Alex Pietrangelo out, Pete DeBoer returns for Golden Knights

The Golden Knights’ coaching staff is almost back to full strength. Their defense corps is not.

Coach Pete DeBoer was removed from the NHL COVID protocols after 10 days of isolation and took his spot behind the bench Friday night when the Knights resumed their season against the Los Angeles Kings at T-Mobile Arena.

Defenseman Alex Pietrangelo remained in the NHL’s COVID protocol and did not play in the Knights’ first game since Jan. 26.

“Ten days in quarantine with my wife. That’ll test any marriage,” DeBoer said with a chuckle after the morning skate. “Watched a lot of hockey and did some deep dives into some projects with the team that maybe I wouldn’t have had the opportunity or the time to do in the day to day of running it. I tried to use the time the best I could. But nice to be back.”

DeBoer was one of three members of the coaching staff in isolation under the NHL’s COVID protocols and wasn’t on the bench for the Knights’ 5-4 home shootout loss to St. Louis on Jan. 26.

The NHL postponed three Knights games after at least one coach tested positive for COVID-19 last week. The team resumed practice Wednesday after its facility at City National Arena was closed for a week.

Ryan McGill is the only assistant who hasn’t returned to the team.

“I think in 12 years I’ve maybe missed a couple games, two that I can think of,” DeBoer said. “I’m sure it’s a lot like a player getting an injury. You feel like you’re letting the group down not being there.”

Pietrangelo was feeling well and “pretty much asymptomatic,” according to DeBoer. If the defenseman tested positive and had symptoms during his isolation, the NHL protocol states he can return after at least 10 days since symptoms first appeared or with two negative tests.

Pietrangelo first appeared on the NHL’s list of COVID protocol-related absences Jan. 28.

With Pietrangelo out of the lineup, defenseman Dylan Coghlan made his NHL debut against the Kings. Nick Holden also made his first appearance of the season on defense.

Coghlan, an undrafted free agent, led the Chicago Wolves defensemen in scoring each of the past two seasons in the American Hockey League.

“In a regular year, we would have got a training camp plus a bunch of exhibition games to really get him a good look at this level,” DeBoer said. “Unfortunately for him, we didn’t have that luxury, so he’s jumping in midseason. But he’s ready. I’m very confident in his abilities.”

Brief introduction

DeBoer was skating at a leisurely pace before the morning skate when he spotted defenseman Kaedan Korczak and tapped him on the shin pad.

DeBoer made a quick left turn and gave Korczak a fist bump before the coach put his arm around the youngster’s shoulder as they glided around the ice.

Korczak was called up to the taxi squad before Wednesday’s practice, and this was the first chance DeBoer had to meet the 2019 second-round pick.

“I can tell you during my quarantine, I was getting calls from the coaching staff here that was running things just about how impressed they were with how he looked for a young guy,” DeBoer said. “Another guy we’re excited to see, and he’s got a good future ahead of him.”

Pad-ition

Goalie Robin Lehner added another equipment setup to his collection.

The latest gear goes with the Knights’ reverse retro jersey and is primarily red and black with a pair of swords crossing on the leg pads.

The Knights are set to debut their reverse retro jerseys Feb. 20 when they meet Colorado at Lake Tahoe.

Contact David Schoen at dschoen@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5203. Follow @DavidSchoenLVRJ on Twitter.