PuckSleuth
28

Calgary Flames · Defense · Shoots R

Zach Whitecloud

Age 29 · 6'2" · 210 lb · Born in Brandon, CAN

Cap hit

$2.75M

2.6% of $104M cap

Term

2 yrs

Through 2027-28, then UFA

Clause

None

Surplus value

—

arrives with the trade tools

Confirmed by the public signing announcement · source

2026-27 regular season

GP

1

Goals

0

Assists

0

0 primary

Points

0

0.00 per game

TOI/GP

19:14

PP 0:00 · PK 3:31

xGF%

28.8

5v5, -17.9 vs. last yr

Game Score

-0.21

per game, goals above average

Faceoff %

—

Plus/minus

-1

Blocks 1 · Hits 2

Game log

Last 5 games · NHL API

GameGASOGHITBLKTOIPPPKFOOZS%GVTK+/-GS
Oct 1
vs SEA · L 6-1
0002119:140:003:31—7510-1-0.21
Apr 16
vs LAK · W 3-1
0223620:300:003:27—6030+2+0.75
Apr 14
vs COL · L 3-1
0001314:360:005:57—7510-1-0.07
Apr 12
vs UTA · W 4-1
0100322:410:004:26—3321+1-0.10
Apr 11
@ SEA · L 4-1
0010224:520:004:50—000-1-0.14

GS = our Game Score, goals above average. FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.

Advanced metrics

5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 1,332 min · percentile vs. NHL defensemen

xGF%47.0%

32nd percentile

Relative xGF%-4.4

16th percentile

HDCF%49.7%

55th percentile

CF%48.9%

48th percentile

Relative CF%-0.6

50th percentile

FF%48.4%

40th percentile

GF%45.4%

28th percentile

CF/6057.0

57th percentile

CA/6059.5

38th percentile

ixG/600.16

33rd percentile

Goals above expected-1.5

16th percentile

IPP30.6%

36th percentile

PDO98.7

31st percentile

OZS%45.3%

41st percentile

xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.

Play styleAggressive physical defender

Trait percentiles vs. NHL defensemen · 2025-26

Whitecloud is a hard-hitting, rush-oriented defenseman who creates turnovers through physicality and excels at leading the transition game. He struggles to generate offense through playmaking or shooting, relying instead on his speed and physicality to move the puck up ice.

physicaltransitionlimited offense
Shooting volume
13
Playmaking
34
Zone entries(est.)
84
Forechecking
25
Physicality
84
Defensive impact
16
Puck management
55
Speed
41

Where he shoots from

Slot 7% · Mid-range 23% · Perimeter 70%(107 unblocked shots)

Strengths

  • Exceptional rush chances creation ability at 84th percentile
  • Elite physicality at 84th percentile drives turnovers and gaps
  • Above-average puck management at 55th percentile steadies possession

Watch-outs

  • Defensive impact at 16th percentile suggests gaps in positioning
  • Forechecking at 25th percentile limits offensive pressure
  • Minimal shooting volume at 13th percentile keeps offensive ceiling low

Similar style: Yan Kuznetsov (CGY), Erik Gudbranson (CBJ)

Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.

Where his Game Score comes from

2025-26 · 78 GP · goals above average

Season total -6.5 goals, or -0.08 per game.

Even strength offense
-1.1
Even strength defense
-0.2
Power play
-0.1
Penalty kill
+0.2
Finishing
-1.5
Playmaking
-2.2
Penalties
-1.5

Game Score adds up a player's impact in goals compared with an average player given the same ice time: his share of expected goals for and against at even strength, on the power play, and on the penalty kill, plus finishing (goals minus expected goals), primary assists, penalties drawn and taken, and faceoffs. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.

By season

Regular season

SeasonTeamGPGAP+/-SOGTOI/GPFO%GS/GP
2026-27CGY1000-1019:14—-0.21
2025-26CGY, VGK7821517-66720:19—-0.08
2024-25VGK744913+77217:31—+0.02
2023-24VGK6121214-35117:35—-0.01
2022-23VGK595712+106417:07—-0.03

Sentiment & chatter

Fans

—

Beat writers

—

Media

—

Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.

Age curve

How players at his position age, and where his contract falls on that curve, arrives with the trade tools.

Skating · NHL EDGE

2025-26, as of Oct 2

Top speed
21.3 mph
37th pct
20+ mph bursts
35
Hardest shot
94.0 mph
73rd pct
Distance
219.0 mi
OZ time
39.7%
21st pct
DZ time
41.9%