It was only a matter of time. But Kelly McCrimmon figured he'd give the conspiracy theorists some more bait with his latest move.
Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo was placed on season-ending LTIR, freeing up $8.8 million in cap space. The hobbled defenseman has dealt with an array of health issues over the years, which has drastically affected his play. In fact, he's been recommended to get bilateral femur reconstruction, which isn't even a guaranteed success. Alas, Pietrangelo elected not to go for hip surgery and opted for rehabilitation.
After the Golden Knights acquired and signed Mitch Marner to an eight-year, $12 million AAV deal, something had to be done. Fortunately for McCrimmon, he had a proverbial ace in his backpocket, making enough room to be cap-compliant for the 2025-26 season.
Rest easy, folks. The Vegas Golden Knights will field a team against the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday.
Pietrangelo has 148 career goals and 489 career assists in his 17-year career. He also has 2,095 blocked shots, 761 hits, and 685 takeaways during his NHL career, making him one of the league's premier defensemen. He's also a two-time Stanley Cup winner, winning one with St. Louis in 2019 and the Golden Knights in 2023. Add in three All-Star appearances and you have a decorated career for a defenseman.
The Golden Knights will enter the season with eight defensemen projected on their "Opening Knight" roster. Pietrangelo won't be one of those names, which will feel... different. It's like you don't have a family member around for Christmas, leaving a massive void at the dinner table. Here's hoping for a speedy recovery, Petro!