Losing Alex Pietrangelo will hurt the Vegas Golden Knights defensively. You're losing 720 career blocked shots and 47 career takeaways with the Golden Knights. On top of that, you're losing an elite defenseman who gives 100% on every play.
After all, bilateral femur reconstruction isn't a guaranteed success.
Now, you have a massive void on the leadership side defensively. With a reinvented blue line, you're searching for answers when things get rough. It's been mentioned how the defenseman group could be an issue. However, not having a leader can be problematic, too.
With that comes the rumors of potential replacements for Pietrangelo. That includes Rasmus Andersson, who expressed a prior interest in joining the Golden Knights. Does it mean it'll happen? Probably not now. However, it's something that Kelly McCrimmon is keeping a close eye on.
Danny Webster of the Las Vegas Review-Journal talked with Bruce Cassidy about who would be the vocal leader on the back end.
Bruce Cassidy said with all the roster turnover this summer, he’s looking forward to who takes over the leadership role on defense with Alex Pietrangelo gone.
— Danny Webster (@DannyWebster21) September 15, 2025
Spoke about the opportunity on the ice, but is looking forward to who can be the vocal leader on the back end.
When one door closes, another opens. That could mean a forgotten Golden Knights defenseman steps into the role and guides the team to glory. Who could that player be? Who will step in and take over the mantle for Pietrangelo once the season starts?
Obviously, you want someone who's been in the game for some time. They must also be familiar with the Golden Knights system and how the organization works. Luckily, a few names come to mind here.
Which Vegas Golden Knights defensemen will step into the leadership role in 2025-26?
Looking at the defensemen core, two names immediately jump out: Shea Theodore and Brayden McNabb. Both are Original Misfits, which means understanding the organization's values and beliefs. Theodore is the franchise's point share leader (57) and McNabb has three consecutive seasons of playing 82 games. In fact, McNabb is the franchise leader in games played with Vegas (584).
If there were two names that should be at the forefront of the leadership conversation, it would be the Misfits. Their experience and excellent play would guide the Golden Knights throughout the 2025-26 season. After all, the changed blue line needs its leaders to be familiar with the organization's values.
You could also make a case for Noah Hanifin since he's tenured in the NHL. Sure, he isn't familiar with the Golden Knights organization like McNabb and Theodore. But having 10 seasons under your belt gives you some ground on the leadership front. Plus, he's a viable defenseman statistically, making him a good pick.
You also can't go wrong with Zach Whitecloud. The statistics don't stand out offensively, especially since he's never eclipsed 10 goals in a season. However, the Bemidji State alum isn't troublesome, preferring to lead through quiet strength. That could be a boon for Vegas if times get rough.
The good news? This veteran group understands what's at stake for the upcoming season. Having leaders like Mark Stone and William Karlsson on your team will ease the pressure should things go awry. The burden of finding a defensive leader will be much easier to find than fans realize.