Summer Spotlight: Werenski ready to get back at it after tough injury

Number: 8

Birth date:July 19, 1997 (age 26)

Birthplace:Grosse Pointe, Mich.

Height, Weight:6-2, 213

2022-23 Stats:13 GP, 3-5-8

Contract:Signed through 2027-28 season (Five years remaining until UFA status)

The worst part for Zach Werenski was that there was nothing he could do.

After a shoulder injury ended his campaign just 13 games into the 2022-23 season, the two-time All-Star defenseman could only watch and rehab as the Jackets fell into one of the worst seasons in team history. For those both on the ice and off of it, it added up to a massive bit of frustration.

Once it was all over, Werenski took responsibility the way an alternate captain would, saying as a team leader he simply can't get injured, especially since it was the second time in three seasons he missed a significant chunk of the year.

Werenski also said the Blue Jackets have to look inside a bit to get back on track.

"We have a close group in there, but I think in terms of standard, we have to set the standard higher," he said postseason. "We have to make sure young guys know this isn't acceptable. We know it's not acceptable. We've been on winning teams. We have to get our standard back there, and that start with us and building that culture."

The good news for Werenski is he said he's fully healthy as he gets ready for the season, something that should be music to CBJ fans' ears after he posted a career-high 48 points in 2021-22. At age 26, the Detroit-area native should be rounding into the best form of his career, as through seven seasons he's built himself into one of the most dynamic defensemen in the NHL.

"It's been (a long rehab), so I'm itching to get back out there and start training camp up," he said.

Top Moment of 2022-23

The irony is Werenski suffered his season-ending injury in a game in which he already had a goal and an assist in only six minutes of ice time. On Nov. 10 against visiting Philadelphia, Werenski assisted on Johnny Gaudreau's goal just 3:53 into the game, then happened on a deflected puck and scored a goal of his own later in the first period to give the Blue Jackets a 2-0 lead over the Flyers. It was the Blue Jackets' first game after the trip to Finland, and the early lead gave some hope of a turnaround, but Werenski was injured later in the first and did not play again on the season.

Werenski's Top Highlights

Stat to Know

For this one, we'll call it stats to know, as sometimes I think we might take for granted everything Werenski brings to the table. He's the only CBJ blueliner to lead NHL defensemen in a season in goals, doing so when he posted 20 in 2019-20. Werenski holds just about every Blue Jackets record on the defensive side, including goals (79) and points (245). Only 11 times in team history has a defenseman had 11-plus goals, and Werenski has five of those seasons. Simply put, he's one of the best blueliners in team history by any measure.

2023-24 Expectations

Not that they didn't know already, but the Blue Jackets found out just how much they missed Werenski a year ago when he went down with 69 games to go in the season. When healthy, the expectations are he'll be the No. 1 defenseman, an elite player who can get the job done in all three zones while being a team leader. It's a lot, but it's a responsibility he's come to embrace in his CBJ tenure.

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