Union and Blue
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Oscar Night Columbus Blue Jackets Style

By Lansing Murphy

Feb 15, 2017; Columbus, OH, USA; A general view of Nationwide Arena during the national anthem prior to the game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Blue Jackets won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 15, 2017; Columbus, OH, USA; A general view of Nationwide Arena during the national anthem prior to the game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Blue Jackets won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
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Best Director

Dec 31, 2016; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (8) skates with the puck in the second period against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2016; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (8) skates with the puck in the second period against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /

Nominated: Coach John Tortorella, Captain Nick Foligno, Defensemen Zach Werenski

The Union and Blue Academy awarded Zach Werenski the Best Director for the Columbus Blue Jackets through 59 games thus far. The Academy had many great candidates to chose from and this was the most difficult decision to make.

Captain Nick Foligno has led the team in the locker room and on the ice. He has posted 22-22-44 thus far this year on the ice. The team rallies around him and he has full command of the locker room. Such a presence is invaluable to the second youngest team in the NHL.

Torts has done an incredible job directing the team from training camp, through the 16 game winning streak, right towards a playoff appearance. An almost certain lock for the Jack Adams Award, you have to be asking yourself how is Torts not the best director.

Well, its because there is a 19-year-old rookie defenseman that leads on of the best power plays in the NHL. Zach Werenski takes the award for best director for his astounding leadership, poise, and performance directing the Blue Jacket Power Play unit.

Werenski has come to the Blue Jackets at 19 years old and played like a 10 year veteran. He plays with poise and grasp the game better than most on the team. This allows him to calmly direct what was up until recently, the best power play in the league, and one of the best in the last two decades.

Werenski not only is 5th in the league in PP assist by a defensemen, but he leads ALL rookies in PP assist. This rookie class is pretty darn good if you haven’t noticed with Matthews, Marner, Laine, and Tkachuk putting up incredible numbers.

Any team would be thrilled to have the quarterback of their power play unit in the top five in the league in assist. To get that production from a rookie? Unheard of and beyond impressive.

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