- Pierre LeBrun says at least a dozen teams will inquire, with Dallas, Carolina and Philadelphia the early names
- Werenski is the reigning Norris winner with two years left at a $9.58 million cap hit
- Read below for the full list of suitors and why Columbus might move him now
The Blue Jackets just got their first read on the Zach Werenski market, and it is already crowded.
Pierre LeBrun reported Saturday that at least a dozen teams will check in on the Norris Trophy winner over the coming weeks. The early names to watch are Dallas, Carolina and Philadelphia.
Here is LeBrun with the early board:
Columbus started fielding those calls a day earlier. LeBrun said the front office is listening because it knows Werenski is unlikely to sign an extension past his current deal.
LeBrun laid out the thinking:
Frank Seravalli pushed the list even wider, adding the Sharks, Lightning and Maple Leafs to the mix. That puts a Norris winner in front of a big chunk of the league.
The case for moving him now is straightforward. Werenski has two years left at a $9.58 million cap hit and becomes extension-eligible on July 1, 2027. He has not asked for a trade and has said he likes Columbus, but the Jackets may never get a better return than the one a contender hands them this summer.
Werenski is coming off the best season of his career. He racked up 22 goals and 59 assists for 81 points in 75 games, logged 26:37 a night, and became the first defenseman in Blue Jackets history to take home the Norris.
Watch the moment he picked up the hardware:
He carried that form into February, assisting on Jack Hughes’ overtime winner that gave Team USA its first Olympic gold since 1980. Werenski and agent Judd Moldaver are set to meet with Columbus brass once the draft wraps.
Werenski is not the only Blue Jacket drawing calls. Columbus is also fielding interest on Kirill Marchenko. Either way, the Jackets are running the busiest phone line at the draft.
