Latest news with #AlexPietrangelo
Time of India
01-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Alex Pietrangelo steps away from hockey due to major hip injuries
Source: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images Alex Pietrangelo, a building block of the Vegas Golden Knights defense and one of the NHL's most highly regarded blue-liners, is walking away from hockey due to some alarming health issues. Although he hasn't officially retired, the 35-year-old said he does not expect to play again after doctors advised him to give up the sport to concentrate on healing from several debilitating hip conditions. Pietrangelo's absence represents a major turning point for Vegas as they revamp their defense and look to the future. Alex Pietrangelo faces uncertain future after serious hip injuries Pietrangelo disclosed he needs to undergo bilateral femur reconstruction on both hips, a lengthy procedure that is not even sure if he'll ever play hockey again. The longtime defenseman conceded keeping up the physical demands of the sport are no longer feasible, even with continuing treatment and rest periods during the NHL's 4 Nations Face-Off hiatus mid-year. "The past few years have been very challenging on my physical well-being, and I am 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 likelihood is low that my body will recover to the standard required to play, but I know this is the right decision for me and my family. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo " Pietrangelo wrote in a statement. Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon shared the sentiment, saying Pietrangelo's attempts to remain on the ice had a growing impact. McCrimmon said the choice is hard, but it demonstrates the respect that the organization has for Pietrangelo as a person and as an individual player. Vegas reconfigures its defense during Alex Pietrangelo's absence Vegas will put Pietrangelo on long-term injured reserve, opening up his $8.8-million cap burden to cover new additions and retain roster balance. The same day the news came through, the Golden Knights signed Mitch Marner to an eight-year, $96-million sign-and-trade contract and are seeking a trade for Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson. Pietrangelo suited up for 71 games during last season, notching 33 points and averaging more than 22 minutes per contest. Across more than 1,087 regular-season games with St. Louis and Vegas, he compiled 637 points and won two Stanley Cups. At the international level, he won Olympic gold, a World Cup championship, and World Junior gold medals with Team Canada. While the door isn't shut on a return, Pietrangelo's career is virtually done. His leadership, reliability, and championship résumé have made an indelible imprint on the NHL, the Golden Knights franchise, and myriad teammates who respected his commitment to the game. Also Read: Fans call Sam Bennett's parade speech 'cringe' and 'classless' after viral mic-drop moment Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
New York Times
01-07-2025
- Business
- New York Times
With Mitch Marner, and without Alex Pietrangelo, how does Vegas' lineup look?
Free agency has yet to open, but the Vegas Golden Knights already project to look like a completely different team in 2025-26. The organization that has made a habit of pulling off blockbuster moves in its short history had an eventful day on the eve of free agency. First, Vegas completed a move to trade Nicolas Roy to Toronto in a sign-and-trade deal to acquire star winger Mitch Marner, league sources told Chris Johnston of The Athletic. Advertisement The trade includes an eight-year contract extension for Marner with a cap hit of $12 million per year through the 2033-34 season. It makes Marner the fifth-highest-paid player in the NHL, and ties him with Dallas' Mikko Rantanen as the highest paid winger in the league. Hours later, Vegas' star defenseman Alex Pietrangelo announced that he would be stepping away from hockey due to serious injuries, and that the likelihood of a return to hockey is low. While Pietrangelo didn't officially announce a retirement, all signs point to the Golden Knights being without their leader in average ice time for each of the last five seasons. General manager Kelly McCrimmon also completed a trade Sunday night that sent restricted free agent defenseman Nicolas Hague to Nashville for veterans Colton Sissons and Jeremy Lauzon. With so many players entering and exiting the team before free agency even begins, it's worth looking at where the Golden Knights stand. There is still plenty to be settled between now and the start of the season, but here's how Vegas' roster currently projects to look on opening night in October. Marner gives the Golden Knights an elite play-driver on the wing, and boosts an already impressive forward group that led Vegas' fifth-ranked offensive attack last season. The freshly-signed contract also makes Vegas' cap situation incredibly tight as free agency opens on Tuesday. With Marner's deal, the Golden Knights have more than $102 million in cap hit allocated to next season, well above the $95.5 million limit. Without Pietrangelo's $8.8 million cap hit, Vegas would slip just below the cap ceiling, at approximately $93.5 million. The first thing that stands out about that projected roster is how much weaker the defensive group is without Pietrangelo and Hague. The two-time Stanley Cup winner was Vegas' most relied-upon defenseman, handling more minutes and tougher matchups than any player on the team over the last five years. Losing him is a massive hit to what has been one of the best blue lines in the NHL, not only in that it subtracts a generational talent in Pietrangelo, but also in the trickle-down effect that asks for more from every defenseman below him. Advertisement Shea Theodore and Noah Hanifin are both excellent players, but neither has played the workhorse role as effectively as Pietrangelo. Brayden McNabb is an iron man coming off perhaps his best season in the NHL, but asking him to play top-pair minutes at this stage of his career may be a stretch. It also means the Golden Knights will be relying on Zach Whitecloud and Kaedan Korczak a lot more than they have in the past, along with the recently-acquired Lauzon (who is a physical presence but has had a negative on-ice goal differential in five of his last six seasons). Defense has long been Vegas' biggest strength. It was the pillar on which their Stanley Cup championship roster in 2023 was built, and has been a clear advantage for the team over the last several years. That could still be the case next season, but there are more questions about it than in some time. That downgrade could bleed into the goaltending. Adin Hill has proven to be a capable starter, setting career-highs in starts and wins last season. He's athletic for his size and plays his angles well, but he hasn't proven he's at the level at which he can transcend the defense in front of him and carry a team to victories regularly. He'll be starting the first year of his six-year contract extension next season, and the Golden Knights may be counting on him to level-up. Another offseason need for the Golden Knights is at backup goalie. Ilya Samsonov will hit the open market on Tuesday after his one-year deal expired, and Vegas could look at several veteran backups to replace him. There's also a chance they will allow Akira Schmid to fill the role. His meager $875,000 cap hit would certainly help manage the salary cap, but considering the team doesn't want to overwork Hill, they could prefer a more experienced backup. The question is whether they'll have the cap space to do it. There are legitimate concerns on the back end, but up front the Golden Knights are stacked. They've added Marner – who was fifth in the NHL with 102 points last season – to the group that already scored the fifth-most goals as a team. The current forward group accounts for a cap hit of $61.4 million, which is the second highest in the NHL, only behind the back-to-back defending champion Florida Panthers. Advertisement Vegas' top three lines have playmakers galore. Jack Eichel is coming off his best season yet, shattering the franchise records for assists (66) and points (94). If Marner plays on his wing, he'll arguably be the most talented player Eichel has ever played with. Defending their speed and skill in transition is a frightening proposition, and whoever winds up on the other wing will simply need to skate to the front of the net and the points will roll in. Tomas Hertl and Pavel Dorofeyev developed great chemistry this season, and also were the team's leading scorers on the power play. The combination of Stone and Hertl hasn't worked in limited opportunities, so perhaps coach Bruce Cassidy shakes these lines out a bit differently, but there's certainly no lack of talent. William Karlsson and Reilly Smith are a perfect match on the third line, and create in transition as well as any duo on the team. Brandon Saad showed he still has the wheels to play on that type of line, scoring six goals in 29 regular-season games after signing with Vegas in January. Even the fourth line has some scoring punch. Brett Howden and Keegan Kolesar both had career seasons in 2024-25 with 23 and 12 goals, respectively. Sissons is a downgrade from Roy when it comes to offense, but he's a proven defensive center who can handle tough situations and soak up defensive zone starts. Overall, it's tough to argue the Golden Knights are significantly better or worse than how they ended last season. They certainly look different. They're built to be more explosive offensively. There are also a lot more questions looming on defense. All of that, and free agency hasn't even opened yet. It's just another normal day for one of the most active teams in all of the NHL.
New York Times
01-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Injured Alex Pietrangelo steps away, says ‘likelihood is low' of return to NHL
Vegas Golden Knights veteran defenseman Alex Pietrangelo is stepping away from hockey due to serious hip injuries, he and the team announced Monday evening. In a team-released statement, Pietrangelo said the 'likelihood is low' that he will be able to play again, but he hasn't officially retired. Pietrangelo, 35, missed 11 games for the Golden Knights during the season and declined to play for Team Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off in February in an attempt to allow his hip issue to heal, but to no avail. Vegas general manager Kelly McCrimmon said in a statement that Pietrangelo's injury would require 'bilateral femur reconstruction, with no guarantee of success,' but as of now, Pietrangelo has opted not to have the surgery, a team spokesperson said. Advertisement The team didn't specify whether Pietrangelo would miss the 2025-26 season, or if he would be placed on the long-term injured reserve list. The Golden Knights on Monday also completed a sign-and-trade for star winger Mitch Marner, a move that added $12 million to their annual cap ledger and put them far above the 2025-26 cap ceiling. Pietrangelo has two years remaining on his contract with a cap hit of $8.8 million. Vegas Golden Knights Provide Update on Defenseman Alex Pietrangelo #VegasBorn MORE: — Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) July 1, 2025 As part of the statement, Pietrangelo said: 'The past few years have been very challenging on my physical well-being, and I am 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. This decision has been difficult to come to terms with after the last 17 years of competition and the camaraderie with my teammates and coaches. The likelihood is low that my body will recover to the standard required to play, but I know this is the right decision for me and my family.' McCrimmon said: 'Throughout the season, the steps that Alex needed to take to be able to play and practice began to grow and take a significant toll on his body. Our hope in February during the NHL's break for the 4 Nations Face-Off was to give Alex treatment and rest to help provide relief, but instead, what we found were diminished positive results and a process that is no longer sustainable moving forward.' In 17 NHL seasons, Pietrangelo has played in 1,087 regular-season games and another 149 in the playoffs. He has 637 career points (148 goals and 489 assists) and won two Stanley Cup championships – in 2019 with the St. Louis Blues and in 2023 with Vegas. He also won gold medals with Team Canada in the 2014 Winter Olympics and the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. Advertisement Pietrangelo, who signed with Vegas as a free agent in 2020, has led the Golden Knights in average ice time for each of his five seasons with them. '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 in the statement. '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.'
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NHL News: Ex-Blues Star Expected To Miss 2025-26 Season
According to The Fourth Period's David Pagnotta, former St. Louis Blues defenseman Alex Pietrangelo has "serious injuries" and will need to have "multiple major surgeries" to address them this off-season. In addition, Pagnotta reported that Pietrangelo will miss all of the 2025-26 season, at a minimum, because of it. There have been questions about Pietrangelo's availability for next season, and this update from Pagnotta certainly makes it seem that the former Blues star won't be playing in 2025-26. Advertisement Pietrangelo played in 71 regular-season games this season with the Vegas Golden Knights, where he had four goals, 33 points, 139 blocks, and a plus-11 rating. He also recorded two goals, six points, and a plus-1 rating in 10 playoff games this year. Pietrangelo was selected by the Blues with the fourth-overall pick of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. From there, he spent his first 12 NHL seasons in St. Louis, where he posted 109 goals, 341 assists, 450 points, and a plus-77 rating. He was also the Blues' captain from 2016-17 to 2019-20 and won the Stanley Cup with them in 2019. Former Blues Goalie Signs Extension With New Team Former Blues Goalie Signs Extension With New Team Former Advertisement St. Louis Blues goaltender Ville Husso has landed his next contract. Photo Credit: © Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Golden Knights get Marner in sign-and-trade from Leafs and give him 8-year, $96M deal, reports say
FILE - Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Mitch Marner (16) shoots past Anaheim Ducks defenseman Pavel Mintyukov (34) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, March 30, 2025, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong, file) LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Vegas Golden Knights acquired Mitch Marner in a sign-and-trade with Toronto on Monday, giving him an eight-year, $96 million contract, according to multiple reports. Marner, 28, will count $12 million against the salary cap through the 2032-33 season. He is coming off setting career highs with 75 assists and 102 points. Advertisement Vegas reportedly sent center Nicolas Roy to Toronto to jump the line on Marner, who would have been the most sought-after player beginning at noon EDT Tuesday. The deal came together as the team announced veteran defenseman Alex Pietrangelo was stepping away from hockey to undergo bilateral femur reconstruction that general manager Kelly McCrimmon said had 'no guarantee of success.' Pietrangelo going on long-term injured reserve in part paves the way for the Golden Knights to fit Marner in under the salary cap. ___ AP NHL:
