The acquisition of Jonathan Marchessault and Steven Stamkos was expected to propel the Nashville Predators among the NHL’s elite teams, but the reality is very different.
After 19 games, the Predators are stagnating in penultimate place in the Central division with only 15 points, far from the ambitions of the team which was aiming for the Stanley Cup.
Visibly annoyed by this disappointing start to the season, Marchessault did not hesitate to publicly criticize management and to point out what he considers to be shortcomings in the construction of the team.
During an interview with TVA Sports, Marchessault, known for his frankness, was scathing:
“I don’t think we’re having the start to the season we wanted. Coming from a winning team, I find that we are missing certain elements to compete against the big teams in the league. »
These comments send a clear message to its general manager Barry Trotz, responsible for summer acquisitions.
After seeing Nashville spend massively to afford Marchessault ($5.5 million per year), Stamkos ($8 million per year) and Brady Skjei ($7 million per year), the Quebec striker expected an environment competitive and a team capable of competing with the best.
However, the results are slow in coming, and frustration is starting to be felt.
Last year, Nashville surprised by reaching the playoffs with a limited roster, thanks to hard work from the Plumbers and a strong performance from Juuse Saros in net.
These unexpected successes pushed Barry Trotz to rely on veterans during the free agent period, hoping to accelerate the team’s progress. However, this strategy is failing miserably at the moment.
With a chaotic start to the season, Marchessault publicly expressed what many think privately: the Predators do not have the caliber of a Stanley Cup contender, despite the monetary resources invested.
This is not the first time that Jonathan Marchessault has openly criticized the management of an organization. When he left the Vegas Golden Knights, he did not hesitate to target general manager Kelly McCrimmon, deploring a lack of recognition after leading the team to the Stanley Cup in 2023.
“I would have liked to get recognition for what I did. I don’t understand how you can let a player go after everything he has accomplished for the organization. »
This time, it is Barry Trotz who bears the brunt of Marchessault’s disappointment, who has not hidden his dissatisfaction with the current state of the team.
His statement that “certain elements are missing to compete” can be seen as a virulent criticism of management’s strategic choices.
The Quebecer could be a little embarrassed. After all, his 5-year, $5.5 million per year contract is part of the problem.
Marchessault’s comments resonate as a warning to his general manager.
The patience of players and fans has its limits. If results do not improve quickly, tensions could intensify, and decisions will have to be made to avoid a catastrophic season.
Barry Trotz, who said before the start of the season that he simply wanted to “win a playoff round,” must now lower his goals.
The ambitions displayed when signing players like Marchessault and Stamkos seem far away, and pressure is mounting to justify this summer’s colossal investments.
To add insult to injury, Trotz is not closing the door to reconstruction.
“If we don’t bounce back, we’ll have to think about rebuilding.”
Is the CEO serious when he makes such comments or does he want to whip his team?
Jonathan Marchessault, by publicly criticizing the current structure of the team, sends a strong signal: the CEO must move on the transaction market.
Trotz replies that he could begin a reconstruction. Things are going badly at the “shop.”
Marchessault’s comments will create internal tensions, while the team is still trying to find its identity.
Barry Trotz must now decide how to respond to these criticisms. Will he quickly adjust the alignment on the transaction market, stay the course with the hope that things will turn around on their own, or will he follow through on his threat of rebuilding?
One thing is certain: Marchessault has no intention of remaining silent.
Clearly, money doesn’t buy happiness. Talk to the Quebecois about it.
