As NHL non-playoff teams await the outcome of tonight's draft lottery, one of the blue-chip prospects available in this year's draft has received word his season has almost certainly ended prematurely.
On Friday night, Niagara Ice Dog defenceman Alex Pietrangelo left Game 2 of the playoff series with the Oshawa Generals after just one period, complaining of pain in his abdomen. Pietrangelo did not play in a Game 3 loss on Sunday night in Oshawa and the Ice Dogs would only say he was suffering from an "upper body injury."
But sources say Pietrangelo is in a St. Catharines' hospital, diagnosed with mononucleosis and fluid in his abdomen, caused from a small tear of his enlarged spleen. Sources say the spleen has not ruptured and does not require surgery to remove it, that it's just a small laceration that will heal in time.
TSN : NHL - Canada's Sports Leader
Top prospect Pietrangelo out with illness 
