Blue Jackets sign 2015 first round pick Zach Werenski

He won Gold at the 2014 World Under-17 with Team USA, and had 25 points in 35 games this season for the University of Michigan, check out the report on defenceman Zachary Weresnki.

The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed Zach Werenski to an entry-level deal, the team announced Tuesday.

The Blue Jackets selected the defenceman with the eighth overall pick in the 2015 draft.

The three-year deal will begin with the 2016-17 season.

Werenski, 18, is expected to make his AHL debut Friday with Columbus’ AHL affiliate Lake Erie Monsters, with whom he signed a tryout contract earlier Tuesday. The team expects him to stick with the club for the remainder of the season and the playoffs.

This season’s Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year just completed his sophomore campaign with the University of Michigan, totalling 11 goals and 25 assists in 36 games with the Wolverines to lead all Big Ten defencemen in scoring this year.

He also captained Team USA at the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championships, winning bronze.

March 29, 2016

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Zachary Werenski

SIGNED BY
Columbus Blue Jackets
LENGTH
3 yrs
CONTRACT TYPE
Entry-Level Deal
SALARY CAP HIT
$925,000
TOTAL
$5.325 million

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