Zach Werenski gives Columbus Blue Jackets ice time conundrum

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Zach Werenski gives Columbus Blue Jackets ice time conundrum

Brian Hedger, Columbus Dispatch · The Columbus Dispatch

Fri, Feb 27, 2026 ·

3 min read

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Zach Werenski didn't play a lot of minutes while helping the United States win a gold medal in the Milano Cortina 2026 men's hockey tournament.

More: Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski addresses Trump's women's hockey comment

Despite finishing with six points on a goal and five assists, including the primary assist on Jack Hughes ' golden goal to defeat Canada 2-1 in overtime Feb. 22, Werenski played on the third defensive pairing for U.S. head coach Mike Sullivan.

Bruins center Sean Kuraly scores past the outstretched arms of Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski.

That won't be the case for the Blue Jackets , who began their final stretch of 26 games in 47 days coming off the Olympic break with Werenski getting a whopping 28:34 in a 4-2 loss to the Boston Bruins on Feb. 26 at TD Garden in Boston.

"He usually is playing 26, 27, 28 minutes," Blue Jackets coach Rick Bowness said Feb. 18. "In my mind, that's too much, and I'd like to keep him around the 23-24 minute range, which he's very fine with."

That was the plan, anyway. Despite his team dominating the first and third periods, Bowness faced extenuating circumstances.

Trailing with only 10 minutes left in a key game for both teams, Werenski logged his fourth-highest ice time of the season in a game without overtime. He led all skaters with seven shots and 15 attempts, assisted Adam Fantilli 's late goal and extended his personal points streak to eight straight games.

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See Zach Werenski, other men's hockey stars at Trump's State of the Union

The U.S. men's Olympic ice hockey team with Matthew Tkachuk and Connor Hellebuyck in front applaud during President Donald Trump's State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the House Chamber at the Capitol on February 24, 2026 in Washington, DC. Trump delivered his address days after the Supreme Court struck down the administration's tariff strategy, and amid a U.S. military buildup in the Persian Gulf threatening Iran.

(Kenny Holston, Pool via Getty Images)

The U.S. men's Olympic ice hockey team with Jack Hughes and Quinn Hughes at the front arrive for President Donald Trump's State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the House Chamber at the Capitol on February 24, 2026 in Washington, DC. Behind him are Vice President JD Vance and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA). Trump delivered his address days after the Supreme Court struck down the administration's tariff strategy, and amid a U.S. military buildup in the Persian Gulf threatening Iran.
(Kenny Holston, Pool via Getty Images)

Members of the Team USA Men's Hockey Team wave to the audience as U.S. President Donald Trump delivers his State of the Union address during a Joint Session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on February 24, 2026, in Washington, DC. Trump delivered his address days after the Supreme Court struck down the administration's tariff strategy and amid a U.S. military buildup in the Persian Gulf threatening Iran.
(Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images)

The U.S. men's Olympic ice hockey team with Connor Hellebuyck in front attend President Donald Trump's State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the House Chamber at the Capitol on February 24, 2026 in Washington, DC. Trump delivered his address days after the Supreme Court struck down the administration's tariff strategy, and amid a U.S. military buildup in the Persian Gulf threatening Iran.
(Kenny Holston, Pool via Getty Images)

The U.S. men's Olympic ice hockey team with Matthew Tkachuk and Connor Hellebuyck in front attend President Donald Trump's State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in the House Chamber at the Capitol on February 24, 2026 in Washington, DC. Behind him are Vice President JD Vance and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA). Trump delivered his address days after the Supreme Court struck down the administration's tariff strategy, and amid a U.S. military buildup in the Persian Gulf threatening Iran.
(Kenny Holston, Pool via Getty Images)

Connor Hellebuyck, member of the U.S. Olympic men's hockey team, holds up his gold medal.
(Evelyn Hockstein, REUTERS)

Members of the Team USA men's hockey team wave to the audience as Donald Trump delivers his State of the Union address.
(Andrew Harnik, Getty Images)

Members of the U.S. men's hockey team wave to the audience as U.S. President Donald Trump delivers his State of the Union address.
(Andrew Harnik, Getty Images)

Members of the U.S. Olympic men's hockey team applaud as their teammate Connor Hellebuyck puts his hand to his heart.
(Kevin Lamarque, REUTERS)

Members of the U.S. Olympic men's hockey team that won the gold medal, Jack Hughes and Quinn Hughes, pose with their medals.
(Kevin Lamarque, REUTERS)

Members of the U.S. Olympic men's hockey team that won the gold medal cheer during the State of the Union address.
(Kevin Lamarque, REUTERS)

Members of the Team USA men's hockey team walk through the media room before Donald Trump delivers his State of the Union address.
(Kevin Dietsch, Getty Images)

Charlie McAvoy arrives for Donald Trump's State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
(Kylie Cooper, REUTERS)

Members of the U.S. Olympic gold medal men's hockey team wait backstage ahead of the State of the Union address.
(Kevin Dietsch, Getty Images)

Members of the U.S. Olympic gold medal men's hockey team go through security ahead of an appearance at the State of the Union address.
(Kevin Dietsch, Getty Images)

Werenski also finished with a -1 plus/minus rating but otherwise stepped comfortably back into his role as the Blue Jackets' best player after spending the previous three days celebrating the first U.S. gold medal in men's hockey in 46 years.

Bowness still hopes to limit Werenski's shifts in the final 25 games, aiming to keep him healthy and his legs energized, but he drained the tank in Boston.

Werenski hadn't played since helping the U.S. clinch gold Feb. 22 in Milan, and his Olympic ice time was about 10 minutes fewer per game than his NHL average (26:24). He has a day between games to recover before another key matchup Feb. 28 against the New York Islanders .

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)

"There's going to be games where we need a goal in the last 10 minutes, and he's going to see those minutes," Bowness said. "But we want to avoid that as much as possible and keep his minutes down. When you're talking about guys playing too much, that's when they get hurt."

That's a possibility the Blue Jackets can't afford.

"You need to play your four (forward) lines, and you need to play your six defensemen," Bowness said. "There comes a time where, OK, you've got to shorten the bench, but you want to avoid that as much as possible because of the amount of games (left). We'll try to roll the four lines as much as we can and the six defensemen as much as we can."

Feb 26, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets center Boone Jenner (38) shoots the puck against the Boston Bruins during the second period at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images

Columbus Blue Jackets playoff picture

Losing in regulation to the Bruins pushed the Blue Jackets back to six points behind Boston for the second of two playoff wild cards in the Eastern Conference. They also lost ground to the Islanders, who defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-3 in overtime to move six points ahead of Columbus for third place in the Metropolitan Division.

The Washington Capitals are now two points ahead of the Blue Jackets as the East's top team outside the playoff bubble, while the Ottawa Senators , Florida Panthers , Philadelphia Flyers and Toronto Maple Leafs are all within a point or two of pulling even with Columbus.

The second wild card and third place in the Metro are the closest postseason spots for the Blue Jackets (29-21-7) to obtain after going 11-1-0 and winning seven straight games prior to the break.

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

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Zach Werenski gives Columbus Blue Jackets ice time conundrum

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Zach Werenski gives Columbus Blue Jackets ice time conundrum

See Zach Werenski, other men's hockey stars at Trump's State of the Union

See Zach Werenski, other men's hockey stars at Trump's State of the Union

See Zach Werenski, other men's hockey stars at Trump's State of the Union

See Zach Werenski, other men's hockey stars at Trump's State of the Union

See Zach Werenski, other men's hockey stars at Trump's State of the Union

See Zach Werenski, other men's hockey stars at Trump's State of the Union

See Zach Werenski, other men's hockey stars at Trump's State of the Union

See Zach Werenski, other men's hockey stars at Trump's State of the Union

See Zach Werenski, other men's hockey stars at Trump's State of the Union

See Zach Werenski, other men's hockey stars at Trump's State of the Union

See Zach Werenski, other men's hockey stars at Trump's State of the Union

See Zach Werenski, other men's hockey stars at Trump's State of the Union

See Zach Werenski, other men's hockey stars at Trump's State of the Union

See Zach Werenski, other men's hockey stars at Trump's State of the Union

See Zach Werenski, other men's hockey stars at Trump's State of the Union

See Zach Werenski, other men's hockey stars at Trump's State of the Union

See Zach Werenski, other men's hockey stars at Trump's State of the Union

Blue Jackets' Werenski parties in Miami after US gold medal victory

Blue Jackets' Werenski parties in Miami after US gold medal victory

Blue Jackets' Werenski parties in Miami after US gold medal victory

Blue Jackets' Werenski parties in Miami after US gold medal victory

Blue Jackets' Werenski parties in Miami after US gold medal victory

Blue Jackets' Werenski parties in Miami after US gold medal victory

Blue Jackets' Werenski parties in Miami after US gold medal victory

Blue Jackets' Werenski parties in Miami after US gold medal victory

Blue Jackets' Werenski parties in Miami after US gold medal victory

Blue Jackets' Werenski parties in Miami after US gold medal victory

Blue Jackets' Werenski parties in Miami after US gold medal victory

Columbus Blue Jackets playoff picture