Columbus Blue Jackets: Zach Werenski Must Re- Sign With The Team
Zach Werenski might not be at Columbus Blue Jackets training camp when it opens on September 12th. The star defenceman is currently a restricted free agent. It would seem that he’ll start the preseason away from the team. However, it’s crucial the team get him back as soon as possible.
You’d think with one of the NHL’s best defenceman in Seth Jones on the roster, the Columbus Blue Jackets could just pair anyone up with him and find success. That’s probably true, but, Werenski isn’t just some ordinary defenceman. He’s one of the best up and comers in the league.
During the 2018-19 season, Werenski scored 44 points. That was good for 22nd among NHL defenceman. And while that might not seem elite, consider he’s playing alongside Jones, who himself scored 46 points and is considered one of the best in the league. These numbers will only go up as well. Werenski is just 22 years old, meaning there’s a lot of development left.
With all of the losses Columbus suffered this offseason (Artemi Panarin, Sergei Bobrovski, Matt Duchene), the loss of Zach Werenski would be just another knockout punch for the team. There have been talks about a bridge deal between the two sides at about $6 million per season. That’s not in the best interest of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
If over the course of that bridge deal Werenski evolves his game (as he should) and becomes a 50+ point player, the market will only increase after the deal has concluded. It’d be even tougher for the team to negotiate a deal seeing as he’d command more money on the open market. And this time he wouldn’t be a restricted free agent.
Teams will go bananas over a young defenseman to anchor their blueline. And once again the Jackets (who originally drafted Werenski) will be left with another superstar leaving the team. It’s in the best interest of the front office to sign him to a favorable deal now. Make sure he’s part of your future.
Seth Jones and Zach Werenski could already be the best 1-2 punch at defenceman in all of the NHL. By keeping this core together, you’re assuring fans and the players that you want to win. He needs to sign soon. Even if that means a bridge deal, the Jackets need him in camp.
With all that the Columbus Blue Jackets have lost this offseason, losing a future star at the defenceman position will kill the team. While Werenski won’t have the same impact as a Panarin, Bobrovski, or Duchene at this current moment, in the next two years he might be a game changer. It’s that kind of production the Jackets need to bank on. And signing him long-term is a must.
Image Source: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Daniel is a guru of baseball and basketball prospects. He’s a very experienced Amusement Park traveler as well. Follow him and his hot takes on Insta @dgentleman9288
