Zach Werenski To Request Trade From Blue Jackets?
But insider Pierre LeBrun threw some cold water on that rumor... Kind of.
I can tell you as of Wednesday afternoon, I’m told there has not been any communication to the Columbus Blue Jackets indicating that kind of thing on Werenski, who has two more years on his deal.
But while he insisted that Werenski hasn't gone there, he stopped short of saying that it won't happen.
Now, having said that, I’m not ready to say that it couldn’t happen before the end of the summer, either, just based on the fact that at some point the team and player will want to talk about the future and whether or not he sees himself in Columbus long term. And I don’t know what the answer to that question would be.
As LeBrun noted, Werenski has two more years remaining on his contract, at a $9.58 million cap hit. He becomes eligible for an extension in one year, on July 1, 2027. At that point, a decision will need to be made by both sides.
Werenski has spent his entire 10-year career in Columbus, and the team has missed the playoffs for the last six of them. They've won only one true playoff series in all that time (if you discount the 'qualifying round' in the bubble in 2020).
The 28-year-old has been considered one of the top blueliners in the league for the past several years, and this season took home the Norris. He registered his second straight 80-point season with 22 goals and 59 assists for 81 points. He recorded a +7 rating while logging a huge 26:37 average ice time per night.
Another veteran defenseman, Darnell Nurse of the Edmonton Oilers, has just submitted a trade request.
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