Vegas Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon lifted the lid on his decision to let Jonathan Marchessault walk in free agency, explaining that he wasn't open to giving the winger to the five-year deal he got from the Nashville Predators.
"That just wasn't a term we were comfortable in going to," the executive said during an interview on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio. "We emotionally are attached to the players that have helped us have success, and yet there's just no supporting data that justify, or in our minds, demonstrate a reason to have wingers that age like that at the end of their career."
He added: "Jonathan did exactly what he's entitled to do. ... He's at a point in his career where, yes, he really wanted to stay in Las Vegas, but yes, he really wanted to make as much money as he could on his next contract for his family, which is what he did. We did nothing wrong. We made a decision that we weren't comfortable going to five years on a contract, and that's how it ended."
McCrimmon said the Golden Knights offered Marchessault a four-year contract ahead of the 2024 NHL Draft in late June.
However, Marchessault said during a recent appearance on the "Cam and Strick Podcast" that he wanted a four-year deal, but Vegas was only open to signing him for three seasons.
"They didn't want to go anything long term. ... That's the first thing that we were so far (apart on)," he said.
An original Golden Knight, Marchessault is the franchise's all-time leader in games played (514), goals (192), assists (225), and points (417). The 33-year-old won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP while helping Vegas win its first Stanley Cup championship in 2023.
The Golden Knights have built a reputation for being cutthroat in their pursuit of victory. Though Marchessault can understand his old team's mentality, he thinks they can strike a better balance.
"There's only a few guys in the organization that you gotta treat well," he said. "You've gotta know which one you want to treat really well. I think that's something that is lacking in Vegas. Like, have a little bit of loyalty."
Marchessault continued: "I thought I had done good enough in the past seven years for them that I could (get) what I deserved. I was not asking something outrageous, I was not trying to steal the bank or anything like that.
"But it's life and you move on ... and only the future is going to tell us if they were right or no."
Marchessault netted a career-high 42 goals in 82 outings last season. His pact with Nashville carries a $5.5-million cap hit.
