Blue Jackets Weigh Zach Werenski Trade as Norris Winner Nears $9.58 Million Deal's Final 2 Years
Updated
Updated · TSN · Jun 26
Blue Jackets Weigh Zach Werenski Trade as Norris Winner Nears $9.58 Million Deal's Final 2 Years
3 articles · Updated · TSN · Jun 26
Summary
Columbus has begun listening to trade calls on Zach Werenski after concluding the 28-year-old is unlikely to sign an extension beyond his current contract, though no summer move is assured.
Two years remain on Werenski’s deal at a $9.58 million cap hit, with a full no-movement clause kicking in for 2026-27 and a modified no-trade clause for 2027-28.
Don Waddell said last week he planned to meet Werenski after Friday’s NHL Draft, adding that talks with the defenseman’s agent had produced no definitive plan.
Werenski’s value is high after a 22-goal, 81-point season in 75 games earned him his first Norris Trophy; he also posted 6 points in 6 Olympic games for Team USA.
The decision comes with Columbus still searching for a turnaround after missing the playoffs every year since its 2019-20 first-round exit.