Canada defenceman Pietrangelo to sit out 4 Nations tourney because of ailment

The Vegas Golden Knights have announced that veteran defenseman Alex Pietrangelo will not be participating in the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off. The team stated that Pietrangelo will be taking time off to address an undisclosed ailment and focus on preparing for the remainder of the regular season with Vegas.

Pietrangelo, who was one of seven players from the Golden Knights named to the four rosters, was set to represent Canada alongside teammates Mark Stone, Shea Theodore, and Adin Hill. The 35-year-old defenseman has had a solid season so far, playing in 46 games and tallying three goals and 25 points. Despite his absence from the 4 Nations Face-Off, Pietrangelo recently played a key role in Vegas’ 4-1 victory over the Florida Panthers, logging over 24 minutes of ice time.

A native of King City, Ontario, Pietrangelo has an impressive international resume, having won gold medals at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey and the 2014 Winter Olympics. He also represented Canada at the 2011 world championship.

The 4 Nations Face-Off is set to kick off on February 12th at the Bell Centre in Montreal, with Canada facing off against Sweden in the opening game. Golden Knights forward William Karlsson, who was named to Sweden’s team, is currently recovering from a lower-body injury, casting doubt on his participation in the event as well.

With Pietrangelo out of the lineup, speculation has begun about who should replace him on Team Canada. Some names being floated around include MacKenzie Weegar, Evan Bouchard, Noah Dobson, and Dougie Hamilton. Weegar, in particular, has been mentioned as a strong candidate due to his all-around game and past performances at international competitions.

As the 4 Nations Face-Off approaches, fans will be eagerly awaiting updates on the roster changes and watching to see how Team Canada adapts to Pietrangelo’s absence.