Jonathan Marchessault
ON-ICE VALUE
Top-Six Forward
STRENGTHS
Vision: Marchessault sees the ice and distributes the puck very well. He can quickly identify openings and exploit them with his deft playmaking touch, whether he’s rocketing a puck through a tight seam or feathering a saucer pass into the slot. He’s an intelligent offensive weapon.
Hands: He won’t necessarily dangle through a wave of defenders, but he’s crafty and patient with the puck on his stick. He can outwait you in tight or deke you out of your jockstrap on breakaways. Even under pressure, he displays great poise in possession.
Skating: He’s a shifty jitterbug who thrives on elusiveness rather than raw straight-line speed. This is why he’s effective in cycle scenarios, shifting gears and twisting away from defenders in order to buy time and dissect defenses. He’s quite slippery and determined down low.
WEAKNESSES
Size: It’s tough to impose your will when you stand 5’9” and weigh 180 pounds. Marchessault is frequently bullied in puck and net-front battles, so he’s forced to dip in and out of the frame instead of standing his ground. He’s clever enough to work around this limitation.
Defense: His game is all high-octane offense. He’s constantly on the prowl for an opportunity to attack, cheating for a turnover or flying the zone when his team has yet to complete its defensive stand. His center must be willing to do a lot of heavy lifting because he doesn’t get his hands too dirty.
