Jonathan Marchessault
This loss hurts quite a bit because Jonathan Marchessault was also a key component of the man advantage. His efficient play as a sniper made the Vegas Golden Knights much better, giving fans hope in the unit. Now that he's off to Nashville with his cowboy boots and ten-gallon hat, Vegas has a void to address.
How so? Last season, Marchessault scored eight goals (second on the Golden Knights in 2023-24) and nine assists (tied for fourth on the team in 2023-24). With eight of his 42 goals coming on the man advantage, those are big shoes to fill for names like Alexander Holtz. Regardless, his contributions helped Vegas make the Stanley Cup playoffs, where they came within a game of advancing to the second round.
Whether the Golden Knights address that void through a big trade (i.e. Mitch Marner) or signing a big name in free agency next summer (i.e. Mikko Rantanen or Leon Draisaitl) remains to be seen. But there's no doubt the "Original Misfit" will be missed, especially with the power play and overall production (franchise leader in goals with 192 and assists with 225).