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Player Profile — Zach Werenski |
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Zach Werenski is the longest tenured Blue Jackets’ defenseman on the active roster going into the upcoming 2024-2025 NHL regular season.
The American defenseman recorded a career high in points in the most amount of games he has played since the 2021-2022 campaign.
Werenski held an even rating for the first time in a season. This was the healthiest year he has had since 2018-19, where the Grosse Point native skated in 77.
Many considered him to be the guy that should have represented the Jackets at the all star game this past season in Toronto, but the Columbus captain was the selection by the league.
Werenski had his sixth of scoring 10 goals or more in a season. This was the first time in his career having a 40 assist season. The 46 apples he had is the most by a Blue Jackets’ defenseman ever. The 57 tied a single season record with his former partner Seth Jones. With his 11 goals for the fourth time of his career, Werenski notched his sixth career season with double digits in tallies; every other CBJ blueliner in team history combined has six such seasons.
The to be 27 year old (in July) defender begins the back load of his rich contract. This upcoming season, he will make $9.5M.
While being on Team USA with Johnny Gaudreau, Gavin Brindley, and Seth Jones; he had 7 points in 8 games.
The veteran Werenski has a career 90 goals in eight seasons (2016-2017) since making his NHL debut, seventh among NHL defensemen. Ahead of him includes Roman Josi (NSH) Brent Burns (CAR), Dougie Hamilton (NJD), Victor Hedman (TBL), John Carlson (WSH) and Alex Pietrangelo (VGK). Z is the youngest of them all ahead.
He also notched 0.66 assists per game this year, 11th among NHL defensemen for a minimum of 20 games played. The 10 ahead were Morgan Reilly (TOR), Joshua Morrissey (WPG), Roman Josi (NSH), Noah Dobson (NYI), Adam Fox (NYR), Shea Theodore (VGK), Evan Bouchard (EDM), Victor Hedman (TBL), Cale Makar (COL), and Quinn Hughes (VAN),
His 0.814 PPG was 10th this season for minimum for 20 games played. Joshua Morrissey (WPG), Roman Josi (NSH), Noah Dobson (NYI), Adam Fox (NYR), Shea Theodore (VGK), Evan Bouchard (EDM), Victor Hedman (TBL), Cale Makar (COL), and Quinn Hughes (VAN) proceeded Z in the top 10.
Zach Werenski was the Blue Jackets’ King Clancy Memorial Trophy finalist and earned the Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation Community MVP Award for the second consecutive year.
Stand up guy and the top guy on the defensive platoon, it will be fun to have him be the key marketing piece for the outdoor game in March. It will also be vital for Waddell and company to center the team around the former Wolverine alumnus.
More is coming…
Note - stats are from QuantHockey; cap info is from CapFriendly.
Columbus Blue Jackets Blogger • 
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