Alex Pietrangelo’s Potential Comeback
Alex Pietrangelo, a defenseman for the Vegas Golden Knights, has not dismissed the possibility of making a comeback this season despite ongoing rehabilitation for a persistent hip injury. The 35-year-old player had announced in June that he would temporarily step back from the sport to focus on his recovery, aiming to achieve a level of health conducive to a “normal quality of life.”
Injury Details and Recovery
At that time, Golden Knights General Manager Kelly McCrimmon revealed that the injury would necessitate extensive surgical intervention, specifically bilateral femur reconstruction, with uncertain outcomes regarding his return to hockey.
Initial reports suggested that Pietrangelo might be sidelined for the entirety of the 2025-26 season at a minimum. Earlier this year, the defenseman himself expressed doubts about his body’s ability to heal sufficiently, stating that the chances of returning to the high performance required for play were slim.
Positive Developments
Nonetheless, during a media session at the team’s training camp on Monday, he indicated positive developments from his rehabilitation regimen, opting against any surgical procedures for the time being. When questioned about the prospect of returning this season, Pietrangelo remained optimistic, saying,
“Nothing is really concrete. I’m just going to continue to take it day by day and see where it goes.”
Impact on Performance
Pietrangelo’s hip issues have been gradually worsening over the years, but it was clear during the last season that it significantly impacted his performance. He managed to play through the discomfort, even missing the 4 Nations Face-Off to prioritize the Stanley Cup Playoffs, ultimately participating in 71 regular-season games followed by an additional 10 postseason matches, averaging over 23 minutes of ice time during the playoffs.
Career Overview and Contract Status
With a prestigious career spanning 17 seasons in the NHL, he played a key role in leading both the St. Louis Blues to a Stanley Cup victory in 2019 and the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023. Over his career, he has accumulated 637 points in 1,087 games.
Pietrangelo is currently in the final two years of a seven-year contract valued at $61.6 million, which includes an annual average cap hit of $8.8 million. The Golden Knights are navigating tight cap space following the recent acquisition of star winger Mitch Marner from Toronto, whose new contract poses a $12 million cap impact.
As the season approaches, Pietrangelo is expected to start on long-term injured reserve, a status that was recently addressed in collective bargaining discussions between the NHL and the NHLPA, impacting how salary cap implications are managed for players sidelined by injuries during postseason play.
