The Columbus Blue Jackets’ Zach Werenski is really good and has been for years. Sadly, it took years for the rest of the league to take notice, though. In the last two seasons, Werenski has shown that he is arguably the top defenseman, as shown by the Norris Trophy he earned last season.
NHL Network recently released its “Top 20 Defensemen Right Now” list, and to no one’s surprise, Zach Werenski is very high on the list.
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Werenski comes in at #3 on the list, with only Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes ahead of him.
Per the NHL Network article:
“Werenski was voted the Norris Trophy winner as the best defenseman in the League last season, after he led the Blue Jackets and was second among NHL defensemen, with 81 points (22 goals, 59 assists) in 75 games. That was one off of the NHL career-best 82 points he had in 2024-25, making him the ninth defenseman in NHL history to have consecutive 80-point seasons. His 59 assists matched the single-season Blue Jackets record, set by Artemi Panarin in 2018-19 and equaled by Werenski in 2024-25, and his 22 goals were one off the mark for a Blue Jackets defenseman, which he had set with 23 goals in 2024-25. The 29-year-old had a plus-9 even-strength goal differential while finishing third in the NHL with an average even-strength ice time of 22:21. Werenski also helped Team USA win the gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics. He had six points (one goal, five assists) in six games, including the primary assist on Jack Hughes’ overtime goal in the 2-1 win against Team Canada in the championship game.”
The rest of the top-5 is Rasmus Dahlin and Miro Heiskanen.
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There is some uncertainty surrounding Werenski with the drama that took place this summer, and many wonder if it will affect his performance next season as a member of the CBJ. Werenski is a pro, so don’t expect him to just glide along next season waiting for a trade to happen.
Expect more stellar play from Zach Werenski.
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