Seeing Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault together may be a new and exciting experience for Nashville Predators fans, but it isn’t the first time the two have played on the same team or been on the ice together.
Nashville is the second team Stamkos has played for in his 17-year career, but it is Marchessault’s fifth. Stamkos’ only other team was the Tampa Bay Lightning, which he captained for many years and won two Stanley Cups and two Rocket Richard Trophies. As for Marchessault, he had stops with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Lightning, Florida Panthers and Vegas Golden Knights before landing with the Predators.
However, there was a little crossover for the two in Tampa Bay. In 2014-15, Marchessault played just two games for the Lightning and scored one goal. He spent most of the season (68 games) in the AHL for the Syracuse Crunch, scoring 24 goals and recording 67 points. He has more than earned his first NHL appearance with Tampa Bay. Stamkos played a whopping 82 games that season, so two games were spent together, but only 3:25 of ice time. They were on the ice for one goal up and zero against in that very limited time together.
The following season, in 2015/16, Stamkos played some more with Marchessault. While Stamkos was already established and in his eighth full season in the NHL, Marchessault had played just four games to that point. The two also happen to be the same age, but the development was very different between a first overall pick and an undrafted player.
Marchessault played 45 games for the Lightning, while Stamkos appeared in 77 games. The two spent a combined 83 minutes on the ice on the power play, scoring 14 goals, but only 22 minutes on the ice simultaneously at even strength. The analyzes were all positive when Stamkos and Marchessault played together nine years ago, but were defeated 3-0 in those 22 minutes.
Marchessault was on the verge of breaking out and did so the following season with the Panthers. As each of their careers went, it didn’t seem very likely that the two would reunite on the same team, only to end up on the same page and playing at the top level.
If the past is any indication as to how the season will go for the two, the veterans, second line and power play are in for a lot of success.
Related: Marchessault proves to be well worth the predators’ investment
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