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Out of Seth Jones' shadow, Werenski thriving as Blue Jackets' top defenseman
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- Out of Seth Jones' shadow, Werenski thriving as Blue Jackets' top defenseman
Zach Werenski spent the summer on his feet.
He skated, as usual, during offseason workouts. He worked out in a gym. He did some running, shot hoops at his home in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. The 24-year old Blue Jackets defenseman even played in a softball league with his brother and some friends.
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Werenski also did Pilates while off his feet, picking that up as part of his rehab for hernia surgery last season. It was all part of his plan to prepare for this season, which is his first without Seth Jones soaking up minutes as his defense partner.
"I've been waiting for it," said Werenski, who's playing about two minutes more per game than last year. "This is something that I think every player wants. I'm happy it turned out for me. Wish it was here a few years ago, but it is what it is."
Zach Werenski happy with increased ice time
That might sound like a complaint about Jones. It's not.
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It's just a talented defenseman who'd grown tired of being overlooked while in Jones' immense shadow. The common refrain was that Jones was an elite two-way talent whose offensive output was repressed by Werenski's offensive instincts.
There is some truth in that, but it's not entirely accurate. Werenski also worked hard under former Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella to become a two-way player, and he's proving it now that Jones is a Chicago Blackhawk.
Blue Jackets: Bean, Sillinger lead Blue Jackets past Colorado Avalanche with two goals each
He's soaking up big minutes in all situations and is still putting up points offensively.
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"(Jones) is a great player and I was fortunate enough to play with him," said Werenski, who signed a six-year contract extension in July . "But I'm happy that I'm a guy now that can be put out in any situation and try to help this team win in whatever way I can."
That's exactly what's happening.
Through 10 games, Werenski has logged 262:10 of ice time and has exceeded the next highest on the team — defense partner Jake Bean 's 221:35 — by almost 40 minutes. He was also ranked fourth in the NHL at 26:13 per game, two spots ahead of Jones (25:49), and led the Blue Jackets in every measurement of ice time other than short-handed minutes — and those have increased, too.
The most glaring example of Werenski's surge in minutes happened in the Blue Jackets' 4-3 overtime victory a week ago in New Jersey.
Werenski set a career high for the regular season by playing 33:03, including 26:53 at even strength, 2:24 on power plays and 3:46 killing penalties. His shorthanded minutes included a 2:23 shift to help force overtime after Vladislav Gavrikov and Scott Harrington took back-to-back penalties.
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Previously, that was Jones' responsibility.
Photos: Blue Jackets 5, Avalanche 4, OT
"I was just in that 'try and win' mode," Werenski said. "It was a tie game and the 5-on-3 was two minutes or whatever, so I guess I didn't really realize I'd played 33 (minutes) until after. It felt like a normal (26 or 27 minute) night, but the next day I was pretty tired."
His ice time popped out to coach Brad Larsen, who compensated in the following game by cutting Werenski's minutes to 24:47 in a 5-4 OT victory over the Colorado Avalanche in Denver.
"He came in in great shape, he worked his tail off in (training) camp and he's been prepared and ready for this," Larsen said. "We're asking a lot of him right now. Obviously at 33 (minutes), that's probably pushing the limits of any defenseman. We've got to find spots to get him some rest … but so far, so good."
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bhedger@dispatch.com
@BrianHedger
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Zach Werenski thriving for Blue Jackets, out of Seth Jones' shadow
