Hockey

Alex Pietrangelo wants to return and Carter Hart is considering signing: good luck to the Golden Knights
Félix Forget
Alex Pietrangelo wants to return and Carter Hart is considering signing: good luck to the Golden Knights
Credit: Getty Images

Last June, we learned that Alex Pietrangelo's career might be over. The defenseman had suffered a major hip injury that, in his own words, was unlikely to allow him to return to action.He wasn't completely closing the door… but he knew that getting back into the shape required to play in the Bettman circuit was unlikely.So the Golden Knights suddenly had $8.8 million to spend… and the club took the opportunity to sign Mitch Marner at $12 million a year for eight years. Except… Earlier today, Pietrangelo suddenly changed his tune. He suddenly mentioned the possibility of a return to action later this year.And that makes things difficult for Vegas management… because if he's likely to return this season, the club would exceed the $3.8M cap hit this season.

hit.

The math, in fact, is this: right now, the Golden Knights are $7.6M over the salary cap. If Pietrangelo can't come back this season, there's no problem (because the club can exceed the $8.8 M cap)… but if the defenseman can come back, the club can't exceed it by more than $3.8 M.This is a new rule adopted in the new collective agreement, but it takes effect this season.

And when you consider that the Golden Knights are one of the 3-4 finalist teams to sign Carter Hart according to Chris Johnston (the Hurricanes, who are expected to sign Michael McLeod, are also among them, as are 1-2 other teams whose identities we don't know), it suddenly starts to make the Knights‘ situation even more complex.

Because if there really is competition between different teams, it could cost Vegas more than we think to sign him.

It's worth remembering that Pietrangelo's contract expires at the end of the 2026-27 season. That means that if he's considering a return to action, the club could be looking at $8.8M on its active payroll next year… which brings us to Jack Eichel. The center needs a new contract for next season, and we're expecting to see him get a pay raise, as he's getting $10M a year on his current deal. In a world where Vegas has to pay Pietrangelo next year, it suddenly becomes harder to see a world in which the club will be able to pay Eichel big money without sacrificing another big piece of its core.William Karlsson, who makes $5.9M a year for the next two seasons, could be a good candidate to sacrifice…. but ideally, Vegas would probably like to keep him, we agree.We'll have to keep an eye on this one, but Vegas payroll specialists may be in for a headache over the next few months if Pietrangelo really is aiming for a comeback.

'Overtime'

– What do you think?

– Oh?

– Interesting.

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