Right now, things aren’t going so good for Alex Pietrangelo and his St. Louis Blues.
They are down 3-0 to the Los Angeles Kings and are on the verge of being eliminated, their hopes to hoist Lord Stanley’s Cup almost gone.
We know what can cheer him up.
Being named a Foxy Friday!
Foxy Friday: Alex Pietrangelo
Hi. I’m Alex. Look at the perfect structure of my face.
Much like Zach Parise before him, we think that Alex would definitely be the sort of guy you’d like to take home to Mom. Look at that face. Adorable.
The 22-year-old Blues defenceman was part of a very talented NHL Draft Class of 2008. He was selected 4th overall and was one of four defenseman drafted within the first 10 picks.
Also drafted in the top 10 that year – Steven Stamkos, Drew Doughty, Zach Bogosian, Luke Schenn, Colin Wilson, Mikkel Boedker, Cody Hodgson – just to name a few.
He’s the only normal one. Stamkos is a noob. Doughty’s hair is a hot mess.
His nickname is “Jello”. When we go to see the Blues play someday, we’re totally making a sign that says “There’s Always Room for Jello!”
He has a serious bromace with Michael Del Zotto and Steven Stamkos. And when we say serious…we mean S-E-R-I-O-U-S. Like junior high bromance level. Pietrangelo comes across like a guy who remembers where he came from and the friends that helped get him there. That is all sorts of foxy.
He’s a serious contender to win the Norris someday. By all accounts, the 6’4″, 207lb d-man has all the skills required to become one of the best defenseman in the league. While he got out to slow start in St. Louis, the organization and coaches speak so highly of him, that you have a feeling that his time will come. Rumor has it that he has patterned his game and his shot after Nicklas Lidstrom. And we all know what his career has been like.
Photo courtesy of Jen Krechel Photography
He has got poise. He can speak in complete sentences. And he’s funny too. Man knows his way around an interview. After his NHL career is over, he definitely has a future in broadcasting.
He has NHL in his blood. His uncle, Frank, was a goalie for the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Hartford Whalers (Long Live the Whale!)
Other foxy factors…
- He had 12 G, 34 A, for 46 points this season.
- He and his defense partner, Kevin Shattenkirk (GO BU!) became the 4th set of d-men in Blues history to each record 40+ points in the same season (MacInnis/Pronger, MacInnis/Steve Duchesne, Jeff Brown/Scott Stevens).
- Youngest player in club history to record back to back 40 point season.
- He was the 2nd defenseman in Blues history to record 6 GWG and 6PPG in the same season. The other? Al MacInnis.
So there you have it. All you need to know about #27 Alex Pietrangelo, this week’s Foxy Friday.
Thanks for the fantasy hockey points this season, Foxy!
Excellent selection. Despite my contractual obligation (as a Wings fan) to hate his team, I am definitely on board with this.
Thanks. He’s just too lovely to not recognize with this very prestigious honor.
Whew….just checked Wikipedia and he’s actually 22. It means the half your age plus seven equation (aka the only math you ever need) says I’m OK to think he’s Foxy. Capitalization intended.
Oh, typo. Thanks for the catch.
Regardless of the age, I think the kid is going to be something special. When he wins the Norris one day, you can say “Chuck was so right. She’s psychic!”
Rest assured – I was not pointing out the typo, but merely making myself feel better about this foxiness.
To justify your lust. It’s okay. My half your age +7 is 23, so sadly he doesn’t not qualify. But I can still think he is the bee’s knees. Because I kinda do.
There was considerable chatter that he should have been nominated – or seriously in the running – for the Norris this year. So the day might not be too far off. And you are so right about his being mature beyond his years. He sounds like a poised, grizzled veteran during scrums. Such a contrast to crybaby teammates like Oshie.
I’m torn with this series because I like both teams for very different reasons. I would love to see LA give the finger to everybody this year, but then again if the Blues have to be eliminated at this stage I would hope they could make this one more of a dogfight. They look congealed with terror out there – really stiff and out of their element.
By the way, the shots of him with Stamkos and DZ are perfection.
This makes me want to watch “Going the Distance” for the part where no one will bring a beer to Charlie Day while he’s in the bathroom. I die.
Draft Stamkos is so EXACTLY my little brother, it is seriously freaking me out.
Also – I enjoy this Pietrangelo. As I am finding I am enjoying many of the Blues (even though I don’t want them to win because I am so fully on the bandwagon for the Kings Streak of Amazingness.). I have an UNNATURAL love of TJ Oshie which is going to earn me an unfriending from Lindsay any day now.
I’m with you. I like the Blues and I want them to do well, but I’m cheering more for the Kings. I have family in LA and my cousin is a DIE HARD Kings fan. I don’t think he’d speak to me ever again if I didn’t cheer for the Kings. They might have been an 8 seed but are definitely not build like an 8th seed.
Is it just me or is TJ Oshie’s face unnaturally wide and round?
Also he looks so much like that kid from “Almost Famous” – Patrick Fugit
Jess, do not fear. It’s not the TJ Oshie love that will earn an unfriending (I’m sorry, I just cannot see it. He looks like a Cabbage Patch Kid for realz) – but rather, your David Backes love.
Shhhhhhhhh…. My Backes love is a SECRET. Damnit Linz 😛
His face is wide and round. But it is his excessively rosy cheeks that win me over. I have a weakness. And, truly, he gets many points for his college bromance with Jonathan Toews. That was a bromance for the ages. Seriously, it makes his brolationship with Patrick Kane look like a broquaintance.
Hahaha A+ comment 😀
Oooh hockey players who can speak in full (non-100% sports cliche) sentences? That’s pretty much all it takes to get me on board!
I have loved this man since the moment he was drafted. I am a born and raised, bleed blue til I die, Blues fan. And as my dad and I sat in Scottrade Center watching this draft in 2008, I turned to him and said ‘This guy is going to be the next Al MacInnis.’ He has not disappointed at all.
He only gets better. I’m willing to bet that he is the next captain. He’s a stellar player. And of course, he’s absolutely gorgeous!
You’re not far off with the captaincy idea. He could very well wear the C further on in his career. I bet in a couple of years he gets to wear the A.
Blues are my choice to come out on top of the Western Conference. I think they have a great club, great goaltending, and could go very far.
Plus you have fellow BU Terrier, Kevin Shattenkirk. GO BU! When he played here and would level someone with a hard hit, the crowd would chant “YOU GOT SHAT ON!”