5 Potential Trade Destinations for Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski

Zach Werenski may be on the trade market this summer. As a matter a fact, he may already be.

According to several insiders, the Blue Jackets and Werenski are supposed to speak post NHL Draft to discuss the Norris-trophy winning defenceman's future with the franchise. Which is quite the strategy considering how many moves are going on now, and the Blue Jackets could certainly miss out on potential trade partners, if they decide to wait, and Werenski does want out.

According to several sources, the Columbus Blue Jackets will meet with Norris Trophy winner Zach Werenski after the draft to discuss his future with the organization. There’s been a lot of noise around Werenski, who has two years remaining on his current contract with the Blue Jackets. They can extend him as soon as July 1, 2027. But, at a time where trade requests, both public and private, and the fallout from them, have dominated the NHL’s news cycle, speculation intensified that Werenski might be next to declare his intentions for the future. While that has not occurred to this point, Werenski’s importance to the Blue Jackets is enormous, and they have to get a handle on where things stand. We should have a clearer picture sometime after Saturday. - Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman

As far as potential trade destinations go, expect Werenski to have interest in joining the Tampa Bay Lightning, Vegas Golden Knights, San Jose Sharks, and New Jersey Devils. There's also the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins who would make a huge run at the mobile blueliner, and the same goes for the Toronto Maple Leafs, who would be willing to part with Matthew Knies.

Werenski is signed for two more seasons at $9.5 million AAV, and he owns a full no-trade clause until next July, when that changes to a 10-team trade list he'll be asked to submit once next summer begins. From all accounts, it appears Werenski's days as a Blue Jacket are finished.