Alex Pietrangelo thinks his playing career could be over.
The Vegas Golden Knights defenceman confirmed in a statement released by the team that he is stepping back from professional hockey for the time being.
“After exploring options with doctors as well as my family, it’s been advised to remove the intensity of hockey to see if my body can improve so that I can return to a normal quality of life,” Pietrangelo wrote. “The likelihood is low that my body will recover to the standard required to play, but I know this is the right decision.
Pietrangelo, 35, played 71 regular-season games and 10 playoff games for the Golden Knights last season, averaging 22:24 and 23:03 time on ice, respectively.
The King City, Ont. native was tapped by Team Canada to participate in the 4 Nations Face-Off in February but pulled out, citing ongoing injury concerns.
“Alex is dealing with hips that require bilateral femur reconstruction, with no guarantee of success,” general manager Kelly McCrimmon said in a statement, adding that Pietrangelo has the full support of the Golden Knights organization. “Our hope in February during the NHL’s break for the 4 Nations Face-Off was to give Alex treatment and rest to help provide relief, but instead, what we found was diminished positive results and a process that is no longer sustainable moving forward.”
Pietrangelo won his first Stanley Cup as captain of the St. Louis Blues in 2019, then signed as a free agent with the Golden Knights that off-season. He would go on to win another championship with Vegas in 2023.
Throughout his 17-year NHL career, the right-shot defenceman has appeared in 1,087 games, scoring 148 goals and 637 points.
“Alex has given everything to the game and to the Golden Knights and has played through significant challenges in the pursuit of trying to win another Stanley Cup in Vegas,” McCrimmon continued.
“Today’s decision is a difficult one for both Alex and the Golden Knights, but it is being made for the right reasons — so that Alex can be the family man we all know him to be.”
