Leighton Vander Esch: Everything you need to know

Pietrangelo recorded a power-play assist, two shots on goal and two blocked shots in Thursday's 7-5 win over the Blackhawks. Pietrangelo put an end to his 10-game point drought with the helper. He went minus-6 with 17 shots on net and 24 blocked shots in that span. The 35-year-old defenseman is not playing like he did in his prime, but he remains an effective top-four blueliner for the Golden Knights. This season, he's at three goals, 23 helpers, 103 shots on net, 112 blocked shots and a plus-7 rating across 56 appearances. His assist Thursday was his first power-play point of the campaign, and he'll likely see more time with the man advantage as long as Shea Theodore (arm) is out of the lineup.

Vander Esch (neck) announced his retirement from the NFL on Monday, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports. Vander Esch, a 2018 first-round pick, earned a Pro Bowl selection and second-team All-Pro honors, but he now retires from the NFL after six seasons after having been released by the Cowboys last week. Injuries disrupted the promising linebacker's career, including the 2023 campaign, in which he missed the final 12 games due to a recurring neck issue. Vander Esch retires with 71 regular-season appearances, 469 total tackles, 3.5 sacks, 13 passes defensed and three forced fumbles under his belt and as a forever 'what-if' for Cowboys fans imagining scenarios wherein the Boise State product had managed to stay healthier.