The free agency signing of Norris Trophy caliber defenseman Alex Pietrangelo is the latest in this line of uber aggressive moves moves. Formerly captain of the 2019 Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues, Pietrangelo was the most sought after free agent in this offseason's market and Vegas was able to bag him with a seven year contract worth $61.6 million and an average annual value of $8.8 million.
Pietrangelo, 30, has played in 758 NHL games totaling 109 goals and 341 assists. He can run a power play, shut down the opposition's best forward, kill penalties and at 6-3, 210 pounds he's a physical presence as well.
Simply put, Pietrangelo is one of the best and most complete defensemen in the NHL.
McCrimmon and McPhee have proven willing to swing the bat without fear of striking out. Tomas Tatar, Paul Stastny, Max Pacioretty, Alec Martinez, Mark Stone, Robin Lehner and now Pietrangelo are all part of the list of players they have acquired via trade or free agency. Add Chandler Stephenson, Nic Roy and Zach Whitecloud to the list and Vegas has shown they are willing to continually push for excellence and the pursuit of a Stanley Cup.
Vegas has parted with draft picks, prospects, cash and beloved veterans such as Nate Schmidt and Paul Stastny along the way. The team has been at or near the cap since its second season in the league. The best players are expensive and the Golden Knights have landed elite players either through trade and or free agency and signed them to large and lengthy contracts.
Vegas has become one of the most attractive places in the NHL for players to sign. Owner Bill Foley provides the organization with all the required resources including salary cap money and infrastructure. The training facility in Summerlin is best in class and Summerlin is a community which boasts great weather, housing, schools and shopping districts.
T-Mobile Arena is just 17 miles away from City National Arena making the game day commute easy. The atmosphere in and around T-Mobile Arena is the best in the NHL. Opposition players have not only called the T-Mobile the best rink for games in the NHL they've voted it so in a number of polls. Even the ice surface in Vegas is ranked among the league's top-5.
The Golden Knights rewrote the book on expansion in their inaugural season. Just as impressive is the fact they have continued to get better and are now a power franchise in the NHL.
The only thing missing is a Stanley Cup. But not from a lack of trying.
