Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski is playing at a historic pace on home ice this season. Not just amongst other Blue Jacket defensemen or skaters. He's producing at a rate rarely seen from a defenseman in NHL history.
In last night's loss to the Utah Hockey Club, Werenski picked up an assist on Ivan Provorov's shorthanded goal, late in the second period. A terrific breakout pass from #8 sprung his defense partner up the ice, where he was able to finish the play off with a nice shot:
PROVY TIES IT ON THE PK!💥@FanaticsBook | #CBJ pic.twitter.com/T8FTSOBFQx
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) February 7, 2025
This assist gave Zach a point in his 20th straight home game, which is good enough for 5th longest by a defenseman in NHL history. There are three players who are ahead of him on this list, and all are in the Hockey Hall of Fame: Bobby Orr (25 games), Paul Coffey (23), Phil Housley (22), and Orr again (21).
The most recent 20-game occurrence of this type of streak was Housley, whose points in 22 straight came in the 1991-92 season. That's 5 years before Werenski was even born, for reference. It's been a while.
Over this stretch, Zach has recorded 13 goals and 24 assists (37 points) at home. Even if he had 0 points on the road, this home points streak would be good enough for a 13th-place tie (with himself) for the most by a defenseman in a full season in Blue Jackets history.
The good news is, he's scoring on the road as well. His assist last night gave him 58 points on the season, which now sets the new bar for this franchise. In a year where nobody had any expectations for this team, Zach Werenski has emerged at an elite level. Anything he does from this point on, further smashes the franchise record for points by a defenseman.
If this team makes the playoffs, he deserves high honor.
Werenski has not been held off the scoresheet at Nationwide Arena since October 30th. In fact, he's only been held to 0 points at home three times all season. He currently leads the team in scoring with 58 points, three ahead of Kirill Marchenko. His 41 assists are 7 higher than anyone else on the team, and he's third on the team in goals (17).
If the Blue Jackets continue their Cinderella run and squeeze into the playoffs, I think there should be Hart Trophy consideration here. What Zach Werenski is doing this season is remarkable. On a team with zero expectations, he's taken the reins and is willing them into competing for a playoff spot. That's worthy of an MVP vote in my book.