3 reasons why Alex Pietrangelo is the best free agent pickup in Golden Knights history
Alex Pietrangelo came over from the St. Louis Blues and brought a championship pedigree to the Vegas Golden Knights. The team has basked in the experience.
When the St. Louis Blues couldn't get Alex Pietrangelo signed to an extension during the 2020 offseason, an elite defenseman entered the free agency market. The team won the Stanley Cup in 2019, bringing a title to the Arch City. Of course, it also brought Brett Hull out of his drunken slumber, leading Blues fans on an epic "WE WENT BLUES" chant.
Not to be outdone by Hull, William Karlsson made a similar speech that honored his "Original Misfit" buddy, Jonathan Marchessault. Of course, this wouldn't have been possible without the Golden Knights swooping in and signing Pietrangelo on October 12, 2020. They wanted to get over the Stanley Cup hump themselves, not getting a title since their inaugural season in... 2017-18.
Okay, so the Golden Knights's situation was vastly different from the Blues. The team has been around since 1967, coming close in the early days before various failures kept them down. That's with having legendary players such as Brett Hull and Al MacInnis on the team, which makes the ordeal even more surprising.
Compare that to the Golden Knights, who've won a championship with the man who brings titles to a city, Alex Pietrangelo. But there are three reasons why the defenseman has arguably been the best free agent signing for Vegas. Winning the first title in franchise history is a big part of it. But there's more than what's on the surface for the Vegas Golden Knights when they signed the big-name blue-liner. Why has Pietrangelo been the team's biggest free agent signing in its franchise history?
1.) Alex Pietrangelo has been a good running mate for the Golden Knights's top players
Pietrangelo has done well since leaving the St. Louis Blues for the Golden Knights. There's the defensive side, where he'll put himself on the line every night. His best qualities include clogging shooting lanes and blocking shots, doing whatever it takes to prevent a goal. However, that's not the only place where he excels.
The blue liner also thrives as a complimentary piece for players like Jack Eichel and Mark Stone. He can set up a play at the point and seek the open man, which has bolstered the Golden Knights attack. That's part of why he has 120 assists during his five-year stint with the team. During that 2022-23 Stanley Cup run, he had nine assists, with three coming on the power play.
The Golden Knights have made a name for themselves with offensive-minded defensemen, with names like Shea Theodore and Noah Hanifin establishing themselves. However, Pietrangelo has also become a great running mate for the team's top players, helping the forwards get prime scoring opportunities. It's a major part of why Vegas has a title in the first place, specifically on the first pairing.
2.) The Vegas Golden Knights needed another true elite defender
Having one solid defenseman in Shea Theodore is good for a hockey team. That's especially true if they can move the puck and run the power play. Such qualities can make an NHL team better across the board, giving a team like the Vegas Golden Knights a better group. However, he can't be the only blue-liner that stands out.
That's where Alex Pietrangelo came in. He plays the right side perfectly, bringing size and strength to the position. In fact, the Golden Knights are bigger on the right side altogether, with Nicolas Hague currently on the second pairing. So who's Pietrangelo's running mate on the left side? It's none other than Theodore.
This resulted in the pair combining for four assists in Vegas's 8-4 win over the Colorado Avalanche. Both defensemen helped ease Victor Olofsson into Bruce Cassidy's system, getting the winger more comfortable as the game progressed. Having two solid blue-liners on the same team bolsters your chances of winning any game.
3.) He's still a great defenseman for the Vegas Golden Knights as he was with the St. Louis Blues
Overall, Alex Pietrangelo has 461 career assists, making him one of the best all-around defensemen of his generation. Numerous names have stood out for their offensive skills, including Cale Makar and Erik Karlsson. However, none have the balanced game that Pietrangelo did, whether with the St. Louis Blues or Vegas Golden Knights.
That's especially true during his Golden Knights tenure, where he had a career-high in blocked shots in 2022-23 (177). Pietrangelo had a career-high in takeaways the year prior with 93, firmly establishing himself on Vegas's forecheck. It's a role he's grown into, where he's tested himself under Cassidy's regime. It's also helped Vegas become a defensive-minded team, making life harder for offensive-minded opponents.
Granted, he's also had a memorable career with the Blues, putting up 1,375 hits and 438 takeaways during his 12-year tenure. But he's also helped the Golden Knights form a stronger forechecking unit, where they've generated immense pressure on opponents. In turn, it's given the team more scoring opportunities while in transition, turning them into an all-around threat.
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