Can the Vegas Golden Knights Afford Jonathan Marchessault and Chandler Stephenson?
Jonathan Marchessault Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
The Vegas Golden Knights’ reign as Stanley Cup champions ended Sunday in a 2-1 loss to the Dallas Stars in Game 7 of their first-round series. GM Kelly McCrimmon enters the off-season facing difficult decisions about Jonathan Marchessault and Chandler Stephenson.
The Hockey News’ Julian Gaudio noted those two are among six notable Golden Knights eligible to become UFAs on July 1. The others include Anthony Mantha, Alec Martinez, William Carrier and Michael Amadio.
Marchessault is among the few remaining members of the original Golden Knights. The 33-year-old winger is completing a six-year contract with an average annual value of $5 million.
McCrimmon and Marchessault’s agent reportedly agreed in March to wait until the end of the season to begin formal contract extension discussions. That was before the Vegas GM signed trade deadline pickup Noah Hanifin to an eight-year, $58.8-million extension.
Stephenson, 30, has developed into a reliable two-way, second-line forward. He’s finishing a four-year deal with a cap hit of $2.75 million.
Both played key roles in the Golden Knights’ march to the 2023 Stanley Cup, with Marchessault winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. They’ll want raises given their efforts in the club’s success.
ESPN.com’s Ryan S. Clark pointed out the Golden Knights’ limited salary-cap space will complicate McCrimmon’s efforts to retain either player. They’re carrying a projected cap space of $1.797 million with 20 active roster players under contract for next season.
McCrimmon will get an additional $5 million of wiggle room if Robin Lehner remains on long-term injury reserve for next season. Even then, he’ll have to shed some salary to retain Marchessault and Stephenson.
McCrimmon may have no intention of bringing either player back. Ed Graney of the Las Vegas Review-Journal observed the Golden Knights have previously parted ways with beloved former players.
In 2021, McCrimmon traded goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury to the Chicago Blackhawks. Two years later, he shipped winger Reilly Smith to the Pittsburgh Penguins just over two weeks after they won the Stanley Cup.