After losing in the Eastern Conference Final for the second year in a row, the New York Rangers clearly need a key player or two to help them reach the next level. Consider Vegas Golden Knights forward Jonathan Marchessault, who is now an unrestricted free agent. Marchessault may have an impact as a top-six right wing, whether he plays alongside Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider or on any new line combination. This goes against the idea that the Rangers need to acquire younger, larger, and stronger players.
In his eleventh season with the Golden Knights, Marchessault scored a career-high 42 goals, the highest total in his NHL career. He was just short of his career record of 75 points with 69 points in the final tally. Seven times he has scored 20 goals, and three times he has scored 30 or more. The Rangers would greatly benefit from his consistency and durability.
Marchessault has also shown that he can contribute in the playoffs. In 2023, while playing for the Golden Knights, he not only won the Stanley Cup but was also awarded the playoffs’ most valuable player (Conn Smythe Trophy). Marchessault has posted a plus-37 rating and 76 points (36 goals, 40 assists) in 102 career postseason games. Even when the going gets tough, Marchessault shows no signs of letting his small stature (5 feet 9 inches, 185 pounds) hold him back.
While winning the Conn Smythe Trophy, he played in 22 games, scored three game-winning goals, had a plus-17 rating, and finished with 25 points. After losing in the playoffs again, the Rangers could have used a similar showing.
