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Zach Werenski Undergoes Shoulder Surgery, Out 5-6 Months

By Lansing Murphy |
COLUMBUS, OH - APRIL 23: Zach Werenski #8 of the Columbus Blue Jackets shields the puck from T.J. Oshie #77 of the Washington Capitals during the first period in Game Six of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 23, 2018 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - APRIL 23: Zach Werenski #8 of the Columbus Blue Jackets shields the puck from T.J. Oshie #77 of the Washington Capitals during the first period in Game Six of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 23, 2018 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images)

Columbus Blue Jacket defenseman Zach Werenski successfully completed shoulder surgery. He will need five to six months to recover.

You could see it all season long. Zach Werenski just wasn’t himself for almost the entire season. Was it just a sophomore slump or was there something more bothering the 20-year-old in his second year in the league?

At the end of the season we learned that Werenski had been dealing with a shoulder injury suffered early on in the year. Zach missed a few games throughout the season but played through the injury until the end of the year. Today we learned that Werenski underwent successful surgery to repair the injured shoulder.

GM Jarmo Kekelainen after the surgery said,

“Zach has been dealing with this injury since early in the season and while he was able to play through it, our medical team determined that surgery was the best option at this time,”
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Columbus Blue Jackets

The team said the expected recovery time is five to six months. That puts Werenski on a timeline to return by October or November. “..the expectation is Zach will be ready to play by the start of the season or shortly thereafter” said Jarmo.

Z Back by the Start of the Season?

The timetable could have Z back by the beginning of the season. That quick turnaround to have him back by the beginning of the season sounds great but the team shouldn’t push it.

The Jacket have an incredibly deep defensive corps and Seth Jones has proven he can carry the team. It wouldn’t be the end of the Jackets 2018-2019 season if Zach Werenski misses the firs 20 games of the season.

Gabriel Carlsson could get another shot at the NHL. Dean Kukan proved he could play and you could ensure your franchise blue liner is fully healthy by taking it slow with Werenski.

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He is a young guy though and younger players heal quicker. The fiercely competitive Werenski will want to get on the ice as soon as possible but lets hope that the Jackets take it slow.

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