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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Among league's top defenders
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Werenski tallied two assists in a 5-2 win over the Lightning on Tuesday.
Both apples came on the power play. Werenski has three assists in his last two games; all three have come with the man advantage. The defender leads the Blue Jackets with 68 points (20 goals, 28 assists) in 57 games. He's second in the NHL in scoring from the blue line, but what makes his output this season even more impressive is that Werenski started the season with just four points (one goal, three assists) in his first eight games. His point-per-game production (1.19) is the NHL's best from the back end.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Pockets power-play helper
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Werenski notched a power-play assist, three shots on goal, two blocked shots and a minus-4 rating in Monday's 5-4 overtime loss to the Kings.
Werenski missed three games due to an illness, so it may take some time for him to regain his strength. He's still a big factor in the Blue Jackets' system, both on offense and defense, so he'll continue to see significant ice time. The defenseman has 66 points (16 on the power play), 200 shots on net, 73 blocks and a plus-3 rating through 56 appearances.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Ready to play Saturday
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Werenski (Illness) will return to action against Utah on Saturday, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports.
Following a three-game absence, Werenski will return to the lineup after recovering from a stomach bug. He has amassed 20 goals, 65 points, 195 shots on net and 68 blocked shots across 54 appearances this season.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Out again Thursday
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Werenski (illness) won't play Thursday versus the Panthers, Mark Scheig of The Hockey Writers reports.
Werenski is missing his third straight game. The 28-year-old defenseman's next chance to play is Saturday versus the Mammoth. Dante Fabbro (lower body) is also out, so Jake Christiansen and Egor Zamula will both be in the lineup.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Game-time call
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Werenski (illness) will be a game-time decision against Florida on Thursday, Mark Scheig of The Hockey Writers reports.
Werenski has missed the last two games. He is on a nine-game point streak, tallying two goals and 11 assists. Overall, Werenski has 20 goals and 65 points across 54 appearances this season and should get plenty of Norris Trophy consideration at the end of the season. Head coach Rick Bowness said that Werenski would not return until he is 100 percent, and that could make a return Saturday versus Utah a better scenario.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Unavailable Tuesday
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Werenski (illness) won't play against Nashville on Tuesday, according to Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site.
Werenski will miss his second straight game and will remain day-to-day ahead of Thursday's matchup against Florida. He has amassed 20 goals, 65 points, 195 shots on net and 68 blocked shots across 54 appearances this season.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Game-time call Tuesday
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Werenski (illness) was deemed a game-time decision ahead of Tuesday's clash against Nashville, per Aaron Portzline of The Athletic.
Head coach Rick Bowness stated that Werenski will take warmups before it's decided whether or not he will play Tuesday. The 28-year-old blueliner missed the Blue Jackets' game Monday due to the same illness. The fact that Werenski is taking warmups is a step in the right direction for his return, regardless of whether he suits up for Tuesday's contest. If the Norris Trophy candidate can't go Tuesday, he'll have a full day of rest before Columbus plays host to Florida on Thursday.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Not playing Monday
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Werenski (illness) will not suit up for Monday's road divisional matchup against the Rangers.
Werenski will miss his fifth game of the season Monday and first since Dec. 31. The all-world blueliner will be replaced in the lineup by Egor Zamula, who has been a healthy scratch in four straight games, for Monday's contest in New York City. Werenski will look to be ready for the second half of a back-to-back at home versus Nashville on Tuesday.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Deemed game-time decision
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Werenski is considered a game-time decision for Monday's matchup against the Rangers due to an illness, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports.
Werenski hasn't missed a game since the start of the calendar year, and he's in the midst of a nine-game point streak, but it's not yet clear whether he'll be able to suit up Monday. While his illness doesn't sound like a long-term concern, Egor Zamula is expected to join the lineup if Werenski is unavailable.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Extends point streak to nine games
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Werenski supplied two assists, fired five shots on net and dished out two hits in Saturday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Islanders.
Werenski extended his point streak to nine games, setting a new Blue Jackets franchise record for the longest point streak by a defenseman. His pair of helpers Saturday brought the superstar blueliner up to 45 assists, 65 points, 195 shots on goal and 68 blocked shots across 54 games this season. Since Dec. 11, the 28-year-old defenseman has been held off the scoresheet just two times during his 35-point, 24-game stretch of play. Werenski is making a compelling case for the Norris Trophy, which could be bolstered if the Blue Jackets make a push for a playoff spot following their sluggish start to the season.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Makes history Wednesday
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Werenski scored the game-winning goal in Wednesday's 4-0 win over Chicago.
Werenski saw his centering attempt early in the first period pinball off Louis Crevier's stick, Alex Vlasic's skate and past Spencer Knight to give Columbus a 1-0 lead, and it proved to be all the support Jet Greaves would need. The goal was also Werenski's 20th of the season, making him the first defenseman in history with 20 goals prior to an Olympic break, per Brian Hedger of The Columbus Dispatch. He's also the third American defenseman ever with consecutive 20-goal campaigns, joining Reed Larson and Hall of Famer Phil Housley. Werenski will now take his talents to Milan with Team USA while riding a seven-game point streak in which he's racked up two goals and 10 points.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Dishes pair of assists
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Werenski logged two assists (one on the power play), three shots on goal, two blocked shots and a plus-2 rating in Friday's 4-2 win over the Blackhawks.
This was Werenski's third two-assist game in a row. The 28-year-old continues to roll as the Blue Jackets' best blueliner, and he's tied for the lead among NHL defensemen with 59 points, matching Evan Bouchard. Werenski is at 19 goals, 40 assists, 175 shots on net, 64 blocked shots and a plus-6 rating over 49 appearances this season.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Supplies two more helpers
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Werenski notched two assists and two shots on goal in Wednesday's 5-3 win over the Flyers.
Werenski had a hand in first-period goals by Charlie Coyle and Kirill Marchenko. January has been another excellent stretch for Werenski, who has five goals, 12 assists and 40 shots on net over 13 outings this month. He's up to a total of 57 points, which leads all NHL defensemen, as well as 172 shots on net, 62 blocked shots and a plus-4 rating through 48 appearances.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Earns share of blue-line point lead
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Werenski notched two assists and three shots on goal in Saturday's 8-5 win over the Lightning.
Werenski is now tied with Cale Makar and Evan Bouchard atop the points list for defensemen -- all have 55, though Werenski has done it in fewer games than the other two. This was his fourth multi-point effort in January. For the season, the 28-year-old is at 19 goals, 36 helpers, 170 shots on net, 61 blocked shots and a plus-4 rating. Injuries are the only thing that have slowed down Werenski over recent years, and he's managed to limit his absences to four games in 2025-26, setting him up to match his 82-point effort from last season.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Elite defender in elite territory
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Werenski scored the Blue Jackets' only goal in a 1-0 win over the Stars on Thursday.
It was his 19th marker of the season, and it moved him into sole possession of first place in goals among NHL defenders. Werenski is four goals away from equaling his career high of 23, which he set last season, and he's on a 90-point pace. That would also establish a new career-best mark. He delivered 82 points last season. Cale Makar was the only defender to top 90 points last season, and just two -- Quinn Hughes and Makar -- hit 90 the year before. Werenski is an elite defender in elite territory.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Tallies on power play
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Werenski scored a power-play goal on five shots in Thursday's 4-1 win over the Canucks.
Werenski has earned four goals and seven assists over eight outings in January. His last two goals have come with the man advantage, where he continues to see ample time on the first unit. The star defenseman is up to 18 goals, 51 points, 160 shots on net, 58 blocked shots and a plus-6 rating through 43 appearances.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Twenty points in last 12 games
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Werenski had a goal and two assists in a 5-3 win over the Flames on Tuesday.
His power-play goal early in the third put his squad up 3-2. Werenski has been gold this season. He has put up points in 11 of his last 12 games (eight goals, 12 assists), and he leads the Blue Jackets in scoring by a wide margin. He leads the team in goals (17), assists (13) and points (50). Those points put him behind Cale Makar on the NHL's list of scorers from the blue line. Oh yeah, Werenski has also been a complete beast at home. His points Tuesday extended his personal home point streak to 15 games and 29 points (11 goals, 18 assists).
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Nets goal Tuesday
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Werenski scored a goal on two shots and went minus-3 in Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the Sharks.
Werenski has gotten on the scoresheet in eight straight outings (seven goals, eight assists), with only a lower-body injury slowing him down by sidelining him for four games during that span. The 28-year-old defenseman continues to be one of the absolute best from the blue line while working massive minutes for the Blue Jackets. Werenski is at 16 goals, 45 points, 141 shots on net, 54 blocked shots and a plus-5 rating through 38 appearances.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Records two points Sunday
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Werenski scored a goal and added an assist in Sunday's 5-4 overtime loss to the Penguins.
Werenski has made the most of his chances since returning from his lower-body injury, posting four points (one goal, three assists) in his last two games. The star blueliner has racked up 44 points in 37 outings this season, with 15 goals and 29 assists, and he remains one of the best offensive defensemen in the league. He ranks second in points among defensemen, as he only trails Cale Makar (47) from the Avalanche.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Two helpers in return to lineup
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Werenski notched two assists in Saturday's 5-1 win over the Sabres.
The star defenseman missed the four games with a lower-body injury. Werenski wasted little time showing he was fully healthy in his return, helping to set up Denton Mateychuk for the afternoon's first tally just three minutes into the first period. Werenski then had a hand in Cole Sillinger's empty-netter in the third. Werenski has delivered 14 goals and 42 points in 36 contests this season. Only Cale Makar, with 45 points in 39 games, has been more productive among NHL blueliners.
