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4 Nations Face-Off

4 Nations Face-Off: Pietrangelo Withdraws; Likely Replacements

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Alex Pietrangelo suspension, Vegas Golden Knights, Edmonton Oilers

The Vegas Golden Knights have announced that defenseman Alex Pietrangelo has withdrawn from the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament. Pietrangelo will instead “tend to an ailment and prepare for the remainder of the regular season with Vegas.”



Pietrangelo won gold with Team Canada at the 2014 Olympics. He was also part of the gold medal-winning team at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.

Pietrangelo is the first player to withdraw from the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, but it’s possible that William Karlsson will follow suit.

Who Will Replace Pietrangelo?

Team Canada is still working on naming Pietrangelo’s replacement. The deadline to do so is February 11th.

It feels likely that Evan Bouchard of the Edmonton Oilers will get the call, as many thought he was snubbed from the original roster. Dougie Hamilton of the New Jersey Devils is also a possibility. So, too, is Mackenzie Weegar of the Calgary Flames.

But this is Team Canada, and they’ve historically prioritized veteran presence. I wonder about Drew Doughty. Doughty is coming off a fractured ankle suffered in the preseason and is expected to make his return in the coming days. Doughty is no stranger to international play. He was part of two gold medal-winning Olympic teams in 2010 and 2014 and the team that took home gold in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.