The initial reaction to acquiring Zach Whitecloud wasn’t exactly one of open arms and excitement. In fact, it left plenty of people up in arms, as it wasn’t what many had in mind when envisioning a return for Rasmus Andersson.

Whitecloud is now one game into his Flames tenure and made a solid debut, especially considering the whirlwind day he would have experienced. Still, the most common reaction has been calls to trade him immediately for additional assets.

While that knee-jerk response is understandable, it may be worth taking a step back, examining the broader picture and evaluating all the possibilities. The question becomes simple: should the Flames trade Whitecloud, or keep him?

There’s a strong chance most people will lean this way, and it may ultimately be the most likely and correct outcome. The Flames moved a 29-year-old right-shot defenceman and acquired another 29-year-old right-shot defenceman in return. Even if it was largely done to make the money work, it still feels questionable for a team that’s supposed to be getting younger.

Bringing back another right-shot defenceman doesn’t necessarily solve any immediate problems, either. That’s where the logjam exists on the depth chart. Up front, it also makes it harder to see what this means for Zayne Parekh for the remainder of the season. If Whitecloud is taking away one of the Flames young players’ opportunity to play and develop, it may be best for the Flames to actually open up that roster spot.

Among the Flames’ currently tradeable defencemen, Whitecloud would bring back the biggest return. As a reliable defensive defenceman with two years remaining on his contract and playoff experience — including a Stanley Cup win — he would be an attractive addition for any contender looking to bolster its blue line for a playoff run. Depending on the market, the Flames could reasonably expect a draft pick, or possibly multiple picks, with as high as a second-rounder not out of the question.

It was also reported almost immediately after the trade that teams began calling the Flames to inquire about Whitecloud. Clearly, there’s more league-wide interest in him than there would be in a Joel Hanley or a Brayden Pachal. With the salary cap set to rise, his $2.75-million cap hit won’t be a major concern for most teams. If the Flames are truly thinking long term, moving Whitecloud now, while his value is high, would be a proactive decision.

There’s no debate that Whitecloud is a quality NHL defenceman. Some will argue he needs to be moved immediately because he could hurt the tank, but that concern feels unbased and just not true. The Flames struggle to score on most nights regardless. Even with improved defence, a team that’s scoring one or two goals a game isn’t going to win very often. Worrying about Whitecloud ruining the tank is largely a moot point.

It’s clear however, the Flames need to trade a defenceman. There’s a traffic jam on the blue line, particularly on the right side and that is a problem that needs solving. However, that player doesn’t necessarily have to be Whitecloud. Why not move 34-year-old Joel Hanley? He’s a left shot, but it still opens up a roster spot and helps the team get younger. Alternatively, Brayden Pachal could be moved for a pick.

The Flames also have some flexibility on the back end, especially with MacKenzie Weegar’s ability to play both sides. If Hanley were traded, for example, the defence could potentially line up as follows:

Weegar – Brzustewicz
Bahl – Parekh
Kuznetsov – Whitecloud
Extra: Pachal

On paper, that group doesn’t look half bad. Each young defenceman is paired with a veteran, and the lineup feels relatively balanced. Few would object to Whitecloud playing a bottom-four role — that’s always been his game. He isn’t a direct replacement for Andersson by any means, nor is he expected to provide offence. His job is to keep the puck out of the Flames’ net.

Pachal has also shown the capability to play on both sides as well, so he could easily fill in anywhere as needed.

With two years remaining on his contract after this season, the Flames could roll with this defence for a full year and see where it leads. Whitecloud would provide reliability, and given Ryan Huska’s coaching style, he’s the type of player the coach would trust night in and night out. It wouldn’t be surprising if the Flames opted to keep him around a little longer.

This article is a presentation of Platinum Mitsubishi, family owned and operated by lifelong Calgarians. Home of the industry-leading 10-year, 160,000-kilometre powertrain warranty. Check out their showroom at 2720 Barlow Trail NE or online at www.mitsu.ca.