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Marchessault, who has been with the Golden
Knights since their inaugural 2017-18 season, is the first
undrafted player to win the award since Hall of Famer Wayne
Gretzky in 1988.
The 32-year-old Canadian tied for the NHL lead with 13 goals
during the postseason and ranked second with 25 points. All of
his goals came over a 13-game span from the second round through
the Stanley Cup Final triumph over Florida.
Marchessault was awarded the trophy after a vote by a panel of
the Professional Hockey Writers Association, emerging from a
cast of contenders that included his team mates Mark Stone and
Jack Eichel.
"It is the most proud group I ever had and I'm so happy what
we've done this year," said Marchessault. "It's just a surreal
feeling, it's a tough trophy (the Stanley Cup) to have.
"That other trophy (the Conn Smythe) is great but to get here
and the Stanley Cup you need the whole organization to be great
and it could have went to anyone of those guys.
"Just happy to be part of it."
Marchessault, who was not selected in the NHL Entry Draft,
signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets as a free agent in 2012.
He was traded to Tampa Bay Lightning in 2014 and then spent one
season with the Panthers.
But after Florida left Marchessault available in the expansion
draft the Golden Knights scooped him up and watched him blossom
into a regular threat.
(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Additional reporting by
Steve Keating; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
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