Blue Jackets Prospect William Whitelaw Taking Major Steps

Whitelaw’s combination of speed and and skillful hands makes him a threat both ways, but it is his ability to go into the gritty areas and win board battles that makes him stand apart from other prospects.

“The game of hockey is won on the walls, and I think that is one thing I have struggled with in years past, especially defensively, and I think most games this year, like nine out of ten times I am making the right play on the wall,” said Whitelaw. “If you make the right play on the wall you get into the offensive zone, and that is kind of where I take over. Doing that consistently is how you make it into the NHL.”

Whitelaw has picked up a big piece of the game he needed to add to his already well rounded offensive game. He is one of those prospects who could certainly turn heads and make his way into a gritty role as an NHL forward one day.

Whitelaw’s Game a Reminder of Young Stars

Mark Scheig of The Hockey Writers mentioned that Whitelaw’s game reminded him of a certain Montreal Canadiens 50-goal scorer, and former Wisconsin Badger himself, Cole Caufield. His size, speed, and lethal shot make Whitelaw look very similar to one of the NHL’s best snipers.

“I see it a little bit, a little (Logan) Stankoven too I think, I only need one shot to score, and that is one thing I have always had,” said Whitelaw. His ability to place his shot and get it off quickly has added an element to his development that will make him a very fun prospect to monitor in the Blue Jackets system.

If the Blue Jackets can continue to develop Whitelaw and unlock his full potential, they could have gotten one of the steals of the 2023 NHL Draft, the same draft in which they drafted Adam Fantilli at third overall.

Whitelaw seems to rise against the competition he faces as well. When asked how the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC), where he plays with Western Michigan, differentiates between the Big Ten, where he spent two seasons with Wisconsin and Michigan he spoke highly of both conferences.

“Honestly, the NCHC is harder to score in for sure. Teams are a little older, a little stronger, and really well structured,” said Whitelaw. “The Big Ten has a lot more high-end skill, a lot more 2-on-1’s and 3-on-2’s and odd man rushes, but both leagues lead you right to the NHL.”

Whitelaw was brilliant in the prospect game as well at Development Camp, he scored two goals and also added two more goals in the prospect shootout that followed the game that tied 3-3 in the Battle for the Stinger Cup.

His skill was on full display, and Blue Jackets Development Coach Tommy Cross even commented on his improvements.

“He (Whitelaw) has always had speed, he’s always had energy, but he’s applying those two traits in a more direct way now,” Cross said. “The trust that he has gotten from his coaching staff, that he has earned, comes from his battle level and compete on pucks, and he has really grown to see the value in those things, even if they don’t show up on the score sheet.”

Whitelaw has put his best foot forward in his development, and is definitely one of the candidates to join the Blue Jackets at the completion of his collegiate season in Kalamazoo, amongst other NCAA players like Jackson Smith and Cayden Lindstrom. His main focus is on his season at Western Michigan, and the NHL is the next step after that.

He would be another huge addition to the roster if he pans out, and the Blue Jackets could certainly use another big season out of Whitelaw. He will be a key player they keep eyes on this season at the college hockey level, as the Broncos open their season with a game against Ferris State at home at Lawson Arena on October 8th.