Pietrangelo's 4-year-old daughter caught a flu that developed into a brain lesion last month. She lost all motor functions, including her ability to walk and talk.
Pietrangelo notified the Golden Knights after it happened, requesting to step away from the team. He was provided the time needed to be with his family.
"I said, 'I wouldn't go back to work until I felt comfortable where she is at home.' ... If it takes a year to get her back where we want her to be, then so be it," Pietrangelo said. "There's more to life than some things. Whether it was this job or another job, I felt I needed to be there, not only for my family, but my wife too. It's tough to be watching games. I watched as much as I could."
The lesion disappeared a week later, which was faster than the original diagnosis. Then on Tuesday, his daughter began walking.
"She woke up the next morning and out of nowhere, she just said, '[Forget] it, I'm going to try and walk.' We were thinking it [would be] months down the road when this was going to happen," Pietrangelo said. "[On Friday], she kept walking and she's been walking so close for a full day. … It's a miracle how much she's come a long way in 48 hours. Yesterday, she tried to get onto her scooter in the house. These are all things we didn't expect to happen."
Pietrangelo, who last played Nov. 26, has 21 points (three goals, 18 assists) in 23 games this season. He leads Vegas in time on ice per game (23:29).
The Golden Knights (22-9-1) are first in the Pacific Division.
Pietrangelo said it was refreshing to be out of the hospital and back on the ice with his teammates.
"I feel like we're in a good place," he said. "I feel comfortable where she is physically and mentally."
