- Chris Johnston says Columbus never liked what Toronto or Tampa Bay put on the table for Zach Werenski
- Werenski used his no-movement clause to block a June 30 trade to Dallas built around Thomas Harley
- Read below for what Johnston revealed about the “Dallas or Columbus” choice
The Zach Werenski sweepstakes came down to one team, and it was not Toronto.
Chris Johnston explained on his podcast this week why the Maple Leafs never landed the Blue Jackets defenseman, even though Werenski was open to the move. Columbus simply did not like what Toronto or Tampa Bay could offer.
“Columbus never liked either of whatever those teams could put on the table,” Johnston said. “It was basically presented to Zach as it’s Dallas or Columbus.”
Werenski set the whole thing in motion on June 30. He used his no-movement clause to veto a trade to the Dallas Stars, a deal that would have sent Thomas Harley the other way to Columbus.
The reigning Norris Trophy winner wanted to stay in the Eastern Conference, which left Toronto and Tampa Bay as the only teams he would join. The problem was the return. Johnston laid out why neither East team could get it done:
“He was willing to go to Toronto and Tampa,” Johnston said. “They didn’t have something like Thomas Harley to offer up.”
Harley set the bar, and nobody in the East had a piece close to a 24-year-old top-pairing defenseman. Columbus was not about to move its franchise blueliner for less.
Darren Dreger even floated that Toronto might not have to include Matthew Knies in a package. Here’s what Dreger reported on July 1:
It did not matter. Knies or no Knies, the Leafs did not have a Harley to send back, and Werenski was not leaving the East for Dallas.
So Werenski stays put in Columbus. The Blue Jackets keep their best defenseman, and John Chayka’s Leafs go back to hunting for a blue-line upgrade somewhere else.
