Golden Knights Defenseman Participates In Practice With Full Contact

Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Zach Whitecloud practiced today with full contact as he inches closer to returning.

The Golden Knights are working their way back to full health, and with Whitecloud's status upgraded, they're the closest they've been in some time.

Whitecloud practiced on Friday in a red, non-contact jersey as the first step of his eventual return. He skated with the team and participated in some drills to get his feet back under him. His return to full contact practices doesn't necessarily indicate that he will return on Thursday when the Golden Knights play the Winnipeg Jets, but it does indicate that he is close.

Related: Golden Knights Right-Handed Defenseman Returns To Practice In Non-Contact Jersey

HC Bruce Cassidy mentioned that he believes Whitecloud will return at some point during the Golden Knights' three-game road trip but doesn't know when. The 28-year-old has played in 21 games, scoring a goal and an assist, blocking 40 shots and throwing 33 hits.

While he's been out with his upper-body injury, Kaedan Korczak has replaced him in the lineup. The 23-year-old has been steady on the back end, registering three assists in 17 games and averaging 15:02 of time on ice.

The Golden Knights are outscoring their opponents 10-6 at 5-on-5 with Korczak on the ice and are outshooting their opponents 121-104.

Barring any other injuries, Whitecloud's return will leave just Ben Hutton as the only injured Golden Knights player. He's currently on the LTIR, dealing with an upper-body injury.

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