| Alex Pietrangelo | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Pietrangelo with theSt. Louis Blues in 2019 | |||
| Born | (1990-01-18)January 18, 1990 (age 35) King City, Ontario, Canada | ||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) | ||
| Weight | 210 lb (95 kg; 15 st 0 lb) | ||
| Position | Defence | ||
| Shoots | Right | ||
| NHL team Former teams | Vegas Golden Knights St. Louis Blues | ||
| National team |  Canada | ||
| NHL draft | 4th overall,2008 St. Louis Blues | ||
| Playing career | 2008–present | ||
Alexander Pietrangelo (born January 18, 1990) is a Canadian professionalice hockeydefenceman andalternate captain for theVegas Golden Knights of theNational Hockey League (NHL). He previously played for theSt. Louis Blues for parts of twelve seasons,captaining the Blues for his final four seasons with the franchise. Nicknamed "Petro", as a junior, he played with theNiagara IceDogs andBarrie Colts of theOntario Hockey League (OHL). Pietrangelo is a two-timeStanley Cup champion, winning with theSt. Louis Blues in2019 and theVegas Golden Knights in2023.
Pietrangelo has competed withTeam Canada at the junior and senior level, winning a gold medal win withCanada's under-20 team at the2009 World Junior Championships. Individually, he was named Best Defenceman at the2010 World Junior Championship and2011 Men's World Championship. Pietrangelo was named to the2014 Canadian Olympic hockey team and won a gold medal at the2014 Winter Olympics.
Pietrangelo playedminor hockey in theGreater Toronto Area when he was growing up. He started to play hockey for the NobleKing Knights, Rep A team and then with the Richmond Hill Stars of the OMHA before playing three years with the Vaughan Kings of theGreater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL). As a novice aged player (nine and under), Pietrangelo and his Toronto Pro Hockey Development teammates participated in the 2000 Brick Super Novice Tournament inEdmonton,Alberta. His teammates includedSteven Stamkos,John Tavares,Philip McRae andMichael Del Zotto. Toronto, however, was defeated in the tournament final by the Vancouver Pacific Vipers, on a goal byJordan Eberle.[1][2] Pietrangelo was also a member of the All-Ontario Peewee AAA Champion Vaughan Kings team in 2003. He played three years in theToronto Jr. Canadiens AAA system.[3] The Jr. Canadiens won Ontario's bantam championship in 2005, with Pietrangelo scoring the game-winning goal in the final against theMarkham Waxers.[4]
After his successful minor hockey career, Pietrangelo was drafted third overall by theOntario Hockey League (OHL)'sMississauga IceDogs in the first round of the 2006 OHL Priority Selection.[5] He scored at a near point-per-game pace in his rookie season with the IceDogs with 52 points in 59 games, then moved with the team toNiagara as the franchise relocated in2007.
In September 2007, he was namedCanadian Hockey League Player of the Week after recording three goals and four assists in two games.[6] In December 2007,TSN ranked Pietrangelo third overall among eligible skaters for the2008 NHL Entry Draft.[7] International Scouting Services described Pietrangelo as a "tremendous specimen in terms of size and skills"[8] and ranked him fifth among North American draft prospects at mid-season, then sixth in their final rankings leading up to the Draft.[9] Pietrangelo finishing his second OHL season with 53 points in 60 games.
After the Blues lent him to the Canadian under-20 team for the 2010 World Junior Championships, Pietrangelo was returned to the OHL. During the World Juniors, his OHL rights were traded from the IceDogs to theBarrie Colts.[10] Playing half a season with Barrie, he recorded 29 points in 25 games, while adding 14 points in 17 playoff games. Due to his long playoff run with the Colts, he did not have the opportunity to play in the AHL as he did the previous season.
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Pietrangelo was selected fourth overall by theSt. Louis Blues at the Entry Draft on June 20, 2008.[11] Coming into training camp, the Blues signed him to an entry-level contract on September 4, 2008.[12] Pietrangelo earned his way onto the team for opening night and played his first NHL game against theNashville Predators on October 10, 2008.[13] Three days later, however, he suffered a head injury on October 13 in a game against theToronto Maple Leafs, whenRyan Hollweg checked him from behind into the boards.[14] Pietrangelo returned shortly, and after playing eight games total for the Blues, he was sent back to his junior team, the Niagara Icedogs.[15] On April 10, 2009, he was assigned to the Blues' top minor league affiliate, thePeoria Rivermen of theAmerican Hockey League (AHL), after his junior season had ended.[16]
Pietrangelo began the2009–10 season on the Blues' roster for a second consecutive year, but played in only nine games by December 2009. In2010–11, Pietrangelo played his first full season with the Blues, leading all team defencemen with 43 points (11 goals and 32 assists) over 79 games. He also led team defencemen inplus-minus (+18) and shots (161), while ranking third in average ice time per game.[17] Due to his previous eight- and nine-game seasons in the NHL, he did not qualify as a rookie.[18] Comparatively, the league's leading scorer among rookie defencemen that season was teammateKevin Shattenkirk, who was born a year earlier than Pietrangelo; he also recorded 43 points.[19] At the end of the2011–12 season, Pietrangelo was named to the NHL Second All-Star Team.[20] On September 13, 2013, Pietrangelo agreed to a seven-year, $45 million contract with the Blues.[21] Pietrangelo was again named to the NHL Second All-Star Team during the2013–14 season.
On August 24, 2016, Pietrangelo was named captain of the Blues.[1] In his second year as captain, he was injured in a game against theDetroit Red Wings on December 9 and was placed on injured reserve until December 19.[22] Despite his setback from injury, Pietrangelo was selected for his firstNHL All-Star Game where he won theAll-Star passing challenge.[23] Pietrangelo also set a new career-high in points and goals at the conclusion of the regular season. On June 12, 2019, Pietrangelo and the Blues defeated theBoston Bruins to win their firstStanley Cup in franchise history. Pietrangelo scored the cup-winning goal in Game 7 after being set up byJaden Schwartz. During the2019 playoffs, Pietrangelo tied with Bruins defencemanTorey Krug for leading the league in assists and lead the league in scoring amongst defenceman.
On December 29, 2019, Pietrangelo got his 326th assist, toppingAl MacInnis as the most by a Blues defenseman. Pietrangelo was selected to play in his secondAll-Star Game, along with Blues teammatesRyan O'Reilly,David Perron andJordan Binnington.
In the final year of his contract withfree agency impending, Pietrangelo and the Blues were unable to come to terms on a contract extension, and the two parties ultimately broke off negotiations, making Pietrangelo afree agent for the first time in his career; the main point of contention was that Pietrangelo was looking for afull no movement clause (which was personally important for Pietrangelo as he has four children all under the age of 3 years old at the time of his free agency and wanted guaranteed stability of not having to move teams via trade or waivers[24][25]), which Blues general managerDoug Armstrong refused to give (Armstrong has a consistent history of never handing out full no move clauses to any of his players).[26][27] On October 12, 2020, Pietrangelo signed a seven-year, $61.6 million contract with theVegas Golden Knights that included a full no move clause for the entirety of the contract.[28]
In 2022, Pietrangelo was named to his third All-Star Game.[29] With help from actorJon Hamm, Pietrangelo won the Breakaway Challenge portion of the All-Star Skills Competition despite missing both of his shots.[30]
Pietrangelo took time away from the team midway through the2022–23 season after his daughter was suffering from abrain lesion, and briefly contemplated retirement. However, as her condition improved, he was able to return to play, having missed nine games.[31] Pietrangelo attracted controversy at multiple points during the team's deep run in the2023 Stanley Cup playoffs, the first coming after he was suspended for one game during the Golden Knights' second round series against theEdmonton Oilers after slashing the arm of Oilers forwardLeon Draisaitl.[32] He would in turn accuse the Oilers players of "premeditated" hits on him that were ignored by the officials.[33] Vegas would ultimately reach the2023 Stanley Cup Finals against theFlorida Panthers. Pietrangelo exited the penalty box following the end of Game 4 and became enmeshed in an ongoing brawl, which attracted some speculation as to whether the rules required him to be suspended for ten games. However, ultimately none was applied.[34][35] The Golden Knights ultimately defeated the Panthers in five games, and Pietrangelo hoisted the Stanley Cup for the second time in his career.[31]
 Pietrangelo at the2010 World Junior Championships | ||
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| RepresentingCanada | ||
| Ice hockey | ||
| Winter Olympics | ||
 | 2014 Sochi | |
| Canada Cup / World Cup | ||
| 2016 Toronto | |
| World Junior Championships | ||
| 2009 Canada | |
 | 2010 Canada | |
Pietrangelo was picked to play forTeam Canada's under-18 team at the2007 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, where he served as analternate captain. The team finished fourth.[36] He played next for theCanadian National Junior Team at the2009 World Junior Championships and won a gold medal.[37]
The following year, Pietrangelo was loaned by his NHL team, theSt. Louis Blues, to play for Team Canada in his secondWorld Junior Championships in 2010.[38] He was selected as an alternate captain toPatrice Cormier. In the final game of the round-robin, Pietrangelo scored a shorthanded game-tying goal against the United States to send the game to overtime. Canada eventually won in a shootout and earned a bye into the semi-final.[39] Advancing to the gold medal game, Canada met the United States in a rematch, but lost 6–5 in overtime. Pietrangelo picked up several individual honours at the conclusion of the tournament. He was named a Tournament All-Star by the media, the Best Defenceman by the directorate and was selected by the coaching staff as one of Canada's top three players.
As the St. Louis Blues failed to make the playoffs in Pietrangelo's first full season in the NHL, he was selected toCanada's men's team for the2011 IIHF World Championship inSlovakia. With two goals and three assists for five points over seven games, he led Canada in defensive scoring, while tying for second overall among all tournament defencemen.[40] Canada advanced to the quarterfinal as the top-ranked team in their pool, but lost 2–1 toRussia. At the end of the tournament, Pietrangelo was chosen as the Best Defenceman by the directorate.[41] Pietrangelo was part of Canada's gold medal-winning2014 Winter Olympic team. He played in all six of Canada's games, contributing one assist.
On October 3, 2021, Pietrangelo was one of the first three players named to the men's hockey roster forCanada's team for the2022 Winter Olympics inBeijing, alongsideSidney Crosby andConnor McDavid.[42] However, due to the NHL's subsequent decision not to attend theBeijing Games as a result of theOmicron variant's impacts on scheduling, Pietrangelo was unable to compete.[43]
Pietrangelo was born to parents Joe and Edy, and raised along with his older brother David inKing City.[44] His father is the cousin of former NHL goaltenderFrank Pietrangelo.[45] He attended high school atVillanova College.[46]
Pietrangelo married St. Louis native Jayne in July 2016.[47][48] In 2017, he and his wife experiencedpregnancy loss.[49] They had triplets in July 2018.[50] The couple had their fourth child in September 2020.[51] In September 2022, one of their children developedencephalitis; the ordeal caused Pietrangelo to miss nine games in the2022–23 season and briefly contemplate retirement, though she made a recovery by the end of the year.[52]
As a child, Pietrangelo's friend died of cancer. As an adult, his niece was diagnosed withWilms' tumor, but survived.[49] This led him to partner with Friends of Kids with Cancer to raise funds and awareness for youth living with cancer.[53][54]
Bold indicates led league
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2005–06 | Toronto Jr. Canadiens AAA | GTHL U16 | 44 | 13 | 31 | 44 | 33 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | Mississauga IceDogs | OHL | 59 | 7 | 45 | 52 | 45 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | ||
| 2007–08 | Niagara IceDogs | OHL | 60 | 13 | 40 | 53 | 94 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 4 | ||
| 2008–09 | Niagara IceDogs | OHL | 36 | 8 | 21 | 29 | 32 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | Peoria Rivermen | AHL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | ||
| 2009–10 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 9 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 | Barrie Colts | OHL | 25 | 9 | 20 | 29 | 27 | 17 | 2 | 12 | 14 | 8 | ||
| 2010–11 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 79 | 11 | 32 | 43 | 19 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2011–12 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 81 | 12 | 39 | 51 | 36 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | ||
| 2012–13 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 47 | 5 | 19 | 24 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | ||
| 2013–14 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 81 | 8 | 43 | 51 | 32 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 2014–15 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 81 | 7 | 39 | 46 | 28 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2015–16 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 73 | 7 | 30 | 37 | 20 | 20 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 16 | ||
| 2016–17 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 80 | 14 | 34 | 48 | 24 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 8 | ||
| 2017–18 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 78 | 15 | 39 | 54 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2018–19 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 71 | 13 | 28 | 41 | 22 | 26 | 3 | 16 | 19 | 12 | ||
| 2019–20 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 70 | 16 | 36 | 52 | 20 | 9 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 6 | ||
| 2020–21 | Vegas Golden Knights | NHL | 41 | 7 | 16 | 23 | 16 | 19 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 18 | ||
| 2021–22 | Vegas Golden Knights | NHL | 80 | 13 | 31 | 44 | 42 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | Vegas Golden Knights | NHL | 73 | 11 | 43 | 54 | 16 | 21 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 29 | ||
| 2023–24 | Vegas Golden Knights | NHL | 64 | 4 | 29 | 33 | 24 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | ||
| NHL totals | 1,016 | 144 | 460 | 604 | 339 | 139 | 13 | 61 | 74 | 95 | ||||
| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Canada | IH18 | 4th | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | |
| 2009 | Canada | WJC |  | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2010 | Canada | WJC |  | 6 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 14 | |
| 2011 | Canada | WC | 5th | 7 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | |
| 2014 | Canada | OG | | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2016 | Canada | WCH | | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | |
| Junior totals | 16 | 5 | 12 | 17 | 16 | ||||
| Senior totals | 19 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 4 | ||||
| Award | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| NHL | ||
| Second All-Star Team | 2012,2014,2020 | |
| NHL All-Star Game | 2018,2020,2022 | |
| Stanley Cup champion | 2019,2023 | [55] |
| International | ||
| World ChampionshipBest Defenceman | 2011 | |
The summer of 2016 has been a whirlwind season for Pietrangelo, who married his fiancée Jayne in July before building a house in his hometown of King City.
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | St. Louis Blues first round draft pick 2008 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | World Junior Best Defenceman 2010 | Succeeded by |
| Sporting positions | ||
| Preceded by | St. Louis Blues captain 2016–2020 | Succeeded by |