The news shook the NHL landscape on Sunday. It woke people up from naps without even playing a loud alarm.
The Vegas Golden Knights acquired Rasmus Andersson from the Calgary Flames for Zach Whitecloud, two draft picks, and prospect Abram Wiebe. Finally! Kelly McCrimmon has gotten the fish he wanted since he searched last summer.
But the big variable here is Whitecloud. The defenseman won a Stanley Cup with the Golden Knights, scoring 23 goals and 55 assists in his eight-year career. He also had 575 blocked shots and 602 hits during his career, making him one of the most reliable back-end defenders around.
Now, he starts his next chapter in Alberta with the province's little brother. That's not necessarily a bad thing: Whitecloud tends to operate under a low profile. But a new chapter is always good for the soul, especially when you move elsewhere (hello, party of one here!).
While exploring social media yesterday, I came across a quote from a reporter that talked about the defenseman. It shed light on the type of person that he really is, showcasing his character. Are you ready to be moved today, dear reader?
The story that revealed Zach Whitecloud's true character
Danny Webster of the Las Vegas Review-Journal told an inspiring story about how Zach Whitecloud contacted him after Webster's diabetic story. Mind you, he didn't recognize the defenseman's number at first, leading to a bigger surprise.
In December 2023, I was still recovering from my first diabetic surgery and was about to be cleared to go back to work. I get a text from a number I didn’t recognize.
— Danny Webster (@DannyWebster21) January 19, 2026
It was Zach Whitecloud.
Wanted to make sure I was doing well, hoped everything went well, and couldn’t wait…
What would you do if you got a text message from a phone number that you didn't recognize? Would you immediately call out the person, suspecting that the other recipient is trying to scam you? In this case, that didn't happen because it's Zach Whitecloud.
Let's face it. We need more random acts of kindness in today's society. We live in a world where everything is literally transactional, whether it's friendships or even... modern dating.
Shoutout to the gold diggers that only care about the money. Y'all are ruining it for everybody.
But in all seriousness, Whitecloud revealed his true character with a text message. Fans already knew that his quiet nature and calm demeanor made him one of a kind. Yet, this set him into an stratosphere, making him one of the kindest humans around. Still, the lore doesn't stop there.
Whitecloud's defining moment came in Game 1 of the 2023 Stanley Cup
The Vegas Golden Knights were tied, 2-2, with the Florida Panthers in Game 1 of the 2023 Stanley Cup Final. Adin Hill made a breathtaking stop earlier in the game to swing the momentum in Vegas's favor. All they needed now was a game-winning goal. Enter Zach Whitecloud.
Off assists from Ivan Barbashev and Jack Eichel, the defenseman scored the game-winning goal for Vegas in Game 1. They would go on to win the series, 4-1, fulfilling a promise that Bill Foley made when the team started.
All of this was thanks to the Manitoba native, who put the finishing touches on an incredible Stanley Cup run. Now, he'll spend some time with the Calgary Flames, where he hopes to duplicate his success and end Canada's Cup-less drought.
Godspeed to you, Zach Whitecloud. You're truly one of a kind.