The Rasmus Andersson era in Calgary is officially in the rearview mirror. On January 18, the Flames sent the 29-year-old defenseman to the Vegas Golden Knights in a multi-piece deal that brought back a 2027 first-round pick, a conditional 2028 second-rounder, prospect Abram Wiebe, and veteran blueliner Zach Whitecloud.
While the draft picks naturally draw the eye - especially for a Flames team steering toward a youth movement - the most intriguing piece in this return might just be Whitecloud. He’s not a throw-in.
He’s not just a salary cap balancer. He’s a legitimate NHL defenseman with a lot to offer.
Who Is Zach Whitecloud?
Zach Whitecloud’s journey to the NHL wasn’t a straight line. Coming from the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation and going undrafted out of Bemidji State University, he signed an entry-level deal with Vegas back in 2018 and worked his way up through the AHL. That grind paid off - he carved out a meaningful role on the Golden Knights’ blue line and was part of the franchise’s 2023 Stanley Cup run, joining a select group of Indigenous players to hoist the Cup.
He’s a player who’s earned every bit of his NHL career - and now, he’s headed to Calgary with an opportunity to write the next chapter.
What Whitecloud Brings to the Flames
Let’s get one thing clear: Whitecloud wasn’t just a cap casualty in this trade. Yes, his inclusion helped Vegas manage its books, but Calgary didn’t take him on as a favor.
Before the trade, Whitecloud was logging the most ice time among Vegas defensemen - a clear sign of the trust he earned from the coaching staff. And it wasn’t empty minutes either.
His underlying defensive numbers stack up well, even against Calgary’s current blue line.
He ranks third among Flames defensemen in blocked shots, creates rebound chances, and plays a steady, physical game in his own zone. Add in the fact that he’s a right-shot defenseman - a commodity teams around the league are always looking for - and it’s easy to see why there’s been sustained interest in the 29-year-old.
League-Wide Interest Is Real
Right-shot defensemen with size, term, and reliability don’t just grow on trees. Whitecloud checks a lot of boxes.
He’s 6-foot-2, 218 pounds, carries a manageable $2.75 million cap hit, and is under contract through the 2027-28 season. That’s the kind of profile that gets general managers making phone calls - especially with the trade deadline looming.
He’s also a trusted penalty killer, and he’s having one of the best seasons of his career in terms of both traditional and advanced metrics. His Corsi For % sits at 51, and his expected goals against (xGA) is trending in the right direction. Bottom line: Whitecloud’s value isn’t just theoretical - it’s showing up on the ice night after night.
Calgary’s Blue Line Logjam
So why would Calgary consider moving him again?
The answer lies in the Flames’ current direction. The organization is in the middle of a youth movement, and the blue line is already getting crowded. With young defensemen like Zayne Parekh and Hunter Brzustewicz waiting in the wings - not to mention Mackenzie Weegar holding down the right side - there simply isn’t enough ice time to go around.
Parekh is currently on an AHL conditioning stint, but once he’s back, the expectation is that he’ll step into a full-time role. Keeping Whitecloud in the lineup would mean slowing down that development timeline. And that’s not the plan.
This situation has shades of what happened with Luke Schenn last season. He was traded from Nashville to Pittsburgh, then flipped just two days later to Winnipeg for more draft capital. While there’s no indication Calgary is looking to move Whitecloud that quickly, the possibility of another deal is very much on the table - especially if the return helps further the rebuild.
What’s Next?
The NHL’s Olympic Roster Freeze hits on February 4 at 1 p.m. MT, but the actual trade deadline isn’t until March 6.
That gives Flames GM Craig Conroy time to weigh his options. There’s no need to rush this decision.
Whether it’s flipping Whitecloud for more picks or adding a prospect to the pipeline, the priority is clear: open up space for the next wave of talent.
Whitecloud’s time in Calgary may end up being short, but his presence - even temporarily - offers value. And if the Flames can turn that value into another building block for the future, it’s a win.