Nothing has been made official by Zach Werenski or the Blue Jackets to this point. However, with so many different people reporting on the situation-combined with Don Waddell's lack of refutal-it's impossible to ignore at this point. Zach wants a change of scenery.
If you have been a fan of the Blue Jackets for long enough, you are hardly surprised. Whether you harken back to the days of Adam Foote, or Rick Nash; or if you are a more recent fan who can relate to the situations of Sergei Bobrovsky, Artemi Panarin, or even Seth Jones: you know the routine.
Player comes to Columbus. Whether it's via trade, free agency, or the draft. There is much fanfare, especially if they are this talented. It goes well for a while. The team might even start to show signs of promise. But, ultimately, it's the same end story: talented guy wants a change of scenery. That seems to be the case with Zach Werenski.
Whatever. No hard feelings. We're used to it. Kick us back to the ground.
The thing is, we shouldn't have to be used to it. What does Columbus lack that any other market in the league has? The city is praised by nearly everyone who plays here, with a thriving community of retired Blue Jackets choosing to live here, as opposed to anywhere else. Zach himself has been an outspoken fan of Central Ohio. This interview was just three weeks ago:
"I’ve spent 10 years in Columbus. I got married in Columbus. I had my first kid in Columbus. It means a lot to me. It’s a really special place..."Zach Werenski
However, there is seemingly nothing we can do about it. No matter how much we support this team, it doesn't matter. Nationwide Arena sells out on a near-nightly basis. The Arena District as a whole, is one of the best hockey experiences in the entire league. Everything is first class.
But the team has never been able to put all of the ingredients together at the same time and ice a winner. Which is exactly what makes Zach's sudden change of heart so confusing. It feels like they are achingly close.
Zach Werenski chose Columbus through the rebuild, but now wants to leave just as they start to come out of it.
Lets go back in time real quick. Near the end of the mass exodus of talent in Columbus, Zach Werenski was the only one to decide to stick around. He signed a 6-year, $57.5 million dollar contract with the Blue Jackets, choosing to help lead the team through a rebuild.
Since that moment, he's only improved. This past season, he won the Norris Trophy as the best defenseman in the NHL. One could make the argument that he was probably the most deserving player for the award the year prior, as well.
So why is it now, when the team is finally on the cusp of doing something special, that Zach has chosen to inform the club of his intent to play elsewhere?
We have talked quite a bit this summer about the potential for this team to take a massive step under Rick Bowness next season. I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility that they could clear the 100-point mark for just the second time in their existence. There is enough talent here.
Lets be honest here: asking out at this time is incredibly bizarre.
Did Zach's golden assist break up the Blue Jackets?
One theory going around that is certainly difficult to overlook: did the USA Olympic hockey team group chat have some sort of soft tampering going on?
Brady Tkachuk came back to the Ottawa Senators with a similar type of outlook. Dylan Larkin has requested a trade from the Detroit Red Wings. Now, Zach Werenski-long an ambassador for the city of Columbus-has notified the Blue Jackets that he's ready to move on.
It's incredibly disappointing. In fact, in all of my 26 years of fandom, this one may be the hardest to swallow. And that says a lot. This summer may do enough damage to the 5th Line, that this team may never be the same again.
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