Do you know the old saying, "the grass isn't always greener on the other side?" It's supposed to represent moves that appear to be in our best interests. However, these can blow up in our faces, making us regret our very decisions.
Well, it seems a Golden Misfit is learning that lesson the hard way. Jonathan Marchessault had an interesting report about his current status with the Nashville Predators.
"I think in a perfect world, he would love to go to the Montreal Canadiens and go home. I don’t know how open they are to that, given the term on his deal. But you can see him helping a pretty good offence already to take that next step. He seems like a true Marty St. Louis type player, doesn’t he?"Frank Seravalli
Not even a couple of years in and it seems like the former Conn Smythe winner is already having second thoughts. The Predators finished 2024-25 with 68 points and a record of 30-44-8. That included five straight losses to start the season, burying them in a deep hole.
Marchessault himself saw a massive dip in production, scoring 21 goals and 35 assists. Those 21 goals are 14 fewer than Pavel Dorofeyev's total, who stepped into the sniping role nicely in Vegas.
But let's go back to the "grass isn't always greener on the other side" wisdom for a second. No, I'm not talking about the stuff that Snoop Dogg or Willie Nelson smokes, either. I'm talking about the saying itself. What does it teach us about making decisions that ultimately haunt our best interests?
Learning about haphazard decisions featuring Jonathan Marchessault
Golden Knights fans remember what happened between Jonathan Marchessault and Kelly McCrimmon during the summer of 2024. It was a case of contract talks breaking down, where the winger decided to suffer through Tennessee's college football scene with Steven Stamkos.
There was the endless array of "he said, he said" banter that left fans torn apart. On one hand, they were coming after McCrimmon with torches and pitchforks. On the other hand, fans called Marchessault various names, including accusations of him being selfish.
It wasn't the prettiest of sights, considering the beloved Misfit hurt his reputation regarding his son's peewee hockey adventures. Plus, the team wants to win another Stanley Cup. Why give a five-year deal to somebody who'll be 38 once the deal's finished?
That's what will make a potential reunion more complicated. Even with half his salary retained, it isn't worth keeping a player who's slowly becoming a liability around. The Golden Knights already have aging players such as Alex Pietrangelo (35), Mark Stone (33), and William Karlsson (32) sticking around for a couple of years. Why add another?
The moral of the story? The green isn't always greener on the other side. Sometimes, it helps to carefully think things through and make some concessions. Otherwise, you'll burn the bridges that you once cherished. That's a lose-lose situation that nobody wants to be in, including McCrimmon.