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Zach Werenski leading Columbus Blue Jackets with words, points: 'He is all business'
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- Zach Werenski leading Columbus Blue Jackets with words, points: 'He is all business'
The first sign that Zach Werenski 's role had changed was after the Blue Jackets ' first win of the season, an impressive 6-4 road victory on Oct. 12 over the Colorado Avalanche .
More: Columbus Blue Jackets top Tampa Bay Lightning in wild OT victory: 5 takeaways
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Quieting the din of a victorious locker room in Denver, the Blue Jackets' star defenseman got the team's attention to make two postgame announcements. The first was to issue a challenge to meet that level of play more consistently, and the second was about the Blue Jackets' new "player of the game" award – a gray hat with white ears, a long tail and Johnny Gaudreau's No. 13 on the side. The Blue Jackets replaced the kepi hat with the donkey hat, and Werenski explained why – as a nod to the late Gaudreau's habit of calling his friends "a donkey."
Boone Jenner , who was instrumental in picking it out , would've announced the switch if he wasn't out with a shoulder injury . Werenski did the honors in his place, awarding it first to Sean Monahan – one of Gaudreau's closest friends and his former Calgary Flames teammate. The sight of Werenski making the announcement might've come as a surprise to some, since he's always been more of a seen-and-not-heard leader.
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (8) moves the puck around Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Cam Atkinson (13) during the second period of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024.
This is year nine for him, though, so Werenski, 27, is a veteran.
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He's engaged, playing for his fifth NHL coach and has been through a lot of ups and downs. He's also tired of losing, which the Blue Jackets have done a lot since last qualifying for the playoffs in 2020. After seeing Jenner go down, followed by Erik Gudbranson with another shoulder injury, Werenski knew his turn to speak up had arrived.
"I think I have to with some guys out, but I'm also at the age where I feel more comfortable doing it," he said. "I've been around for a long time. I feel like I can get a pulse on the room, what needs to be said in certain situations, and I've enjoyed it."
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (8) tosses a stick into the stands after being named the game's first star following the 7-6 overtime win over Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024.
Zach Werenski 'all business' for Columbus Blue Jackets
Former head coach Brad Larsen named Werenski an alternate captain in October 2021 , the same day Jenner was bestowed the captain's 'C.'
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Oliver Bjorkstrand and Gustav Nyquist were the other alternates, but they're elsewhere now. Werenski's still around, playing his fourth season of a six-year contract signed in July 2021 . It hasn't been his nature to address the team vocally, but that's starting to change as he's taking more "ownership" of the Blue Jackets' fortunes.
"I never want to be a guy who talks too much," Werenski said. "That's the worst, right? I just feel there's times now where I know something needs to be said, and I'm just saying it where in years past, I just bit my tongue. If I have something to say now, I'm going to say it."
Columbus Blue Jackets center Kent Johnson (91) celebrates scoring a goal on an assist from defenseman Zach Werenski (8) during the third period of the NHL hockey game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. The Blue Jackets won 7-6 in overtime.
The Blue Jackets learned that during a five-game road trip that led to a six-game winless streak . Despite playing solid hockey, they couldn't score more than two goals per game. Werenski sensed a need to reinforce the Jackets' belief in themselves.
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"He called a players-only meeting when we were out on the road there and struggling," Blue Jackets coach Dean Evason said. "He knows those things. He's just deferred to other people because there's been other people here in the past. Now, there isn't and he's the guy that's stepping up and doing that."
#CBJ D Zach Werenski gets NHL First Star of the Week honor.
— Brian Hedger (@brianhedger.bsky.social) 2024-11-25T18:35:28.022Z
Evason, in his first season with the Blue Jackets, is actually trying to get Werenski to loosen his collar a bit.
"He is all business," Evason said. "Like ... all business. We joke with him, because he's so serious, but he's been impressive."
Teammates celebrate a goal by Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (8) during the second period of the NHL hockey game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024.
Zach Werenski's hot start has boosted Columbus Blue Jackets
Werenski has also made sure his words aren't hollow.
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He backs them up with outstanding play. Werenski's six goals, 14 assists and 20 points mark his highest point total through a season's first 20 games, he was named the NHL's First Star of the Week on Monday for adding 2-5-7 in three games last week – all wins – and he finished the weekend tied for second in scoring among the league's defensemen, trailing only Colorado's Cale Makar .
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (8) celebrates scoring the game winning goal beside Tampa Bay Lightning right wing Nikita Kucherov (86) during overtime of the NHL hockey game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. The Blue Jackets won 7-6.
Werenski also tied a franchise record (and set a new team record for a defenseman) with five points on two goals and three assists in a wild 7-6 overtime win Thursday over the Tampa Bay Lightning . His second goal was in OT to end it.
"I've seen a lot of hockey players," Evason said. "I don't think I've seen one like him. Honestly. He's amazing, you know? When he wants the puck, he goes and gets it. When he wants to defend, he defends, and he has stepped up in a leadership role. He's really embraced that. In the past, maybe, he's been a little more quiet and reserved. I think this has pushed him forward, and I think it's helped his game on the ice, as well."
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Zach Werenski leading Columbus Blue Jackets with words and points
