Although the Blue Jackets are turning towards a win-now mentality, it's still good to have some emerging depth in the form of upcoming prospects.
One of those prospects, who had a quiet two years after being drafted, is William Whitelaw. The American forward was drafted in the third round in 2023 out of the USHL after scoring 36 goals and 61 points in 62 games with the Youngstown Phantoms.
Although a bit undersized by NHL standards at 5'9 and 175 pounds, Whitelaw brings a complete package offensively with great compete and work ethic.
William Whitelaw's hard work paid off
Whitelaw went to college the next season after the draft, playing with the Wisconsin Badgers. He had a solid freshman year, tallying 10 goals and 17 points while showing signs of positive development and growth.
He opted to transfer to the University of Michigan the next year, aiming to play with one of the most competitive programs in all of college hockey. However, the decision may not have worked in his favor, as he was often buried in the bottom six and didn't get a great opportunity.
He still matched the previous year's production, scoring 11 goals and 18 points with the Wolverines, but the team failed to reach the Frozen Four in a down year for the program.
Whitelaw went right back to the transfer portal the next offseason, landing with Western Michigan University, who were the reigning champions.
Whitelaw finally got an opportunity to play on the top line and looked great right away. He scored four goals and an assist in his first four games, and kept that momentum with him for the rest of the year, finishing with 19 goals and 34 points.
The Broncos finished as the No. 6 ranked team, but lost to the Denver Pioneers, who went on to win the tournament themselves.
Regardless, it was still a fantastic season for Whitelaw, who is opting to remain with Western Michigan for the 2026-27 season. One more season in college should give him a chance to polish his game while continuing to show off his offensive talent.
Whitelaw shows off the moves! #BroncosReign pic.twitter.com/FmoORYK6iR
— WMU Hockey (@WMUHockey) November 1, 2025
Whitelaw just turned 21 in February, so he still has plenty of time to develop before making a push for the NHL, but it may come sooner than you think as he might just be able to jump right into a top-nine role in Cleveland after his college season ends and work his way up from there.
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