Zach Werenski says he's committed to Columbus.
The Blue Jackets star defenceman and Norris Trophy winner doubled down on his desire to win with the club on Thursday after a summer that included a vetoed trade and questions about his future with the franchise.
"I think everyone knows how much I love this city and how much it means to me, and I would have no issues being here for an even longer time (than his current contract)," Werenski, who is due to become a free agent after the 2027-28 season and can sign an extension as early as July 1, told reporters. “I want to see us in the playoffs and I want to see us make progress, and I feel like we’ve done that.
“Winning solves everything, and that’s where we have to get to as a club. We have to raise our standards and expectations, and that starts with myself. I fully plan on doing that this year and being an even better player, a better leader. And, hopefully, that just means I’m here even longer.”
Early in the off-season, Werenski kiboshed a trade with his no-move clause that would have sent him to the Dallas Stars for a package led by Thomas Harley, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported.
Days earlier, multiple reports said Werenski told Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell he was unlikely to sign a contract extension, immediately turning him into a trade candidate.
Werenski denied that on Thursday, and said he called Waddell to get things "back on the tracks" ahead of their joint statements on July 1 that he would stick in Columbus.
"I felt like it was kind of misconstrued a little bit on how I felt. In saying that, people have jobs to do, and, you know, they’re getting their information from somewhere, but it definitely wasn’t from me," Werenski said.
"The only thing I can go off is mine and Don’s conversations, and we’ve had great conversations since right when the season ended. I don’t know what my agent (Judd Moldaver) and Don are talking about … well, I do, to an extent. But certain things started to swirl and kind of snowballed, and it escalated to a spot that neither me nor Don intended. At least that’s how I feel about it."
Werenski played 75 games en route to the Norris Trophy last season, registering 22 goals and 59 assists. However, team success has eluded him as the Blue Jackets remain without a post-season appearance since 2020.
He joined the Blue Jackets as the eighth overall pick in the 2015 draft, and has spent his entire 642-game NHL career with the franchise.
