Predicting the 2024-25 season for Zach Whitecloud

Zach Whitecloud isn't one of the loudest players on the Vegas Golden Knights. If you're keeping count at home, not many Golden Knights stars make much noise to begin with. They don't like bringing noise or attention to themselves, working hard to win another championship for Las Vegas. That's probably why they've been one of the most successful franchises since 2017-18.

As for the defenseman, it's a testament to his game. He prefers to play a hard-nosed game as a blue-liner, proving he brings balance on the forecheck. Last season, he had a total of 105 blocked shots and 129 hits, which made plenty of noise in the NHL. That's not all, though! He had a career-high in assists in 2023-24 with 12.

But this is a "golden" opportunity for Whitecloud to make even more noise and disrupt his opponents. The status quo has never been good in the long run, especially when the same few teams were winning. That's what happened in 2017-18 when an expansion team made the Stanley Cup Final. Hmm... I wonder what happened to that franchise?

Anyways, the native of Brandon, Manitoba can make himself known and the Golden Knights a threat. But will that happen in 2024-25, where the team looks drastically different? How will Vegas's new team structure affect his production? Let's explore what the new hockey year looks for the defenseman.

What factors will play into Zach Whitecloud's 2024-25 season with the Vegas Golden Knights?

A full season of Noah Hanifin will play a role in the 2024-25 season for Zach Whitecloud. How, you might ask? The Vegas Golden Knights suddenly have a surplus of defensemen for the new year, even with Alec Martinez leaving via free agency. Players like Ben Hutton and Kaeden Korczak are waiting in the wings, hoping to get a starting spot.

So what would happen? If a name like Brayden McNabb or Shea Theodore, both unrestricted free agents in the summer of 2025, gets traded, that opens up a higher slot. That means a name like Whitecloud could get the bump. He could get more reps with better offensive talent, including Mark Stone, Tomas Hertl, and William Karlsson.

But if no moves are made, it'll be the status quo for the Bemidji State alumnus. That means good forechecking followed up by an anonymous offensive game. Granted, that isn't a bad thing for the Golden Knights. It gives the lower units more weight defensively, providing balance in a more physical aspect. But bringing in a bigger name could help everyone involved, including Whitecloud himself.