Former Lightning foward Jonathan Marchessault proving himself with Florida

by Erik Erlendsson | @Erik_Erlendsson | Like us on Facebook
January 26, 2017

SUNRISE, Fla. – When Jonathan Marchessault left the Lightning organization over the summer, it was not the team’s choice to let skilled winger depart.

As an unrestricted free agent, Marchessault sought an opportunity for an expanded role, an opportunity to show that he could be a difference maker. It’s a role that Tampa Bay was unable to guarantee the former undrafted winger.

So Marchessault moved down the state and signed a two-year deal with the Florida Panthers, seeking the chance to play more. And when opportunity came knocking, he jumped right past the threshold and has been an important part of his team team.

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”Tampa Bay gave him the first (opportunity) last year so he should be very thankful for that because it gave the rest of the league to be able to watch him,’’ Florida coach/general manager Tom Rowe said. “And we liked him an awful lot, and now that he’s here, if we didn’t have him at the beginning of the year, especially when (Jonathan) Huberdeau went down, we might be in a bigger hole than we are right now. So he’s been a huge asset to use and real good guy to have around. He’s been great to have around.’’

Marchessault is second on the Panthers with 13 goals and 30 points and is tied for the team-lead with three game-winning goals as he thrives in his now expanded role.

”I think I’ve got an important role here and I could not be more happy to be where I’m at right now,’’ Marchessault said. “I didn’t know what kind of a role I would have right away, but injuries were a big part of that this year, but playing on a third line and power play is a role that I wanted at the beginning of the year. I was able to get it and after the injuries came in, guys had to step up and I think I was one of them. So it’s been good.’’

When the Panthers were struck with injures that have taken out both Nick Bjugstad and Huberdeau, and more recently top center Sasha Barkov, Marchessault was conscious about the chance to step in to a top-six role and made sure he gave himself the best opportunity to showcase his game.

”I was thinking that was my chance this year and I had to take it,’’ he said. “I was able to and right now I can’t go back, I have to keep thinking about going forward one more. As of our now our team is not doing so good, so everybody wants to be able to do more.’’

And that’s where Marchessault wants to keep pushing himself, to find another level of play to prove he can handled the expanded role as more than just a fill-in with injuries.

”You have to be smart and every game I know that opponents want to, not watch me, but play hard against guys like me,’’ Marchessault said. “It’s just adversity, every game is a new adversity and I want to respond to it and obviously it’s been getting harder and harder, you just need to keep finding a way.’’

Lightning head coach Jon Cooper said he’s not surprised by the success Marchessault had found with his new club.

”He was a popular teammate just with his personality and the way he is in the room, we really enjoyed having him around,’’ Cooper said. “I understand why he went somewhere else, players in the end have to look after themselves and he saw an opportunity here and he seized it.

“You cheer for guys like Marchy who plugged around in the minors and it was a lot of fun to coach him. I just wish he would have went to a team other than the one right down the street.’’.

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