With the fourth overall pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, the St. Louis Blues select defenseman Alex Pietrangelo. Eleven years later, he lifted the Stanley Cup as the captain of the Blues. A year after St. Louis won their first cup in franchise history, Pietrangelo tested the free-agent market and now is a member of the Vegas Golden Knights. In St. Louis, he’s improved and made a name for himself as one of the best defensemen in the league. Pietrangelo had a great career with Blues and he did what nobody could for 50+ years as a captain in the gateway city. His journey is far from over and fans wish him the best of luck and thank him for all he’s done for the City of St. Louis.
Pietrangelo Says Goodbye To St. Louis
Junior Hockey
Pietrangelo played in the OHL for the Mississauga IceDogs in 2006. In his rookie season with the IceDogs, he had 52 points in 59 games. The team eventually moved in 2007 as they were renamed the Niagra IceDogs. In his second OHL season, he recorded 53 points in 60 games. After getting praised by scouts, he was selected fourth overall by the Blues in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. His first season didn’t go as planned at all as he suffered a head injury early on and played eight games for the Blues before getting sent back down and eventually headed to the teams’ top minor league affiliate in the AHL. Pietrangelo made it back to the NHL for his second season but quickly left again after only playing nine games. He eventually went back to the OHL, where his rights were traded to the Barrie Colts. Alex had to wait two years before he got his first real shot for the Blues.
NHL Career
After his first two shortened seasons in the NHL, Pietrangelo officially began his great run in 2010-11 with the Blues. He played 79 games that year and had 11 goals with 32 assists. Alex got recognized in 2011-12 when he was named to the NHL’s Second All-Star Team and finished fourth in the Norris Trophy voting with 12 goals and 39 assists in 81 games. A year after he was named captain in 2016, Alex had his best statistical season in 2017-18 when he scored 15 goals with 39 assists in 78 games. During the cup season in 2018-19, he only played 71 games but had 13 goals with 28 assists and just as well could’ve broken his points record. During the playoffs that year, Pietrangelo had three goals with 16 assists.
Pietrangelo was on pace to have his best season this past year until a global pandemic hit. Before the stoppage, he had 16 goals with 36 assists in 70 games played. he was just two points off of his career-high in points. Overall, Pietrangelo played in two all-star games (2018, 2019), was named to three, Second All-Star Teams (2011-12, 2013-14, 2019-20), and finished in the top five in Norris Trophy voting (2011-12, 2013-14, 2019-20). The most important stat of all came in 2018-19 when he was the first player in Blues history to raise the Stanley Cup.
Petro Will Be Missed
It will be hard to see Pietrangelo in a different uniform other than blue. He’s brought so much to this team and city not only on the ice but off of the ice. Petro has raised his kids here and made St. Louis his home. He never wanted to leave but unfortunately, friendship and business are two different things in this league. The Blues have their eye to the future without Petro and even though it’s still a good outlook, it would’ve been nice to see him try and win another cup in the city that he loves so much. We’ll miss you number 27.
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