The Vegas Golden Knights signed a key prospect to a two-year, two-way deal on Thursday. The 21-year-old goaltender was a fourth-round (128th overall) draft pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, coming in with a 6'3" frame.
The Northeastern Huskies netminder has had a decorated goaltending history. He was a one-time member of the USHL Third All-Star Team and had an incredible run in 2019-20 with the Rockland Nationals. Here, he had a GAA of 1.87, a save percentage of .936, and three shutouts in 24 games in the HEO U18 league.
Currently, he's dominating the NCAA ice hockey league with Northeastern. He has a GAA of 2.68, a save percentage of .914, and five shutouts in two seasons with the club. The Ontario native has seen an incredible uprising in the Golden Knights organization. He's solidified the goaltending position in the farm system, making them one of the most underrated units in the NHL.
What else does he bring to the table, though? What makes him a viable prospect once Adin Hill (or whoever else) leaves the net behind in Las Vegas? It's time to introduce Whitehead to the world and show what he can do in the world of hockey. After all, you can never have enough goaltenders on your team.
What Cameron Whitehead brings to the Vegas Golden Knights
Cameron Whitehead brings plenty of solid attributes to the Vegas Golden Knights. For one, he's great at tracking the puck. He sees the play unfold and moves accordingly, making the necessary save. The Northeastern Huskies netminder also stands at 6'3". He's suitable in net for that reason alone by simply moving to the puck and stopping shots.
Whitehead is also great with his reflexes, moving quickly on a shot. He's proficient with his mechanics and can snatch a puck or two while in net. He's also great at scrambling when needed, doing whatever it takes to make a save. Combine that with his size and you will have the perfect goaltender for the Golden Knights. He's even shown that he can work around a screen efficiently.
However, he must learn to utilize his size effectively to become more efficient. That starts with building more confidence and learning to handle a bigger workload. Mind you, he has had forgettable campaigns during his amateur career.
One example is his 2021-22 campaign with the USHL's Lincoln Stars. Here, he had a GAA of .319, a save percentage of .892, and a shutout. Granted, he improved to a GAA of 2.83, a save percentage of .904, and five shutouts next season. However, he still has some things to iron out. That includes controlling his rebounds. This is something that Hill has drastically improved during his Vegas tenure, ensuring nobody jumps on another scoring chance.
Perhaps Whitehead could take some pointers from the Golden Knights starter on this front. After all, he did sign a six-year deal earlier in March for his excellent work (GAA of 2.48, seventh in the NHL, and a save percentage of .908, tied for 12th). However, the 21-year-old has plenty of time in his young career to turn things around. That could start with making the most of his new two-way deal with Vegas.