Columbus Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski will play vs Boston Bruins

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Columbus Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski will play vs Boston Bruins

Brian Hedger, Columbus Dispatch · The Columbus Dispatch

Tue, Feb 24, 2026 ·

2 min read

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Zach Werenski met the Blue Jackets on Feb. 25 in Boston for the restart of their NHL season Feb. 26 against the Bruins at TD Garden.

More: Columbus Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski has played like Captain America

Werenski was a tough guy to reach after setting up the winning overtime goal for the United States in a 2-1 victory over Canada to win the country's first Olympic gold medal in men's hockey since 1980. In the past few days, he's partied with Team USA in Miami , flown to Washington, D.C., aboard an Air Force jet and visited both the White House and U.S. Capitol on Feb. 24 before appearing with 19 of his 25 teammates at the president's Feb. 24 State of the Union address.

MIAMI, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 23: Zach Werenski attends a celebration of the USA Men's Hockey Team's Olympic Gold at E11EVEN Miami on February 23, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images for E11EVEN Miami)
(Alexander Tamargo, Getty Images for E11EVEN Miami)

MIAMI, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 23: Zach Werenski and Brady Tkachuk attend a celebration of the USA Men's Hockey Team's Olympic Gold at E11EVEN Miami on February 23, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images for E11EVEN Miami)
(Alexander Tamargo, Getty Images for E11EVEN Miami)

MIAMI, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 23: Matthew Tkachuk and Zach Werenski attend a celebration of the USA Men's Hockey Team's Olympic Gold at E11EVEN Miami on February 23, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images for E11EVEN Miami)
(Alexander Tamargo, Getty Images for E11EVEN Miami)

MIAMI, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 23: Team USA Men's Hockey attends a celebration of the USA Men's Hockey Team's Olympic Gold at E11EVEN Miami on February 23, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images for E11EVEN Miami)
(Alexander Tamargo, Getty Images for E11EVEN Miami)

MIAMI, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 23: Matthew Tkachuk and Team USA Men's Hockey attends a celebration of the USA Men's Hockey Team's Olympic Gold at E11EVEN Miami on February 23, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images for E11EVEN Miami)
(Alexander Tamargo, Getty Images for E11EVEN Miami)

Busy guy.

Werenski, who leads all NHL defensemen with 20 goals, will now rejoin his Blue Jackets teammates for a challenging 26-game finishing sprint that starts with the Bruins, whom they trail by four points for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

"I'm not worried about ice time," Bowness said of Werenski playing six games in the Olympics. "I'm worried about the last couple days … the celebration. That's what I'm worried about."

Zach Werenski attends a celebration of the U.S. men's hockey team in Miami on Feb. 23.

Bowness laughed while saying it, but the U.S. team did celebrate their victory hard after ending a 46-year Olympic drought in men's hockey. They also had a long flight back from Milan, Italy due to a winter storm that forced their arrival location to change from New York to Miami.

Werenski played about 10 minutes fewer per game at the Olympics and skated a minuscule 12:10 in the gold medal win over Canada, so his legs should have plenty of juice left. Getting through a stretch that resembled a Stanley Cup celebration is the biggest hurdle, physically and mentally.

"I've kind of left him alone since he's gotten over here," Bowness said. "I hope they're drinking lots of water and getting some rest, right?"

Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at bhedger@dispatch.com and @BrianHedger.bsky.social

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets will have Zach Werenski vs Boston Bruins