Knights defenseman stepping away due to injury, calls it ‘right decision’
Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo is stepping away from hockey because of a hip injury that would require reconstruction.
Pietrangelo, in a statement released by the team Monday, said he is “in a difficult position with my overall playing health.”
“After exploring options with doctors as well as my family, it’s been advised to remove the intensity of hockey to see if my body can improve so that I can return to a normal quality of life,” Pietrangelo said.
Pietrangelo, 35, requires bilateral femur reconstruction to fix his hips, general manager Kelly McCrimmon said in a statement. The procedure has “no guarantee of success.”
Pietrangelo said the “likelihood is low that my body will recover to the standard required to play,” but added, “I know this is the right decision for me and my family.”
Pietrangelo is not retiring, according to a team spokesperson. He has two years remaining on his contract with a $8.8 million annual cap hit and will be placed on long-term injured reserve.
“Alex has our organization’s full support in prioritizing his long-term health and quality of life,” McCrimmon said.
Pietrangelo played in 71 regular-season games last year but missed time due to various injuries. He also withdrew from the 4 Nations Face-Off in February due to an undisclosed ailment after making Team Canada’s roster.
McCrimmon said the steps Pietrangelo needed to take to practice and play began to take a significant toll on his body. The team hoped the time off in February would help, but instead the Knights believed things were no longer sustainable moving forward.
Standout career
Pietrangelo, a native of King City, Ontario, was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2008 draft by the St. Louis Blues. He captained the Blues to their first Stanley Cup in 2019.
He then joined the Knights after signing a seven-year, $61.6 million contract as a free agent in October 2020. He helped his new team win its first championship in 2023, leading the club in ice time in the process.
Pietrangelo has 637 points in 1,087 NHL games. He became the first player to make his 1,000th appearance wearing a Knights sweater on Feb. 12, 2024.
Pietrangelo, if he never plays again, would be eligible for the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2028. His career, which also includes a gold medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, would merit consideration.
“Alex has given everything to the game and to the Golden Knights and has played through significant challenges in the pursuit of trying to win another Stanley Cup in Vegas,” McCrimmon said. “He is one of the most respected players in the league, not only for his elite talent but for his character, leadership, competitiveness and professionalism.
“Today’s decision is a difficult one for both Alex and the Golden Knights, but it is being made for the right reasons — so that Alex can be the family man we all know him to be.”
Blue line turnover
Moving Pietrangelo to LTIR will help the Knights gain enough flexibility to add right wing Mitch Marner this offseason. The team acquired Marner in a sign-and-trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday.
The deal sent center Nicolas Roy, who has two years left on his contract with a $3 million cap hit, to Toronto. Marner also signed an eight-year extension with an average annual value of $12 million.
The Knights have already shuffled some pieces on their blue line this offseason. They traded defenseman Nic Hague to the Nashville Predators in a deal that was finalized Monday morning, and got back defenseman Jeremy Lauzon and center Colton Sissons.
Lauzon, 28, gives the Knights seven healthy NHL defensemen for next season. He will likely take Hague’s spot on the third pair, while 24-year-old Kaedan Korczak could get an increased role after playing 40 games last year.
Contact Danny Webster at dwebster@reviewjournal.com. Follow @DannyWebster21 on X.
