," Marchessault said of scoring. "Obviously it was pretty easy to put it in there. It was a nice pass (from Leon Draisaitl)."
Marchessault soaked in the All-Star experience and reflected on the significance of the Golden Knights hosting the event.
"The first year, we didn't know if we were going to win 10 games," he said, "we didn't know if we were going to have a sold-out barn and all that stuff, and look where we are now. We have the All-Star Game here, so I think the city, the organization, came a long way. We did a lot of good things. It's great for the city that it came here, and I think people are happy."
NHL.com senior fantasy editor Pete Jensen contributed to this report
