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NHL Notebook: Alex Pietrangelo withdraws from Team Canada’s 4 Nations Face-Off roster
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Photo credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
Ryley Delaney
Jan 27, 2025, 17:30 ESTUpdated: Jan 27, 2025, 17:27 EST
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A roster spot on Canada’s 4 Nations Face-Off team is up for grabs.
The Vegas Golden Knights announced on Sunday that defenceman Alex Pietrangelo has pulled out of next week’s tournament.
The right-shot defenceman isn’t currently injured, as he played the second-most minutes in Sunday’s 4-1 victory over the Florida Panthers, finishing the night with a +2. This season, the 35-year-old has three goals and 25 points in 47 games. A shutdown defender, it’s a sizable loss for Team Canada, who’ll have to replace him.
From the Calgary Flames, MacKenzie Weegar is a good fit. The right-shot defenceman has six goals and 25 points in 48 games this season and posted a career-best 20 goals and 52 points in 2023-24. If Team Canada wants pure offence, Edmonton Oilerw defenceman Evan Bouchard is a good fit, as he has eight goals and 37 points in 49 games this season, with questionable defensive plays in his own end at times.

Will Borgen signs five-year extension with Rangers

Speaking of shutdown defencemen, New York Rangers defenceman Will Borgen signed a five-year extension worth $4.1 million.
Borgen was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the fourth round of the 2015 draft, making his debut with the team in 2018-19. His final season with the Sabres was in 2020-21 before the Seattle Kraken picked him in the expansion draft. The right-shot defenceman blossomed there, including a three-goal, 25-point season in 2023-24.
On Dec. 18, the Rangers traded the second overall pick from the 2019 draft, Kappo Kakko, to the Kraken for the defenceman. It’s hard to say that the trade hasn’t been a win for either team, as Kakko has matched the four goals and 14 points he had with the Rangers in 13-fewer games.
Since the trade, the Rangers are 9-6-3, but have an 8-2-3 record in their last 13 games, bringing them to within three points of the final Wild Card spot.

Logan Thompson extends with the Capitals

It was reported by numerous sources on Monday that Washington Capitals netminder Logan Thompson signed a six-year deal worth $5.85 million.
Undrafted, the Calgary, Alberta native has been terrific for the rejuvenated Capitals, posting a .925 save percentage and a 2.09 goals against average in 27 games this season, with a 22-2-3 record. For his career, he has a .915 save percentage and a 2.55 goals against average in 130 games, helping the Vegas Golden Knights win the Stanley Cup in 2023.
He and Charlie Lindgren form an all-right-handed-catching tandem between the pipes for the Capitals. While Lindgren helped the Capitals go on a huge run to end the 2023-24 season, his play has dipped this season as he has a .906 save percentage and a 2.46 goals against average in 23 games played.
That hasn’t stopped the Capitals from turning back time though, as their 33-11-5 record with 71 points has them at the very top of the league.
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