Why The Golden Knights Need To Trade Zach Whitecloud
VGK fans know what the mission is this offseason. Open up enough cap space so that you can keep Jonathan Marchessault and Chandler Stephenson. As long as that happens, I think most fans will be pretty satisfied regardless of what Kelly McCrimmon does with the rest of the offseason. Zach Whitecloud just might end up being the sacrificial lamb in the pursuit of keeping Marchessault and Stephenson.
We’ve already explored where the Golden Knights sit currently. I’ll create an updated version of this but here’s that video if you missed it.
I also already listed potential cap casualties in a separate post. Adin Hill is the obvious choice to me. However, he probably won’t be the only one. The truth of the matter is it almost makes zero sense to keep Whitecloud heading into the 2024-25 NHL Season.
A: Kaedan Korczak has to play. He also can’t be sent down to the minors anymore heading into this season. Anybody that actually watches the games knows how well he played during his brief stint with the Knights last year. +/- isn’t everything but Korczak was a +12 in 26 games. He also notched nine points across 16:30 of ice time with a positive CF%.
Korczak, 23, has to play and someone will claim him in a hot minute if he does get exposed to waivers. It is what it is. He’s a former second round pick and a decision needs to be made. I’d argue that Korczak is a better player than Whitecloud right now or will be very soon. With that in mind, I’m not really sure what there is to talk about.
Noah Hanifin, Alex Pietrangelo, Shea Theodore, Brayden McNabb, and Nic Hague make up the rest of the blue line. Korczak makes the most sense on the third pair, which means Whitecloud is the odd man out. That’s not even including Ben Hutton who is essentially reserved as the 7th D (and Hutton played his balls off last year when called up). There’s also a chance Alec Martinez could return on the cheap too as the 8th D.
At some point, something has to give. There just isn’t enough space for Whitecloud. By the way, a player who was scratched at various points of last season. Whitecloud is a really good hockey player. It’s more so a product of Vegas having the best blue line in the sport and he can’t crack the lineup anymore. They literally have the Harlem Globetrotters at defense and Whitcloud just can’t crack the rotation anymore. It is what it is.
The good news is Whitecloud should have value. He’s a very competent third pair guy who more importantly carries a cheap cap hit. The Bemidji State product carries an AAV of $2.75 million through the 2027-28 season. A small chunk of change that could go a long way toward retaining some of the key impending free agents on the roster. It’s a cheap deal though that another team should want if they’re short on defensemen who play on the right side. Something that describes 90% of teams.
The Bruins just gave up a third round pick for Andrew Peeke who sucks. Are you telling me Vegas can’t do better than that for Whitecloud? Or… even use Whitecloud as a piece to acquire another goalie?
I’m not sure what else there is to say. It’s just something that’s going to have to happen this offseason. Let’s just hope Vegas utilizes this opportunity in the best way possible. After all, being forced to trade a guy like Whitecloud because you have too much talent on your blue line is a good problem to have.
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