The Vegas Golden Knights are on the verge of signing star free-agent defenseman Alex Pietrangelo to a seven-year contract carrying an average annual value of $8.8 million, sources told TSN's Pierre LeBrun.

Pietrangelo's contract will carry a full no-movement clause, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.

The 30-year-old was considered the top UFA on the open market. He finished fourth in Norris Trophy voting last season after racking up 52 points in 70 games with the St. Louis Blues.

Since becoming a full-time NHLer in 2010-11, Pietrangelo has averaged 50 points per 82 games. He's been very durable, too, playing at least 70 contests in every season during that span (excluding the shortened 2012-13 campaign).

The 6-foot-3 rearguard is also a proven winner. He captained the Blues to a Stanley Cup in 2019, won an Olympic gold medal with Team Canada in 2014, a World Cup title in 2016, and a world junior gold in 2009.

Pietrangelo's $8.8-million annual cap hit will be the fifth-highest among NHL defensemen, trailing only Erik Karlsson, Drew Doughty, Roman Josi, and P.K. Subban.

The Golden Knights are now $6.9 million above the salary cap, according to CapFriendly. The club will now be forced to part with a large salary in order to become cap compliant. Teams are allowed to be 10% over the cap during the offseason.

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