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Columbus Blue Jackets Season In Review: Zach Werenski

By Curtis Deem|
Mar 7, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (8) in the third period against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gaelen Morse-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 7, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (8) in the third period against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gaelen Morse-USA TODAY Sports

We’re kicking off our 2022-23 player reviews this week with Zach Werenski. Zach is one of the most important players in the organization, and his absence this season crushed any chance this team had of competing for a playoff spot.

By the time things are all said and done, we may look at Werenski in the same light that we look at Rick Nash – though, hopefully, with a more successful team built around him. As Nash was in the early days of this franchise, Werenski has become a shining star that has committed to Columbus long-term, and continues to shine bright even when the team around him has struggled.

He came into this year off of the best season season of his career, and with a team expected to take a step forward, it seemed like Zach could be winding up to break the 50-point mark for the first time in his career. He started out that way too, scoring three goals and 8 points through the first 13 games of the season for the Blue Jackets.

Unfortunately, his season was cut short on a missed check in the first period of a game on November 10th. As he tried to angle Philadelphia’s Travis Konecny into the wall, he missed the check, landing awkwardly with his elbow bent against the dasher. This resulted in a torn labrum that required surgery – which is one of the most difficult to recover upper-body injuries out there.

This result essentially spelled out a doomed fate for the Blue Jackets the moment it happened. Werenski is the top defenseman on this team and it isn’t particularly close. They were going to have a lot of question marks on the back end this season, even if 100% healthy…but losing this player for the entire year, this early on, derailed any chance this team had of building towards a playoff spot this season.

TAMPERE, FINLAND – NOVEMBER 04: Zach Werenski of Columbus in action during the 2022 NHL Global Series – Finland match between Columbus Blue Jackets and Colorado Avalanche at Nokia Arena on November 4, 2022 in Tampere, Finland. (Photo by Jari Pestelacci/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
TAMPERE, FINLAND – NOVEMBER 04: Zach Werenski of Columbus in action during the 2022 NHL Global Series – Finland match between Columbus Blue Jackets and Colorado Avalanche at Nokia Arena on November 4, 2022 in Tampere, Finland. (Photo by Jari Pestelacci/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)

It was a harsh outcome for Zach and the Blue Jackets, especially considering that Werenski was seemingly finding another gear. He’d already posted a goal and an assist in just over 6 minutes of ice time in that game – giving him four points in what would be his last three games of the season. We can only imagine how much differently this season might have gone with a healthy #8 on the back end.

Final season stats: 13 games played, 3 goals, 5 assists, 8 points, -6, 41 shots on goal. Overall grade: incomplete.

There just isn’t enough data to give Zach a grade for this season, but it sure looks like he was trending towards breaking out as an elite offensive defenseman in this league. We can only hope for a healthy, rejuvenated Werenski returning to Columbus this fall; ready to prove that he should be thought about as a true #1 defenseman.

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