Blue Jackets Coach Rick Bowness Says Zach Werenski's 2027-28 Trade Request Shocked Him

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 30

Rick Bowness said he was "shocked" and caught off guard by Zach Werenski's trade request, saying their end-of-season meeting had ended positively just weeks earlier.
Werenski asked out despite being under contract through 2027-28 and coming off a Norris Trophy season as the NHL's top defenseman.
Kirill Marchenko also told Columbus he wants a change of scenery, adding to an offseason dominated by trade demands ahead of Wednesday's NHL free agency opening.
Columbus' late-season collapse and missed playoff push appear to have fueled the unrest, though Werenski's award-winning season could still bring the Blue Jackets a substantial return in any deal.

Sources

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