Vegas Golden Knights' Alex Pietrangelo Steps Away from NHL Due to Major Hip Injuries

Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Alex Pietrangelo is stepping away from professional hockey due to severe hip injuries that require bilateral femur reconstruction, a surgery with no guarantee of success. At 35, Pietrangelo has not officially retired but acknowledged the likelihood of returning to play is low, prioritizing his long-term health and family. General Manager Kelly McCrimmon highlighted that Pietrangelo's physical condition deteriorated throughout the season despite attempts to manage it, leading to the difficult decision to remove the intensity of hockey from his life. Pietrangelo has two years remaining on his contract with a cap hit of $8.8 million, which will likely be moved to long-term injured reserve, helping the team manage salary cap space after acquiring star winger Mitch Marner. Over his 17-year NHL career, Pietrangelo has been a two-time Stanley Cup champion and an all-time leader in ice time for the Golden Knights, cementing his legacy with the franchise. Both Pietrangelo and the team expressed gratitude for his career and the support from teammates, emphasizing that stepping away is the right decision for his quality of life.