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Pietrangelo Eyeing Golden Knights, How a Deal Might Work

Elliotte Friedman notes that the Vegas Golden Knights might be the team Alex Pietrangelo chooses if he hits free agency.

With all the talk the Toronto Maple Leafs might have interest in defenseman Alex Pietrangelo, a different team might be sneaking into the picture if the St. Louis Blues are ultimately unable to re-sign their captain. That team is the Vegas Golden Knights and one insider suggests this is the destination Pietrangelo might actually prefer if he had his way and he becomes a free agent in October.

Related: Jeff Petry Signs Long-Term Extension With Canadiens

Elliotte Friedman noted on the most recent 31 Thoughts Podcast that Pietrangelo might be leaning towards the Golden Knights if he makes it to the open market. Noting real discontent in the way the situation in St. Louis has been handled, Friedman believes that’s a real possibility and says:

“I do think he wants to go to Vegas if he makes it. My guess is they’re the team at the top of his list. And I think Vegas would do it, that’s kind of the way they’re wired, but they’re going to have to do some other things to do it.”

The draw to Vegas is how competitive the team is, the bonus money the team might be willing to give out that St. Louis simply isn’t and the tax exemptions available to Pietrangelo which would also be attractive.

Alex Pietrangelo St. Louis Blues
Alex Pietrangelo St. Louis Blues

Salary Cap Is a Real Issue for the Golden Knights

The problem with this is the cap space issue facing Vegas which would make it difficult to fit Pietrangelo into the mix. Vegas has $4.5 million in salary cap space and they haven’t signed goaltender Robin Lehner yet. It is believed they will. The question then becomes, how do they shed the salary needed to fit in (at a minimum) the $8 million needed to land Pietrangelo? After all, that’s the rumored amount currently on the table from Blues, where the blueliner said he’d prefer to stay if things hadn’t gone off the rails recently.

The Golden Knights could trade Jonathan Marchessault and there’s talk the team is looking to move center Paul Stastny and goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury. If the team could move any of these players, fitting in Pietrangelo wouldn’t be terribly tricky. That said, those trades aren’t exaclty easy to manage.

Friedman also noted that Florida could be an interesting player in this whole equation. Saying the team is ready to start spending some money and change their identity, the Panthers might be a long-shot in all of this.

Next: Oilers Expected to Sign Puljujarvi After Agent Changes

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