The Vegas Golden Knights announced they have signed defenceman Alex Pietrangelo. It is a seven year contract worth $61.6 million. The contract carries a salary cap hit of $8.8 million. Pietrangelo also has a full no move clause in his contract.
Alex Pietrangelo is finalizing a deal with the Vegas Golden Knights, sources confirm.
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) October 12, 2020
Alex Pietrangelo Signs With Vegas
Alex Pietrangelo is leaving the St. Louis Blues after finishing up the final year of the seven-year, $45.5 million contract that he signed back in 2013 which carries a salary-cap hit of $6.5 million. Blues general manager Doug Armstrong hoped he could get the extension done before the season ended. Similar to what he did with signing Brayden Schenn to an extension in October. Pietrangelo is just another UFA that will be off the board come July 2020.
The captain of the Blues was selected in the first round (4th overall) in the 2008 NHL Draft. Pietrangelo put the team on his back last season as he guided the Blues to there first-ever Stanley Cup Championship. In 71 games during the 2018-19 season, he recorded 41 points (13 goals and 28 assists). During 26 games in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs, he registered 19 points (three goals and 16 assists).
In 758 career games, Pietrangelo has registered 450 points (109 goals and 341 assists). His playoff numbers are just as good registering 51 points (eight goals and 43 assists) in 92 games.
What This Means
Well the Golden Knights have some issues with the salary cap going forward. They will need to move money in order to make this contract fit under the salary cap. Players like Alec Martinez or Nate Schmidt have to be moved. Also the Golden Knights have been trying to move Marc-Andre Fleury. However that will be no easy task considering the climate we are living in with a flat salary cap. Will there be a team that will help Vegas out. Not to mention that defence is getting a little crowded back there.
The writing was on the wall when the Blues traded for and signed Justin Faulk he would replace Pietrangelo on the blue line. Faulk’s salary cap hit was the same as Pietrangelo’s at $6.5 million. It appears that this is not the case. The Blues are trying to build their defence up as other teams have done around the league. Not to mention when the Blues signed Torey Krug to a seven year contract on Friday, the writing was on the wall that Pietrangelo was gone.
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