"Pietrangelo’s absence isn’t a stop sign — it’s a warning flare. If we don’t reinforce now, we’re digging our own hole."
The Vegas Golden Knights have built their reputation on a rock-solid blue line, with Alex Pietrangelo serving as the undeniable anchor. But as the summer of 2025 unfolded, with Pietrangelo sidelined by lingering health concerns, many expected the front office to move swiftly to plug the gap on the right side. Instead, as the offseason window closed, that hole remains glaringly open.
This isn’t just a roster oversight — it’s a strategic gamble. Vegas has proven time and again that they can adapt on the fly, but passing on the chance to land a top-tier right-shot defenseman has raised eyebrows among both NHL analysts and the fanbase. Did the Knights underestimate just how much Pietrangelo’s absence would ripple through their defensive structure?
Sure, Vegas still boasts quality names on the back end. But Pietrangelo’s leadership, puck-moving precision, and playoff-tested composure are not traits you can simply slot in from a depth call-up. In today’s NHL — where speed and execution can flip a season in a matter of weeks — leaving this gap unaddressed is a dangerous play.
A former NHL coach put it bluntly: “When you lose a blue-line leader, you’re not just down a player — you’ve lost the skeleton of your defense. If you don’t act fast, that weakness gets hunted.”
The Golden Knights still have time to explore the trade market or free-agent pool before the season’s grind intensifies, but the tone set this summer doesn’t scream urgency. And for a team expected to compete deep into the spring, every decision — or indecision — will be magnified.
If Vegas truly wants to hold its place among the NHL’s elite, they can’t rely solely on the hope that Pietrangelo will be back in peak form when it matters. They need a right-side solution now — or risk watching that absence turn into a fatal flaw when the stakes are highest.
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