The news coming out of Vegas is a classic October surprise, but for the Golden Knights, it’s a harsh reality that will shape their entire 2025-26 season. While rumors of Alex Pietrangelo’s nagging hip injury have been circulating, the finality of the announcement that he will miss the entire regular season and playoffs is a tough pill to swallow for the team and its fans. At 35, you have to wonder what this means for the rest of his career.
What This Means for the Golden Knights
Pietrangelo himself had hinted at a possible return, which makes this news all the more jarring. It’s a significant blow to their blue line. Pietrangelo is a workhorse, a leader, and a key contributor on both ends of the ice. You don’t just replace a player of his caliber.
The immediate silver lining, if you can call it that, is the salary cap relief. With Pietrangelo’s $8.8 million cap hit on long-term injured reserve (LTIR), the Golden Knights are now cap compliant, albeit with a razor-thin margin of just over $20,000. This gives them some breathing room, but it doesn’t replace the on-ice value that Pietrangelo provides. The front office now has to decide how to best utilize this newfound flexibility. Do they look for a trade to bolster their defense, or do they trust their internal options to step up?
The Eichel Factor
This situation also casts a long shadow over the future of another one of their stars: Jack Eichel. With his contract expiring on July 1, 2026, the team’s performance this season will undoubtedly play a role in his decision to re-sign or test the open market. The absence of a key player like Pietrangelo could have a ripple effect that extends far beyond this season.
The Vegas Golden Knights are no strangers to adversity, but this is a significant challenge. The loss of Alex Pietrangelo is a major setback, and how they respond will define their season and potentially their long-term future.
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