Jonathan Marchessault
A late-blooming forward who went from undrafted free agent to the heart and soul of Vegas's improbable Stanley Cup championship run.
Born 1990 (age 36)·Canadian ice hockey player·Birthday: December 27·Millennials
Biography
Jonathan Marchessault's path to hockey's summit was anything but straightforward. Undrafted and overlooked, he clawed his way through the minors and brief NHL stints, his undeniable offensive skill often battling perceptions about his size. His career found its true north in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft, when the fledgling Vegas Golden Knights selected him. In the desert, Marchessault transformed from a journeyman into an indispensable engine of offense and attitude. He became the emotional core of a team that defied all logic, charging to the Stanley Cup Final in its inaugural season. That story reached its ultimate climax in 2023, when Marchessault, the original 'Misfit,' led the charge to hoist the Cup, earning the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP for his clutch, relentless performance.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Jonathan was born in 1990, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jonathan Was Born
The biggest hits of 1990
#1 Movie
Home Alone
Best Picture
Dances with Wolves
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Jonathan's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1990Born
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1995Started school
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2003Became a teenager
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Could drive
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2008Could vote
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2011Turned 21
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2020Turned 30
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 36 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs.
- Led the Vegas Golden Knights in scoring during their historic 2023 Stanley Cup championship season.
- Scored 13 goals in the 2023 playoffs, a key driver in the Knights' championship run.
- Recorded a career-high 75 points (28 goals, 47 assists) in the 2021-22 NHL season.
Did You Know?
He was the first player signed by the Vegas Golden Knights in franchise history.
He went undrafted in the NHL and played major junior hockey in the QMJHL for the Quebec Remparts.
He and his wife, Alexandra, have twins named James and Victoria.
He is one of a select group of players to win the Conn Smythe Trophy while not being a first-round draft pick.
“We were a team of misfits, and we proved everyone wrong.”
