Everyone wants Zach Whitecloud.
Well maybe not quite everyone, but apparently nearly half the NHL is interested in trading for the Calgary Flames defenseman before Friday’s trade deadline.
TSN’s Darren Dreger wrote this on X on Thursday morning about Whitecloud:
“No surprise Zach Whitecloud has a large audience of teams circling. 15 or more. Flames need to be blown away by an offer to trade him. He’s key in helping their young D.”
Fifteen or more teams? That seems like it could be tough for the Flames to narrow down.
MORE: Avalanche traded away, traded for defensemen born on exact same day
It also definitely creates a bidding war situation where the offer could be good enough that the Flames do decide to make the move.
Whitecloud is one of the rarest commodities being heavily sought after at this trade deadline: a right-shot defenseman.
He’s 29 years old and has made a strong career for himself as an undrafted player out of Bemidji State.
The Manitoba native was with the Vegas Golden Knights until earlier this year, when he was sent to the Flames in the Rasmus Andersson trade.
He has played just 12 games with the Flames, having dished out four assists.
In his NHL career in total, Whitecloud has appeared in 380 games with 23 goals and 59 assists (82 points).He also has 599 career blocked shots and 624 career hits.
The Flames don’t have to move Whitecloud, but given the interest, his name will likely persist in rumors right until the deadline.
