Pietrangelo hopes to keep away from surgical procedure, presumably play for Vegas

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LAS VEGAS — Defenseman Alex Pietrangelo has not dominated out taking part in once more for the Golden Knights — even this season — hoping to keep away from surgical procedure as he goes by rehabilitation on his injured hip.

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Vegas positioned him on long-term injured reserve earlier this yr, which gave the Golden Knights room beneath the wage cap to signal prized sign-and-trade acquisition Mitch Marner.

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At the time, it was introduced that Pietrangelo would endure surgical procedure for bilateral femur reconstruction that the majority definitely would have ended any hopes of taking part in this season. Golden Knights common supervisor Kelly McCrimmon even doubted Pietrangelo would play once more.

But the 35-year-old Pietrangelo stated in a information convention Monday he has responded effectively to rehab and was preserving an open thoughts about taking part in this season. He has two seasons remaining on a seven-year, $61.6 million contract.

“Nothing’s actually concrete,” Pietrangelo stated. “I’m going to take it daily and undergo my course of and see the place it goes.”

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He stated his hip has been a long-term subject, however significantly flared up final season.

Pietrangelo had deliberate to play for Canada within the 4 Nations Face-Off on the NHL’s mid-season break, however withdrew from the match with the hopes of being wholesome sufficient to contribute to a possible deep Golden Knights playoff run. It wasn’t a straightforward resolution as a result of Pietrangelo stated he was disenchanted that his spouse and kids didn’t get to see him play in that worldwide occasion.

As for the Golden Knights, Vegas gained the Pacific Division, however was eradicated in 5 video games within the second spherical by eventual Western Conference champion Edmonton.

“Last yr was when (the damage) actually took a toll,” Pietrangelo stated. “I couldn’t precisely pinpoint why. By the time it actually began to get to me final yr, to attempt to tackle it with how good of a workforce we had, it might’ve minimize the entire yr off for me.

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“When you will have a roster like we did and you’ve got a chance you suppose to win, that’s a troublesome factor to surrender. So that didn’t actually cross my thoughts. I didn’t actually know precisely what we had been coping with till the top of the season.”

He talked concerning the significance not solely of preserving this chapter on his taking part in profession open, but in addition of creating positive he was wholesome sufficient to do the issues concerned with being a superb dad and husband.

Pietrangelo has remained in Las Vegas to be near his teammates and possibly even assist youthful gamers both with the principle membership or the American Hockey League affiliate in close by Henderson.

As a key member of two Stanley Cup championship groups — St. Louis in 2019 and Vegas in 2023 — Pietrangelo carries the gravitas of an achieved veteran participant. He additionally has 637 factors in his 17-year profession.

“I like being a part of a locker room,” Pietrangelo stated. “Anybody that’s performed sports activities, particularly at our age, to get along with the fellows, it’s been actually, actually enjoyable to come back right here and nonetheless see all people and be a part of the group.”

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