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Zach Werenski

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Zach Werenski
Werenski with the Lake Erie Monsters in 2016
Born (1997-07-19) July 19, 1997 (age 29)
Grosse Pointe, Michigan, U.S.
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 214 lb (97 kg; 15 st 4 lb)
Position Defense
Shoots Left
NHL team Columbus Blue Jackets
National team ‹See TfM› United States
NHL draft 8th overall, 2015
Columbus Blue Jackets
Playing career 2016–present

Zachary Kenneth Werenski[1] (born July 19, 1997) is an American professional ice hockey player who is a defenseman and alternate captain for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL). Drafted eighth overall by Columbus in the 2015 NHL entry draft, Werenski has become one of the most accomplished players in franchise history. In 2026, he won the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the NHL's top defenseman. Werenski was co-recipient in June 2026 of the Excellence in Sports Award from the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame in Troy, Michigan.

Following his draft selection, Werenski joined the Lake Erie Monsters and helped lead them to the 2016 Calder Cup championship. He made his NHL debut later that year and was named a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league's best rookie in 2017. Over the following decade, Werenski established himself as one of the league's premier offensive defensemen, earning multiple NHL All-Star selections and becoming the Columbus Blue Jackets' all-time leader in assists, points, and goals among defensemen.

Internationally, Werenski represented the United States at the 2015 and 2016 World Junior Championships. In the 2025 World Championship, he helped the United States capture its first gold medal in the World Championship since 1933 and was named the tournament's best defenseman. At the 2026 Winter Olympics, he assisted on Jack Hughes' overtime winner against Canada, helping the United States win its first gold medal in the Winter Olympics since 1980.

Playing career

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Junior

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Werenski played in the 2009 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Detroit Belle Tire minor ice hockey team.[2] He later trained with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program during the 2013–14 season. He finished second among team defensemen in scoring with seven goals and 20 assists in 47 games, despite missing time in November due to injury.[3]

College

[edit]
Werenski playing for the University of Michigan Wolverines in February 2015.

During his freshman season, at the University of Michigan, Werenski recorded nine goals and 16 assists. Following an outstanding rookie season, Werenski was named to both the 2014–15 Big Ten All-Freshman Team and the All-Big Ten First Team.[4] Werenski's CHL rights were owned by the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League. He was drafted by them in the 2013 OHL Priority Selection.

Following an outstanding season with the Wolverines, Werenski was named the Big Ten Conference Defensive Player of the Year[5] and was named to the All-Big Ten First Team. Werenski was the No. 1 scoring defenseman in the Big Ten and was second in the nation among blueliners in points with a career-best 11 goals and 25 assists in 36 games. His six power-play goals put him No. 2 in the nation among defensemen. He had 51 blocked shots on the season and became the 18th defenseman in Michigan history to record 10 goals in a single season and the first since Jacob Trouba scored 12 goals in 2012–13 season.[6] He was also named an AHCA First Team All-American.[7]

During the 2016 Big Ten Men's Ice Hockey Tournament, Werenski and Kyle Connor tied the record for most assists in the Big Ten tournament championship game with three assists. Werenski and Connor also tied the record for points in a championship game with four points. He was also named to the Big Ten All-Tournament Team.[8][9]

Professional

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Columbus Blue Jackets

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On June 26, 2015, Werenski was drafted eighth overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2015 NHL entry draft.[10]

On March 29, 2016, Werenski signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets, beginning with the 2016–17 season.[11] He was signed to an American Hockey League amateur tryout contract with the Lake Erie Monsters, the AHL affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets.[12]

He made his professional debut for the Monsters on April 1, 2016. On April 9, he scored his first professional goal, the overtime game-winning goal against Nathan Lieuwen of the Rochester Americans.[13] During the 2016 Calder Cup playoffs, Werenski recorded five goals and nine assists, to help lead the Monsters to their first Calder Cup championship.[14]

On October 13, 2016, Werenski made his debut for the Blue Jackets in the season opening-game and scored his first NHL point with an assist.[15] On October 15, 2016, in his second NHL game, Werenski scored his first goal against Martin Jones of the San Jose Sharks.[16] Werenski was named the NHL's Rookie of the Month for November 2016. Through 14 games that November, Werenski scored three goals and seven assists.[17]

On March 10, 2017, Werenski set the record for the most points scored by any Blue Jackets rookie in franchise history beating the previous record holder, Rick Nash, by 8 points.[18]

Werenski was injured in Game 3 of the First Round of the 2017 playoffs against the Pittsburgh Penguins when a puck on a shot from Phil Kessel rode up the shaft of his stick and hit him in the face. He received stitches and a black eye but returned to the game in the third period only to leave again when his eye closed over.[19] He was not able to play for the remainder of the playoffs.[20]

Werenski was voted third in the Calder Memorial Trophy voting, an award given annually to the best rookie in the league. The award eventually went to Toronto Maple Leafs Auston Matthews.[21]

On January 26, 2018, Werenski was called to replace fellow defensemen Seth Jones at the 2018 NHL All-Star Game.[22] At the conclusion of the season, Werenski tied with Jones for most goals by a Blue Jackets defensemen in a season, with 16.[23] After the Blue Jackets were eliminated from the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs, Werenski revealed he had been playing with an undisclosed shoulder injury that had never healed in October.[24] During the post season, Werenski had surgery on his shoulder and was expected to miss 5–6 months.[25]

On September 9, 2019, the Blue Jackets signed Werenski to a three-year, $15 million contract extension.[26]

On December 31, 2019, Werenski scored a hat-trick in a 4–1 Blue Jackets' win over the Florida Panthers and former goaltender teammate, Sergei Bobrovsky. Werenski finished the shortened 2019–20 season leading the league in goals by defensemen with 20.[27]

Werenski (right) checking Lars Eller in February 2022.

On April 9, 2021, Werenski was ruled out for the remainder of the 2020–21 season due to a sports hernia.[28][29][30]

Werenski signed a six-year, $57.5 million contract extension with the Blue Jackets on July 29, 2021. After re-signing with the team, Werenski was described as becoming "the face of the franchise".[31]

The 2024–25 season proved to be a breakout year for both Werenski and his team, which narrowly missed qualification to the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs.[32] He finished second in league scoring among defensemen (behind only Cale Makar), and set single-season records for a Blue Jackets defenseman in goals (23), assists (59) and points (82). For the first time in his career he was named a finalist for the James Norris Memorial Trophy, awarded by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association to the league's best defenseman.[33]

Werenski again finished second in defenseman scoring during the 2025–26 season, posting 22 goals and 59 assists in 75 games played, his 81 points being behind only Evan Bouchard of the Edmonton Oilers.[34] Despite this, the Blue Jackets again came up short of playoff qualification.[35] Werenski was ultimately awarded the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the league's top defenseman, becoming the first Blue Jackets player to win the award.[36]

International play

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Medal record
Men's ice hockey
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place2026 Milano Cortina
World Championships
Gold medal – first place2025 Sweden/Denmark
4 Nations Face-Off
Runner-up2025 Canada/United States
IIHF World Junior Championship
Bronze medal – third place2016 Finland
World U-17 Hockey Challenge
Gold medal – first place2014 Canada

Werenski represented the United States at the 2014 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, where he recorded one assist in six games, and won a gold medal. Werenski represented the United States at the 2015 World Junior Championships, where he recorded one goal and one assist in five games, and finished in fifth place.[37]

Werenski was named captain of the United States at the 2016 World Junior Championships.[38] He recorded two goals and seven assists in seven games, and won a bronze medal. He was awarded the IIHF Directorate Top Defenseman award, and was named to the tournament All-Star team.[39]

Werenski represented the United States at the 2025 World Championship, where he recorded one goal and five assists in seven games and helped the team win its first gold medal since 1933. He was subsequently named to the All-Star team and named Best Defenseman of the tournament by the directorate.[40][41]

On January 2, 2026, Werenski was named to the United States' roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics.[42] He assisted on Jack Hughes' game-winning goal in overtime against Canada to clinch the team's first gold medal since 1980. Amid the backlash faced by the men's team regarding the inclusion of FBI director Kash Patel during their gold medal celebrations, and President Trump's comments of being impeached if he did not invite the U.S. women's team to the White House, Werenski was among the majority who visited the White House and attended the State of the Union.[43][44][45]

Personal life

[edit]

Werenski is of Polish descent.[46][47] Werenski married his girlfriend, Odette Peters, on July 26, 2025.[48] Werenski and his wife have one son.[citation needed]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
2013–14 U.S. NTDP Juniors USHL 356131917 —————
2013–14 U.S. NTDP U17 USDP 477243142 —————
2013–14 U.S. NTDP U18 USDP 41010 —————
2014–15 University of Michigan B1G 35916258 —————
2015–16 University of Michigan B1G 3611253620 —————
2015–16 Lake Erie Monsters AHL 71010 1759142
2016–17 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 7811364714 31010
2017–18 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 7716213716 61232
2018–19 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 8211334418 101569
2019–20 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 6320214110 101234
2020–21 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 357132013 —————
2021–22 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 6811374822 —————
2022–23 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 133580 —————
2023–24 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 7011465722 —————
2024–25 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 8123598231 —————
2025–26 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 7522598118 —————
NHL totals 642135330465164 29491315

International

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Year Team Event Result GPGAPtsPIM
2014 United States U17 1st place, gold medalist(s) 60110
2015 United States WJC 5th 51122
2016 United States WJC 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 72794
2019 United States WC 7th 20000
2024 United States WC 5th 82578
2025 United States 4NF 2nd 40662
2025 United States WC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 71562
2026 United States OG 1st place, gold medalist(s) 61564
Junior totals 1839126
Senior totals 274212514

Awards and honors

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Awards Year Ref
College
All-Big Ten Freshman Team 2015 [4]
All-Big Ten First Team
Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year 2016 [6]
All-Big Ten First Team
AHCA West First-Team All-American 2016 [7]
Big Ten All-Tournament Team 2016 [8]
AHL
Calder Cup champion 2016 [14]
NHL
Rookie of the month (November) 2016 [49]
NHL All-Star Game 2018, 2022 [22]
NHL First All-Star Team 2025, 2026 [50]
James Norris Memorial Trophy 2026 [36]
International
World Junior Championships Best Defenseman 2016 [39]
World Junior Championships All-Star team
World Championship Best Defender 2025 [40]
World Championship All-Star team 2025 [40]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "Team USA [@teamusa]; (November 14, 2025). "Middle of the month means it's time for @usahockey middle names 🇺🇸 #WinterOlympics"". www.instagram.com. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2019. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
  3. ↑ "Zach Werenski Bio". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  4. 1 2 "Hyman, Larkin Lead Quintet of U-M All-Big Ten Honorees". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. March 16, 2015. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Hockey Postseason Honors Announced". Archived from the original on March 17, 2016. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
  6. 1 2 "Connor, Berenson Head List of All-Big Ten Award Winners". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. March 14, 2016. Retrieved March 14, 2016.
  7. 1 2 "Four Icers Earn All-America Honors; Connor Named Top Rookie". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. April 8, 2016. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  8. 1 2 "2016 All-Tournament Team" (PDF). MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. March 19, 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 1, 2016. Retrieved March 19, 2016.
  9. ↑ "2016 Big Ten Men's Ice Hockey Tournament Game 5 Notes" (PDF). MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. March 19, 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 2, 2016. Retrieved March 19, 2016.
  10. ↑ "Werenski, Incoming Freshman Connor Selected in 2015 NHL Draft". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. June 26, 2015. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Blue Jackets sign Zach Werenski to three-year, entry level contract". Columbus Blue Jackets. March 29, 2016. Archived from the original on April 5, 2016. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  12. ↑ "Zach Werenski signs amateur tryout contract with AHL's Lake Erie Monsters". Columbus Blue Jackets. March 29, 2016. Archived from the original on April 3, 2016. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  13. ↑ "Werenski's First Pro Goal Lifts Monsters to OT Win". Lake Erie Monsters. April 9, 2016. Archived from the original on April 13, 2016. Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  14. 1 2 Brown, Tony (June 12, 2016). "Bjorkstrand's OT goal clinches Monsters' first-ever Calder Cup championship". Columbus Blue Jackets. Archived from the original on August 12, 2016. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
  15. ↑ Merz, Craig (October 14, 2016). "Brad Marchand's five points help Bruins win opener". NHL.com. Retrieved October 16, 2016.
  16. ↑ Merz, Craig (October 16, 2016). "Sharks hand Blue Jackets second straight loss". NHL.com. Retrieved October 16, 2016.
  17. ↑ "November rookie of the month: Columbus Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
  18. ↑ Lukan, Alison (March 10, 2017). "Werenski breaks franchise rookie points record". NHL.com. Columbus Blue Jackets. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
  19. ↑ "Blue Jackets rookie Zach Werenski is out for the season with facial fracture". The Washington Post. April 17, 2017.
  20. ↑ "Blue Jackets' Werenski out for balance of NHL playoffs". cbc.ca. April 17, 2017. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  21. ↑ "Zach Werenski Finishes Third in Calder Memorial Trophy Race". The Cannon. June 21, 2017. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved November 6, 2017.
  22. 1 2 "Zach Werenski added to Metro team roster at 2018 Honda NHL All-Star Game". NHL.com. Columbus Blue Jackets. January 26, 2018. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
  23. ↑ Hedger, Brian (May 3, 2018). "Growing Pains: Shoulder surgery among multiple hurdles Werenski faced". NHL.com. Retrieved May 3, 2018. Werenski and Jones each scored 16 goals to share the franchise record for goals by a defenseman in a single season
  24. ↑ Merz, Craig (April 24, 2018). "Werenski played through injury most of season for Blue Jackets". NHL.com. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
  25. ↑ Merz, Craig (May 3, 2018). "Werenski could miss training camp for Blue Jackets after shoulder surgery". NHL.com. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
  26. ↑ "Werenski signs three-year contract with Blue Jackets". National Hockey League. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  27. ↑ "Draisaitl wins Art Ross, Ovechkin wins ninth Richard Trophy". Reuters. May 29, 2020. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  28. ↑ "Werenski out for season for Blue Jackets with sports hernia". NHL.com. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  29. ↑ "Blue Jackets' Werenski to miss rest of season with sports hernia injury". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  30. ↑ O'Leary, Sean. "Blue Jackets' Werenski to undergo sports hernia surgery, out for season". theScore.com. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  31. ↑ Hedger, Brian. "With big six-year contract, Zach Werenski becomes face of Blue Jackets franchise". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  32. ↑ Arnold, Nicholas (April 30, 2025). "The Case for Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski to Win the Norris Trophy". The Hockey Writers. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  33. ↑ "Quinn Hughes, Makar, Werenski named Norris Trophy finalists". NHL.com. April 29, 2025. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  34. ↑ "Dahlin, Makar, Werenski named Norris Trophy finalists". NHL.com. May 7, 2026. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  35. ↑ Hedger, Brian (April 13, 2026). "Columbus Blue Jackets eliminated from playoff race". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  36. 1 2 "Zach Werenski named winner of James Norris Memorial Trophy". NHL.com. June 2, 2026. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
  37. ↑ "Zach Werenski Statistics". USA Hockey. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  38. ↑ "Werenski Named Captain of U.S. World Junior Team". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 22, 2015.
  39. 1 2 "Puljujarvi MVP, Best Forward". International Ice Hockey Federation. January 5, 2016. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
  40. 1 2 3 Pakarinen, Risto (May 25, 2025). "Genoni gets MVP nod". iihf.com.
  41. ↑ Zaccardi, Nick (May 25, 2025). "U.S. men's hockey team wins first standalone world championship since 1933". NBC Sports. Retrieved May 25, 2025.
  42. ↑ "Team USA announce 25-strong men's ice hockey roster for Milano Cortina 2026". Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics. January 2, 2026. Retrieved January 2, 2026.[dead link]
  43. ↑ Superville, Darlene (February 24, 2026). "US men's hockey team feted at State of the Union; Trump says women's team will be honored 'soon'". AP News. Retrieved February 25, 2026.
  44. ↑ Gentille, Sean; Salvian, Hailey (February 24, 2026). "Jack and Quinn Hughes respond to 'backlash' faced by U.S. men's Olympic hockey team". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 25, 2026.
  45. ↑ DeGrushe, Alison (February 27, 2026). "U.S. men's Olympic hockey controversy explained: All about the backlash (and how the women's team responded)". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
  46. ↑ "Zach Werenski: Mój dziadek jest Polakiem. Opowiadał mi o swojej ojczyźnie". Hokej.Net (in Polish). May 23, 2019. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  47. ↑ Zach Werenski po meczu Polska — Stany Zjednoczone. May 19, 2024. Retrieved November 21, 2024 – via YouTube.
  48. ↑ "NHL stars offseason roundup: Wedding Season". NHL.com. August 8, 2025. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
  49. ↑ "Zach Werenski named NHL's top rookie for November". NHL.com. December 1, 2016.
  50. ↑ "NHL announces 2024-25 All-Star Teams". NHL.com. June 13, 2025. Retrieved June 14, 2025.
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