PuckSleuth
28Cap hit
$2.75M
2.6% of $104M cap
Term
2 yrs
Through 2027-28, then UFA
Clause
None
Surplus value
+$1.527M
vs. $4.277M market estimate
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
-0.19
per game, goals above average
Faceoff %
—
Plus/minus
-1
Blocks 1 · Hits 2
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1 vs SEA · L 6-1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 19:14 | 0:00 | 3:31 | — | 75 | 1 | 0 | -1 | -0.19 |
| Apr 16 vs LAK · W 3-1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 20:30 | 0:00 | 3:27 | — | 60 | 3 | 0 | +2 | +0.75 |
| Apr 14 vs COL · L 3-1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 14:36 | 0:00 | 5:57 | — | 75 | 1 | 0 | -1 | -0.07 |
| Apr 12 vs UTA · W 4-1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 22:41 | 0:00 | 4:26 | — | 33 | 2 | 1 | +1 | -0.10 |
| Apr 11 @ SEA · L 4-1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 24:52 | 0:00 | 4:50 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | -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
32nd percentile
16th percentile
55th percentile
48th percentile
50th percentile
40th percentile
28th percentile
57th percentile
38th percentile
33rd percentile
16th percentile
36th percentile
31st percentile
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.
- 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
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | P | +/- | SOG | TOI/GP | FO% | GS/GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | CGY | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 | 19:14 | — | -0.19 |
| 2025-26 | CGY, VGK | 78 | 2 | 15 | 17 | -6 | 67 | 20:19 | — | -0.08 |
| 2024-25 | VGK | 74 | 4 | 9 | 13 | +7 | 72 | 17:31 | — | +0.02 |
| 2023-24 | VGK | 61 | 2 | 12 | 14 | -3 | 51 | 17:35 | — | -0.01 |
| 2022-23 | VGK | 59 | 5 | 7 | 12 | +10 | 64 | 17:07 | — | -0.03 |
Latest news
Headlines from news outlets and team blogs
- Flames Put on Notice About Zach Whitecloud Trade After 6-1 Loss
Yahoo Sports · Oct 2
- Postgame Whitecloud - 01.10.26
NHL.com · Oct 2
- 2026/27 Calgary Flames Player Preview: Zach Whitecloud
flameforthought.com · Sep 23
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.
Recent Game Scores
Last 10 games · goals above average
Average -0.21 per game over these 10.
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%
Age curve
NHL defensemen · production index
At 29, defensemen typically produce 93% of their peak (age 24). His contract runs through age 30, when the typical level is 89%.
From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.
Contract by season
2 seasons left
| Season | Team | Cap hit | % of cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | CGY | $2.75M | 2.6% |
| 2027-28 | CGY | $2.75M | 2.4% |
UFA after 2027-28. $5.5M in cap hits left. % of cap uses each season's ceiling where the league has set one ($104M this season, $113.5M in 2027-28).