Latest on Zach Werenski Has 5 Teams Discussing Trade With Blue Jackets
The Zach Werenski saga continues in Columbus, where the Blue Jackets are getting plenty of interest from teams looking to snag the Norris Trophy winner. Werenski informed the team that he would not be extending beyond the current two years remaining on his contract ($9.583 million AAV).
According to the latest report, insider David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period writes that there are five teams now that he can name that have discussed the possibility of a trade with Columbus. As follows:
- Dallas Stars
- Utah Mammoth
- Toronto Maple Leafs
- Philadelphia Flyers
- Anaheim Ducks
From Dallas, one name that has emerged as a potential return is star defenseman Thomas Harley. Elliotte Friedman suggested on Monday morning that the Blue Jackets might not be able to find a better return than that. His new eight-year, $10.87M AAV contract is only set to kick in next season.
"I really do think Dallas is interested... There's lots of rumors about Thomas Harley. ... The challenge could be, how would Harley feel about being in that deal. But, on its base, I find it hard to believe that there's a better trade out there for Columbus, if it's real, than Thomas Harley."
Friedman would rank that potential return ahead of young power forward Matthew Knies from the Leafs, who was said to be the name that Toronto would have to include if they were serious about getting Werenski.
Incidentally, we did hear over the weekend that the Stars' Olympic teammate of Auston Matthews would approve of a trade to Toronto. "I 100% believe that Toronto will try" to trade for the Blue Jackets' blueliner, Friedman added.
Werenski won his first Norris Trophy this season as the league's top defenseman, with 22 goals and 59 assists for 81 points in 75 games, with a +7 rating, while logging a massive 26:36 average ice time, second in the NHL.
