Vegas submits opening roster and wastes no time in taking advantage of NHL salary cap rules

With the 2025-26 NHL season officially opening today, teams are required to submit their full 23 man roster to the league before puck drop.

In doing so today, the Vegas Golden Knights have revealed that star defenseman Alex Pietrangelo is out for the entire regular season and the playoffs. This means that the injured Pietrangelo is out for the entire season and post-season and that the Golden Knights will get the full $8.8 million of his salary in salary cap relief. So, in effect, the Golden Knights just got nearly $9 million to spend if they so choose... and of course they will.

This team has shown time and time again that they will do WHATEVER it takes to remain competitive. They will exploit every loophole and take advantage of all the tools at their disposal. Honestly, you have to kind of admire it. This is a team that's Hellbent on winning and they don't care whose feelings they hurt along the way.

As for Pietrangelo, this has to be the end of the road, right? He still has one more year remaining on his contract and he's 35 years old. He's a Stanley Cup champion, an Olympic gold medalist and a future Hall of Famer. He's accomplished everything there is to accomplish in the sport and I don't think anyone would blame him for hanging up the skates.