Jonathan Marchessault is doing everything right these days.
He's among the NHL's league leaders in goals (five) and points (10), surrounded by heavy hitters: Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, Brad Marchand, Steven Stamkos, Joe Pavelski, Shea Weber, Brent Burns, and Claude Giroux. In addition to producing, Marchessault, officially second in league scoring, is saying the right things, too.
"It don't mean anything if you don't win at the end," the 25-year-old said after his first career multi-goal game in a 3-2 loss against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday, according to Sports Illustrated's Joshua Kloke.
Here are three things you need to know about Marchessault, who you probably hadn't heard of until about a week ago:
1. Undrafted
Marchessault's name wasn't called during the 2011 NHL Draft, despite leading the Quebec Ramparts in scoring in 2010-11, with 40 goals and 95 points in 68 games. He added 11 goals and a league-leading 33 points in 18 playoff games.
After signing an AHL deal with the Connecticut Whale, Marchessault quickly proved he could score at the minor-league level, with 24 goals in 76 games in 2011-12. And his impressive maiden season led to an entry-level contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Marchessault scored another 21 goals in 2012-13, finishing with a career-high 67 points in the minors. He played two pointless games with the Blue Jackets.
He was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning at the 2014 trade deadline, eventually scoring his first NHL goal with the club. He played 45 games with the Lightning last season, scoring seven goals and adding 11 assists.
The Panthers signed Marchessault as a free agent on July 1, to a two-year, $1.5-million deal, which is looking like one of the best of the offseason. It's fair to say Florida probably didn't expect this kind of production, but the Panthers will certainly accept it.
2. Small and skilled
Marchessault is listed at 5-foot-9 and 174 pounds. For comparison's sake, his former teammate Tyler Johnson is 5-foot-8 and 183 pounds. In other words, Marchessault is part of the transition the league is making toward smaller and more skilled forwards. Today's game is all about speed and pace, and if you can't keep up, you're no good.
Early on this season, it appears Marchessault has something to offer.
The kid's proven his chops when it comes to production. He ripped up the QMJHL as he got older, and finished as his team's leading scorer as soon as he arrived in the AHL. He finished sixth in the league in assists in 2014-15, racking up 43. He's got the vision, and the offensive talent.
"Every year I was a surprise," Marchessault told Sportsnet's Luke Fox this week. "I fuel off people that don't believe."
Doubted every step of the way, Marchessault is clearly reveling in proving people wrong. As he should be.
"It wasn't the easiest path I had, but it was a different one," he said. "I made it here."
3. Opportunity knocked
Marchessault answered.
Jonathan Huberdeau's ankle injury meant a vacancy on the Panthers' top line with Aleksander Barkov and Jaromir Jagr. And Marchessault has done more than simply run with it.
"In life you make your chances," he said. "If you work hard, good things can happen to you. It's a process."
One Marchessault clearly trusts. And as he learns to play with Barkov and Jagr, and they learn to play with him, the process will continue to bear fruit.
"It's going to go better," he said.
At this point, Jonathan Marchessault deserves the benefit of the doubt.
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