Alex Pietrangelo sent a subtle message to the hockey universe last season when he pulled out of the 4 Nations Face-Off. The two-time Stanley Cup winner wanted to focus on helping the Vegas Golden Knights in every way he could. That meant preserving his body and avoiding any potential injuries.
Mind you, this was a guy dealing with hip problems and other ailments. The Golden Knights defenseman knew that he couldn't risk another injury, especially with the team wanting to win another Stanley Cup. Ironically, his decision was perhaps the wisest: Shea Theodore suffered an injury at the event, leaving Vegas without one of its best puck-moving defensemen.
Ironically, another Golden Knight found himself in the injury crosshairs this week. Jonas Rondbjerg was labeled week-to-week by head coach Bruce Cassidy on Tuesday after being injured in Sunday's loss to the Anaheim Ducks. While some might think that he's just a Henderson Silver Knight and Silver Knights don't matter, the problem remains the same.
The Golden Knights are in the midst of another Stanley Cup hunt. They can't afford to lose any more key players such as Jack Eichel and Mark Stone. Without these players, it becomes tougher for Vegas to get anything going offensively, among other things.
The Vegas Golden Knights should think about the long-term and focus on the Stanley Cup
Pietrangelo's decision should be at the back of the Golden Knights' minds. As mentioned, you've lost plenty of quality players to debilitating injuries, crippling Vegas's overall flow and structure. It isn't just players like Stone and Eichel that they need, though.
It's also losing players like William Karlsson and Brett Howden. People don't understand how crucial Karlsson is to the Golden Knights' overall structure. He provides an excellent two-way game and can take on the league's best players, whether it's Leon Draisaitl or Nikita Kucherov.
As for Howden, he's a great lower-line forward that can score when called upon. The former first-round pick can outmanuever opponents and has greatly improved his puck-handling skills, making him an absolute threat.
The Golden Knights should be serious about keeping their players healthy and ready for another Stanley Cup run
Look, I know that this season has been absolutely bizarre for Vegas. They've been an underachieving group and have watched their team dig itself in to early holes. However, the objective should remain the same: win the Stanley Cup.
The Golden Knights play in the Pacific DIvision and entered Tuesday's competition in first place. That should warrant a discussion about thinking about the long term, especially with their own division being so abysmal. Will the Oilers fix their goaltending woes? Can San Jose take the next step?
These are questions that Vegas must consider for the long run. They've already seen what happens when they don't have Stone and Eichel around. They don't want to know what life's like without key players like Mitch Marner and Akira Schmid. I can guarantee you that the sight isn't the prettiest.