Marc-Andre Fleury

Jonathan Marchessault

The Golden Knights' last regular season game began with a moment of silence for the Humboldt victims.As for the action on the ice, the Flames scorched the Knights 7-1.The good news is that Reilly Smith played his first game since March 6th in Columbus. The team looks ready for the playoffs with the only remaining injury questions being David Perron and Luca Sbisa. We'll find out more about Perron and Sbisa at practice over the next couple days -- Perron is particularly essential to their success.We also know that Vegas will be facing Los Angeles in the first round.I'll have a preview in a couple days, but I like the Knights in this series. The Kings are a star-laden, top-heavy bunch -- certainly Anze Kopitar or Jeff Carter or Drew Doughty or Jonathan Quick can take over a series. Kopitar, especially, will flummox the Golden Knights. But I think Vegas's ability to roll four, fast lines will overcome LA.***In January, Jonathan Marchessault signed a somewhat surprising six-year, $30 million dollar extension.At the time, the 27-year-old UFA-to-be was averaging a point a game, and the general belief was that he left money on the table. It's not too often point-per-game players that young become available on the open market.Marchessault agreed that, countering, "But I liked it here."Also surprising was Marchessault's revelation that he intentionally matched AAVs with teammate Reilly Smith. Smith inked a five-year, $25 million dollar deal with the Florida Panthers in 2016."I think he's probably the most valuable player to our team," said Marchessault. "I told him that I respect him a lot. I wanted the same thing as him."In my mind, this has been one of the most underpublicized Golden Knights stories this season. There's been a lot of talk about how special a team the Knights are -- and with one stroke of the pen, Marchessault proved it."That's indicative of a player really buying into the notion of 'team',". Provenzano was George McPhee's Assistant General Manager in Washington from 1997-2004. "You're really buying into it when you're talking about what you're getting paid. That's literally putting your money where your mouth is."Marchessault's example cuts through all sports, especially those with a salary cap."Why have the New England Patriots been so successful?," asked Provenzano. "Because their best player -- the one constant there has been Tom Brady. They've always been able to give themselves salary flexibility by him [taking less]."When your best player is doing that, how do players down the line-up not do it?"Marchessault has continued to produce at a point-per-game pace, and the Knights have kept winning. On the eve of the expansion side's post-season opener, I revisited the playmaker's sacrifice with Marchessault and Marc-Andre Fleury.Fleury's insight is particularly valuable, as his superstar teammates Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin both gave up money when they signed their respective long-term extensions in 2012 and 2013. Fleury himself signed a club-friendly deal in 2014.Since Crosby agreed to a 12-year, $104 million dollar deal in June 2012, the Penguins have never missed the post-season and have claimed two Stanley Cups.Marc-Andre Fleury: I think Jonathan could've waited until the summer.But I know he loves the town, team, coaches, and staff. I know he wanted to stay here for a long time.What Sid and Geno did for the team back in Pittsburgh, that was great, because we were able to keep signing guys every year. It gives you a chance to win.MAF: Yeah, yeah.Between us, we don't really talk contract or money.But people know though. Yeah, you're aware. You're aware of what a guy got and what he could've got. Everybody's entitled to get your money. But when your teammates make the step to help the team, it's always [good].MAF: I think so. How quickly it got done, instead of waiting for maybe bigger offers in the summer. Shows how committed he is to the team. I think everybody sees that in the room.MAF: We're fortunate. We're still making great money. At the end of the day, you have a lot more fun when you win games.Jonathan Marchessault: That's part of what I wanted to do. I respect guys like Crosby and Malkin who take less money to have a better team every year. And you see they're winning.That's something, as an organization, we wanted to bring here. I was one of the first contracts to get extended. Same with Nabber. He's a shutdown, first-pairing guy for us. He probably took less money too.That's an example we want to have here. Hopefully, guys will follow up.***++++I AM CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR ADVERTISERS! If you, or anyone you know would be interested in placing an ad here at HockeyBuzz, then send me a PM!++++