Dallas Stars' Trade Offer Revealed for Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski

The Dallas Stars tried to land Norris trophy winner Zach Werenski from the Columbus Blue Jackets. There's been multiple reports surfacing the two sides did discuss a deal but Blue Jackets GM Don Waddel wasn't happy with what the Stars were offering. Waddell and Werenski have since made smoothed the waters and both have released statements stating Werenski isn't going anywhere.

That doesn't mean a deal wasn't close to completion. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports that the Stars offered Mavrik Bourque and Thomas Harley to the Blue Jackets, in a two-for-one move for Werenski. Waddell declined, Bourque got moved to the Predators, and now the Werenski trade talks are dead in the water.

According to Elliotte Friedman on 32 Thoughts, the rejected trade between Columbus and Dallas was believed to be:

Thomas Harley and Mavrik Bourque for Zach Werenski.

Good trade for the Stars if it went through?

— Sam Nestler (@samnestler) July 9, 2026

Werenski, 28, has two seasons left on his contract at $9.5 million AAV, and owns a full no-movement clause until next July, when he'll submit a list of 10 teams he'd approve a trade to. For now, the two sides agreed that Werenski will focus his efforts on winning in Columbus, and trade talks aren't expected to pick back up until the spring, if the Blue Jackets are out of the playoff race.

The Stars weren't the only team to make a significant offer for Werenski, as the Toronto Maple Leafs reportedly offered forward Matthew Knies in a package with draft picks and prospects.

Werenski stays in Columbus...for now.