Werenski, Blue Jackets excited to play for newly hired coach Babcock

LEWIS CENTER, Ohio -- Mike Babcock has the Columbus Blue Jackets hungry to take the ice this season, according to defenseman Zach Werenski.

"You want your head coach to fire you up and get your group going in the right direction," Werenski said Tuesday. "I think he's done that already just from a month being here, so everyone's really excited to get camp going and get a fresh start to the season."

Perhaps no one is more excited to go than Werenski. He sustained a shoulder injury in a game against the Philadelphia Flyers on Nov. 10 and had season-ending surgery for a torn labrum and separated shoulder Nov. 29.

He was on the ice Tuesday for the Cap City Elite Summer League, playing in front of a full house of more than 1,000 supporters at the Chiller North.

"My shoulder's all good, pretty much full go since summer hit, so it's good to have a full summer (of training) under my belt," he said. "I hadn't played hockey in front of people since my last game, so it was fun to get out there in front of the fans and play hockey again."

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Werenski, who has 245 points (79 goals, 166 assists) in 416 games, played just 13 games last season and had eight points (three goals, five assists).

His injury was one of several issues last season for the Blue Jackets, who finished last in the Eastern Conference (25-48-9). Brad Larsen was fired as coach April 15, and Babcock was hired July 1.

It's Babcock's first coaching job since he was fired by the Toronto Maple Leafs on Nov. 20, 2019.

Babcock, who is 700-418-164 with 19 ties in his career, ranks 12th in NHL history in wins. He has coached 1,301 games (16th) in 17 seasons for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim/Anaheim Ducks, Detroit Red Wings and Maple Leafs. Babcock is 90-74 in 164 Stanley Cup Playoff games, including winning the Stanley Cup with Detroit in 2008 and guiding the Mighty Ducks (2003) and Red Wings (2009) to the Stanley Cup Final.

He is known for his hard-nosed approach, similar to Werenski's former Blue Jackets coach, John Tortorella.

But Werenski said he felt great about Babcock after meeting with him.

"It was really good," Werenski said. "We had a good conversation. I went to his house in Michigan and met with him not too far from me, actually. We talked about myself and what he expects out of me, the team.

"I got to know him a little bit, and you know, I left impressed. That kind of fired me up. I think from that point on I just want to get to training camp to get the season going."

Werenski said his teammates are not concerned with Babcock's reputation.

"I think that's out the window," Werenski said. "I don't think guys have any second guesses on it. I think guys are really excited, actually, it seems from talking with the guys that have met with him already. Everyone kind of came away fired up and ready to go so that's important, right?"

Werenski said he is also excited about having Adam Fantilli join the Blue Jackets. The 18-year-old was selected by Columbus with the No. 3 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.

Like Fantilli, Werenski is a product of the University of Michigan. He said he has known Werenski for years and trained with him this offseason.

"[There's] no doubt he will contribute immediately to the NHL," he said.