Zach Werenski has traded one shade of blue for another this month, suiting up for Team USA at the NHL's 4 Nations Face-Off.
It was a chance for the Blue Jackets defenseman to represent his country in a best-on-best tournament for the first time since joining the NHL, and also an opportunity to take the Norris Trophy-caliber form he's displayed all season and show it off on a stage featuring the best players in the world.
And Werenski certainly disappoint on the world stage. The standout defenseman had a point in every game and finished as the tournament's leading scorer with six points, all assists, including three helpers in the opening game vs. Finland and a single assist in following games vs. Canada, Sweden, and then Canada again in the championship game.
BlueJackets.com kept tabs on Werenski as the tournament took place.
4 Nations Schedule
Thursday, Feb. 13: USA 6, Finland 1
Saturday, Feb. 15: USA 3, Canada 1
Monday, Feb. 17: Sweden 2, USA 1
Thursday, Feb. 20: Canada 3, USA 2 (OT)
PREVIEW: Werenski ready to wear the Red, White and Blue
Recaps
Feb. 20: Canada 3, USA 2 (OT)
The championship game of the 4 Nations Face-Off did not disappoint, and neither did Werenski.
The CBJ defenseman again turned in an impressive performance, but Connor McDavid's goal 8:18 into overtime was the difference as Canada won the tournament that turned into must-see TV across both countries.
Werenski added to his assist streak as he had a helper on Jake Sanderson's second-period goal that gave the U.S. a 2-1 lead, as the Blue Jacket shot the puck on net, then saw Auston Matthews collect the rebound and throw it into traffic where the onrushing Sanderson was able to finish.
Werenski finished the game with 23:07 of ice time, four shots on goal, seven shot attempts, a plus-1 rating, and a 17-8 edge in shots on goal at 5x5 for Team USA when he was on the ice.
Feb. 17: Sweden 2, USA 1
Thirty-five seconds into Monday night's game, Werenski notched his fifth assist of the tournament
Unfortunately, that was all the scoring for Team USA, as the Swedes scored twice in the second half of the first period and was able to hold the lead the rest of the way.
On the opening shift of the game, Werenski raced the puck up the right side of the ice and put a shot on goal, with Chris Kreider cleaning up the rebound to make it a 1-0 game.
Werenski was all over the ice from there, but the Americans couldn't get another goal. The CBJ defenseman was named third star of the game, skating 23:44 and finishing with a plus-1 rating, six shots on goal and eight shot attempts.
Feb. 15: USA 3, Canada 1
In a showdown of the world's top hockey powers that lived up to the billing, Werenski and Team USA earned a 3-1 win over Canada on Saturday night in a game that caught the attention of the sports world.
The anticipation for the showdown was high, and only heightened by the fact there were three fights in the first nine seconds of the game. In the end, the United States rallied from an early 1-0 deficit, scoring a goal in each period to get the win.
Werenski assisted on the opening goal by Jake Guentzel to give him four helpers in two games thus far. In the end, Werenski skated 13:47 as Team USA protected the lead, putting two shots on goal among his six shot attempts with two blocked shots.
With the win, the United States advanced to the championship game of the event with two wins in two contests.
Feb. 13: USA 6, Finland 1
Werenski had a historic three-point showing as Team USA pulled away to victory with four third-period goals against the Finns.
The CBJ defenseman notched three assists to tie the record for helpers by a defenseman in NHL international tournament history. Team North America's Shayne Gostisbehere was the last to do so in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
Werenski had the second assist on the first goal for Team USA as Brady Tkachuk tied the game at 1 in the first period. He then added a pair of power-play helpers on Matthew Tkachuk goals in the third period, notching the first assist on tallies that made it 3-1 and 6-1.
Werenski also finished plus-2 and played a team-high 21:45.
