The Rasmus Andersson saga is over. On January 18, the Calgary Flames traded the 29-year-old defenceman to the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for a 2027 first-round pick, a conditional 2028 second-round pick, Abram Weibe, and Zach Whitecloud, another 29-year-old defenceman. While the eyes of most were caught by the two picks Calgary brought in, the most interesting piece in the return is Whitecloud.
Who is Zach Whitecloud?
From the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, Whitecloud went on to play in the NCAA with Bemidji State University in Minnesota. While he went undrafted, the Vegas Golden Knights signed him to an entry-level deal on March 8, 2018. He earned his way through the AHL and eventually became a mainstay on the Golden Knights’ blue line. Whitecloud was also a member of the 2023 Stanley Cup-winning Golden Knights when he joined a group of cup winners of Indigenous descent. He turned himself into a bona fide NHLer.
What does Whitecloud bring to Calgary?
A big reason as to why he was added to the deal was to make the cap situation for Vegas work. However, that isn’t to say that Whitecloud is a throwaway piece. Before he was traded, Whitecloud had the highest time on ice of any Vegas defenceman, though Noah Hanifin was close behind with fewer games. He also has some of the better underlying numbers in his own end out of all Calgary defencemen. He is third in blocked shots, creates rebounds, and holds his own on the defensive end. Add the fact that he is a right-shot defenceman, and there is a lot to like about his game. It’s why so many teams have kept an eye on the 29-year-old for some time now.
Interest around the league
Right-shot defencemen are extremely valuable around the league, and Whitecloud is no different. It also helps that he has multiple other things that many teams desire. He’s in year four of a six-year contract that carries an AAV of $2.75M, and isn’t afraid to use his 6’2″, 218lb frame. Not only that, but he is someone who is reliable on the penalty kill, consistently being trusted in those situations. The interest has just been increasing as well. As previously mentioned, Whitecloud has battled his way to the NHL and is seen as an amazing person throughout the league. Someone who everyone loves, and he’s also having one of his best seasons yet. Sitting at a 51 Corsi For %, and one of his best seasons in terms of xGA, many teams could use a player like Whitecloud this late in the season.
Logjam on the blue line
You may be asking, why trade him if he brings so much value to a team? The reason is that he is 29 years old. The Flames already have a plethora of young defencemen, such as Zayne Parekh and Hunter Brzustewicz. Add in Mackenzie Weegar on the rightside as well, and you don’t have room for Whitecloud. It is no secret that Calgary has been struggling and is in the midst of an effort to get younger. That whole plan gets derailed if you can’t let the kids play. Zayne Parekh is currently on an AHL conditioning stint, and once he rejoins the Flames, he will be primed to take a spot. The fact of the matter is, there isn’t a spot for him in the lineup where the Flames don’t deviate from the plan.
The situation could easily become something similar to Luke Schenn’s last year. A member of the Nashville Predators, Schenn was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 5. Two days later, the Penguins flipped him to the Winnipeg Jets for a 2026 second and 2027 fourth-round pick. Obviously, the turnaround isn’t as quick in this case, but Whitecloud may very well be flipped for more draft capital.
Time for a decision
The NHL’s Olympic Roster Freeze takes effect on February 4 at 1 p.m. MT. The actual trade deadline isn’t until March 6 at 1 p.m. MT. There is still plenty of time for Craig Conroy to explore the market and look for the best possible return. He shouldn’t be rushed into the decision and should look to continue building upon the foundation he has helped set. Whether that be adding draft capital or another prospect. The main priority is opening up a spot for the younger players.
Stats Courtesy of Natural Stat Trick and MoneyPuck.
