NHL: Jonathan Marchesault received the Conn-Smythe Award

Vegas Golden Knights forward Jonathan Marchesault received the Cone-Smith Trophy after winning the Stanley Cup on Tuesday.

With 13 goals through the playoff run, Kipker finished tied for the lead in the current playoffs with Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draistel. His 25 points is just one less than the leader this spring, his teammate Jacques Eichel. He shone with 20 assists and 26 points during the playoffs.

“To have a nice trophy. But winning a trophy isn’t the story of one player, it’s the whole team. The trophy could have gone to anyone. It’s a great honor, but the Stanley Cup was my goal,” Marquessault modestly explained on the ice after the win.

With the help of an assist on Nicholas Hague’s first-half goal in the 9-3 win, Marchesault had at least 1 point in 10^H A back-to-back game has never happened before for a Knights player, either in the regular season or in the playoffs. In the final match, against the Florida Panthers, he made four goals and as many assists in five matches.

He is the first player from Quebec to win the tournament, which is awarded to the most valuable player in the playoffs, since Jean-Sebastien Giguere with the Anaheim Ducks in 2003.

The 32-year-old Marchesault saw the Golden Knights defeated in the Stanley Cup Final in 2018 by the Washington Capitals. He then finished the playoffs with 21 points in 20 games.

“It’s a very good choice for Conn-Smythe; I think there wouldn’t have been anything else,” teammate Nicholas Roy argued.

“He deserved it from A to Z. Jonathan was always an A winner… When we needed someone important, he was there for us. He is also one of our great leaders. I think there was no other possible option. »

Con-Smith Racing’s Capt. Mark Stone was never to be forgotten. With a hat trick in Game 5, he brought his goal totals to 11 and his points to 24 going into the playoffs.

Knights goaltender Adin Hill also had a memorable streak with a record of 11 wins against four losses, coming in relief after Laurent Brossoit was injured during the series against the Edmonton Oilers.

Marchessault was passed in the NHL Entry Draft. After two games with the Columbus Blue Jackets, then 47 with the Tampa Bay Lightning, he emerged in a 30-goal season with the Panthers in 2016-17. Then he found himself with the Golden Knights when they reached the NHL.

“It was definitely not a good track,” he said, laughing. It was longer than expected. I don’t think I would have made it this far if I didn’t have this course. It helped me mentally and I’m just happy.”

Marchessault has since become the team’s all-time leading scorer, with 348 points in 432 games.