Zach Werenski Blocks Trade, Commits To Blue Jackets
A lot has happened overnight regarding the Zach Werenski saga with the Columbus Blue Jackets. According to TSN’s Chris Johnston, the Blue Jackets found a trade agreement they were willing to accept, only to have it blocked by Werenski. As alluded to by TSN’s Darren Dreger and later confirmed by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Dallas Stars were that team. Friedman shared that defenseman Thomas Harley would have been the centerpiece of the deal going to Columbus, with other players and picks involved.
Following the blocked trade, Columbus general manager Don Waddell released a joint statement with Werenski, acknowledging that the sides agreed to explore other opportunities earlier in the summer. In that statement, Werenski reaffirmed his commitment to the Blue Jackets, stating that he is no longer interested in a change of scenery.
It’s a somewhat surprising development, given the Stars’ competitiveness in recent years. However, according to TSN’s Pierre LeBrun, Werenski has a preference for remaining in the Eastern Conference and would prefer to join either the Tampa Bay Lightning or the Toronto Maple Leafs. Regardless, the agreed-upon trade with Dallas is indicative of how far the relationship between Columbus and Werenski has deteriorated in a matter of days.
For a brief timeline, on June 23rd, Friedman reported that Werenski would meet with the Blue Jackets after the 2026 NHL Draft to discuss his future with the organization. Two days after that, on the day of the draft, it was confirmed that Werenski wouldn’t be signing an extension with Columbus, but had agreed to honor his current contract with the club. Now, only four days after the draft, just a week after the meeting was set up between him and Columbus’ management, the Blue Jackets had fully agreed to move the reigning Norris Trophy winner.
According to Friedman, this rapid development hasn’t been motivated by Werenski’s camp, but instead by the Blue Jackets. A few hours later, after word came out that Werenski had blocked a trade to the Stars, Friedman reported that Werenski is so upset with how things have been managed by the Blue Jackets, particularly with the agreed-upon trade being leaked to the media, that Werenski will block any future trade that Columbus tries to make.
Still, as Friedman notes, cooler heads prevail. Werenski’s reaction to the trade may prohibit a trade from being made today, but now it seems like a foregone conclusion that he is on his way out of the only organization he has ever known.
Meanwhile, it has been a difficult offseason thus far for the Stars. This is the second time in the last week that Dallas has agreed to a blockbuster trade, only to have the headlining player reject the deal. One day before the 2026 NHL Draft, the Stars had agreed to trade Jason Robertson to the Seattle Kraken, only to have Robertson reject the idea of signing a long-term deal with Seattle. The reported extension was an eight-year proposal for more than $120MM in total value.
Regardless, the Stars are headed for an awkward training camp as things currently stand. Most pundits indicate that Robertson’s preference is to remain with the Stars moving forward, but he now knows that Dallas is actively shopping him. Additionally, Harley is set to begin an eight-year, $84.7MM extension with the Stars this season, and he now knows the team was close to trading him. Yes, the players are professionals, and should understand that it is a business at the end of the day, but there is still a human element to consider.
Evening Notes: Werenski, Nikishin, Bobrovsky
The Zach Werenski trade saga has a frontrunner. On Monday’s “Insider Trading,” Pierre LeBrun reported that the Tampa Bay Lightning are the reigning Norris Trophy winner’s team of choice. Werenski is considered unlikely to sign an extension with Columbus, and the Blue Jackets are listening to offers, with GM Don Waddell seeking immediate roster help rather than a package built on picks and prospects. It’s a notable escalation from where things stood two weeks ago, when no trade request had been communicated.
The complicating factor is the contract. Werenski, 28, is signed through 2027-28 at a cap hit just over $9.5 million and holds a full no-movement clause, meaning he’d have to approve any destination, and he can’t be extended until July 1, 2027. That’s why LeBrun framed a third team as a real possibility, squaring Columbus’s desire for roster help with Tampa’s cap sheet may require one. The Lightning cleared some blue-line room by moving Darren Raddysh in a sign-and-trade, and while Tampa is the preferred fit, Dallas, Toronto, reportedly the only Canadian team Werenski would waive for, and Philadelphia are also pushing. Werenski is coming off a career-best 22 goals and 81 points in 75 games en route to his first Norris.
Additional Notes:
The Rangers are still after Nikishin. On the FAN Hockey Show, Elliotte Friedman reported that New York offered picks including a first-rounder for Carolina defenseman Alexander Nikishin, but the Hurricanes have been firm that the price must include a roster player, not just picks, and the Rangers are trying again, with Nikishin said to be happy at the idea of the move. The 24-year-old pending RFA won the Cup as a rookie this past season (11 goals, 33 points, an All-Rookie nod) and is seeking north of $8 million annually; Carolina grew more willing to move him after acquiring John Carlson‘s signing rights.
Sergei Bobrovsky‘s asking price on a new contract remains high. On Real Kyper & Bourne, Nick Kypreos said Bobrovsky’s ask is in the neighborhood of six years and $40-42 million as he approaches unrestricted free agency. The two-time Vezina winner turns 38 in September and is coming off a career-worst season on a Panthers team that missed the playoffs. After Florida acquired both Akira Schmid and Jacob Markström over the past two days, Bobrovsky will prepare to hit the open market Wednesday and join his fourth franchise as he heads into his 17th season.
Three Potential Trade Fits For Zach Werenski
What team could match the value regarding a Zach Werenski trade?
Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet has mentioned that the American defenseman is out there and referred to a few destinations that could trade for Werenski this offseason on the 32 Thoughts podcast.
Werenski finished the 2025-26 season scoring 22 goals for 81 points in 75 games this season. He received 113 first-place votes en route to winning a Norris Trophy. beating Colorado’s Cale Makar and Buffalo’s Rasmus Dahlin to win the best defenseman award. The 28-year-old led the Blue Jackets in assists, points, points-per-game, and finished third in goals. He became the 10th defenseman in NHL history to lead his team in scoring in consecutive campaigns, scoring 82 points in 2024-25.
But if there were teams that could inquire about the defenseman’s services, they’d have to pony up a big package to bring him back in a deal. Friedman also mentioned that Werenski would want to go to a team that has a chance to win. Whichever team gets him would have his deal on a short window, and compared to the Quinn Hughes situation in Minnesota, that team will have to ensure they can convince Werenski that they’re on the right track. Part of this also falls on Columbus GM Don Waddell in getting the best value for his star blue-liner.
The Grosse Pointe, Michigan native is set to enter the fifth season of a six-year contract that he signed back in July of 2021 with a total value of $57.5MM (9.583MM AAV). He’s spent his entire career in Columbus, signing a three-year $15MM ($5MM) deal in 2019 and his entry-level contract, which paid him $925K annually from 2016 to 2019. After being taken eighth overall in 2015 by Columbus, Werenski spent his post-draft season with the University of Michigan, scoring 36 points in 36 games.
It’s important to mention here that Werenski has a full no-movement clause in his contract until next year-end. In terms of teams that can fit and can provide a valuable return, Friedman mentioned a few options.
San Jose Sharks
The Sharks could accelerate their rebuild into a playoff-contending window by trading for Werenski if they believe their roster can get there. Friedman wondered how long it would take before San Jose becomes a prime destination for NHLers to want to sign. The Sharks are progressing into that window, but it’s not there yet. If Columbus wanted to acquire futures, the Sharks have a large surplus of those kinds of assets that they can afford to trade for Werenski. The question is, would they press the button, based on the team’s current pedigree in the East?
$39.4MM is a lot of cap space to work with this summer for San Jose, and four of their defensemen are set to head to market, two of whom are left-handed, making Dmitry Orlov ($6.5MM AAV) the highest-paid lefty defender for 2026-27. After next season, the Sharks will also benefit from open money getting off the buyouts of Martin Jones and Marc-Edouard Vlasic and the retained salary of Erik Karlsson.
Dallas Stars
The Stars signed Thomas Harley to an eight-year extension that will pay him above $10MM in AAV until 2034. The 24-year-old takes up a good chunk of the $32.5MM cap hit paid to all Dallas defenders. Friedman thinks the Stars are interested, but how would Harley feel about being in that deal after committing in Texas for eight years?
It was a big if, however, there doesn’t appear to be many better options in terms of fit for fit. The Jackets ideally would want a top-paid defenseman in return, and this would set them up where they’d have their guy locked in. It may be a little early to tell for the Stars, given the decisions needed on restricted free agents Jason Robertson and Mavrik Bourque. Columbus is on the cusp of the playoffs out east, and Harley in the return, while nowhere near the offensive output of Werenski, would provide a valuable return for the Jackets’ current core.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Friedman believes Toronto is going to check in on Werenski as well. After reloading in selecting Gavin McKenna first-overall and trading for Darren Raddysh, the Leafs could make another big splash and remedy their left side on defense. On the podcast, Friedman asked the weight of the return between the potential Stars offer and Toronto’s young forward Matthew Knies, whose signed until 2031 with a $7.75MM AAV.
The Leafs hold $22MM in cap space after their moves and are looking to reload back into playoff contention. In a potential return, if not Knies, given the Blue Jackets’ surplus of young talented forwards, does a large package including picks and one of Toronto’s young talents allow Morgan Rielly to be included as the big name blue liner in the positional swap? If this is the case, Werenski would have to consider similarly to San Jose, is that the right place to go, given their current status compared to other team’s windows.
Photo Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Blue Jackets Listening On Trade Calls For Zach Werenski
June 27th: LeBrun has also reported that there are “at least a dozen teams who will inquire over time” about trading for Werenski. He also specifically named three teams with interest in trading for the star blueliner: Dallas Stars, Carolina Hurricanes, and Philadelphia Flyers.
June 26th: It appears that the Blue Jackets didn’t need to wait until after this weekend’s draft to get an answer. Although nothing is close, TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports that Columbus is of the understanding that Werenski won’t be signing long-term with the Blue Jackets once his current deal expires after the 2027-28 campaign. Columbus has the option of waiting next season to make a deal and potentially convince Werenski to stay, but they would receive a far bigger return this summer.
June 23rd: On the heels of Dylan Larkin requesting a trade from the Detroit Red Wings and the Ottawa Senators shipping Brady Tkachuk off to the Florida Panthers, there is growing speculation that a third member of Team USA’s Gold medal-winning Olympic team could be on the move this summer. According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Columbus Blue Jackets will discuss exactly that with Norris Trophy-winning defenseman Zach Werenski after the NHL Draft.
While it’s uncommon for defensemen, let alone players of Werenski’s caliber, to become available, we are fortunate to have a recent comparable example. Also having two years remaining on his contract, defenseman Quinn Hughes informed the Vancouver Canucks that he had no interest in signing with them long-term, prompting a trade to the Minnesota Wild for Marco Rossi, Zeev Buium, Liam Ohgren, and a 2026 first-round pick.
Despite having won the Norris Trophy this season, it took several years for Werenski to find his groove with the Blue Jackets. For the first six years of his career, Werenski averaged approximately 15 goals and 48 points on an 82-game average before shoulder surgery eliminated most of his 2022-23 campaign.
That’s not to say Werenski wasn’t a great defenseman before undergoing surgery, as many teams would love to have a smooth-skating defenseman capable of 50-point seasons on their roster. Still, since returning, he’s been at an entirely different level.
Since the beginning of the 2023-24 campaign, Werenksi has scored 56 goals and 220 points in 226 games with a +19 rating, averaging 25:59 of ice time per game. In that same time frame, only Cale Makar, Evan Bouchard, and Hughes have scored more. No offense to the Blue Jackets, but unlike Makar and Bouchard, Werenski didn’t have the luxury of having a Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid, or Leon Draisaitl level talent playing with him.
Under normal circumstances, determining Werenski’s value on the trade market would be next to impossible. Fortunately for the Blue Jackets, as previously mentioned, they know what they could expect thanks to the Hughes trade. Essentially, if he were to be made available, the asking price for Columbus would be the equivalent of four first-round picks.
It’s important to note that Werenski has a full no-movement clause in his contract until next season. If he takes a page out of Larkin and Tkachuk’s book, and even Hughes, for that matter, Werenski may have a similar trade list: the Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, or Vegas Golden Knights. Carolina may have a decent shot with their potential assets, but it’s hard to envision the latter three teams pulling together the kind of assets needed to acquire Werenski.
Regardless, all that is putting the cart before the horse. At this stage, the speculation surrounding Werenski and the Blue Jackets is just that. There is every chance that Werenski believes in the Blue Jackets to build a winner, and is ready to commit long-term (again) to the franchise next summer. More information will likely be revealed after the draft on Sunday.
NHL Announces 2026 First & Second All-Star Teams
And with that, the NHL Award season is over. On the heels of announcing the 2025-26 All-Rookie Team, the NHL has also revealed the First & Second All-Star Teams from this past season. Now, the only two awards left to hand out are the Stanley Cup and the Conn Smythe Trophy. The two All-Star Teams are as follows:
First All-Star Team
LW Jason Robertson, Dallas Stars
C Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
RW Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning
D Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche
D Zach Werenski, Columbus Blue Jackets
G Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay Lightning
Second All-Star Team
LW Cole Caufield, Montreal Canadiens
C Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche
RW David Pastrnak, Boston Bruins
D Rasmus Dahlin, Buffalo Sabres
D Evan Bouchard, Edmonton Oilers
G Logan Thompson, Washington Capitals
There are no real surprises among the forwards and defensemen. It’s difficult to argue that anyone should be excluded from this list, as many of the names included were finalists for major awards during the 2025-26 campaign.
There is one big surprise for the goaltenders. Vasilevskiy makes plenty of sense, given that he won the Vezina Trophy this season. However, Thompson finished fourth in Vezina Trophy voting behind Ilya Sorokin of the New York Islanders and Jeremy Swayman of the Boston Bruins.
Arguably, Thompson should have been a finalist for the Vezina. He finished the season with a 31-21-6 record in 58 games with a .912 SV%, 2.44 GAA, and 29.3 GSAx according to MoneyPuck. His GSAx wasn’t the best per 60 minutes, but he finished ahead of Vasilevskiy in both metrics, demonstrating how strong he played this year. The difference is in who votes for each; the Vezina is voted on by the league’s General Managers, while the All-Star Teams are chosen by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.
Trade Notes: Larkin, Matthews, Werenski
Pierre LeBrun checked in on Wednesday with a batch of trade updates, headlined by the ever-evolving Dylan Larkin situation in Detroit. Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman has gone back to agent Pat Brisson to expand Larkin’s original three-team list: the Minnesota Wild, Vegas Golden Knights, and Florida Panthers, and Brisson was at least somewhat receptive, meaning the pool of potential suitors is no longer confined to those three. By all accounts, Yzerman has seemingly handled the request without rancor, staying in steady contact with Brisson as the two sides work toward a resolution.
Beyond the formal list, plenty of other clubs have called to gauge the situation, giving Larkin’s camp more to weigh. The Dallas Stars are among those that have checked in, a dynamic worth watching given that they’ve yet to extend restricted free agent Jason Robertson. There’s also the possibility of a third team entering any deal to make the assets work for Detroit; a scenario that could be especially relevant with Minnesota, which may not have the pieces the Red Wings would want on their own. Larkin’s appeal is obvious: the 29-year-old captain just posted 34 goals and 67 points in 74 games, his fifth straight season with at least 30 goals, and carries five more years at an $8.7MM cap hit, making him both a premium asset and a complicated one to move. With his market in flux, Pro Hockey Rumors is asking readers to weigh in on where Larkin ultimately lands. Cast your vote.
Additional Notes:
- All signs are pointing to Auston Matthews returning to Toronto next season. Matthews’ agent Judd Moldaver hasn’t formally told the Leafs as much, but talks with newly hired GM John Chayka have been cordial, and there’s a growing comfort level with the direction of things. Matthews managed just 27 goals and 53 points in an injury-wrecked campaign that ended with season-ending knee surgery, well off his usual standard, as Toronto missed the playoffs and finished last in the Atlantic. If his return to Toronto becomes official, it figures to disappoint a list of suitors that had been monitoring the situation surrounding the three-time Rocket Richard winner.
- Despite speculation linking Zach Werenski to a move in the wake of Larkin’s request, as the two are close friends and Team USA gold medalists, no such request has been communicated to the Blue Jackets. The timing of the chatter is notable given the year he just had. Werenski won his first Norris Trophy after recording 22 goals and 81 points in 75 games while logging the NHL’s second-most ice time at 26:37 per game. He has two years left on his deal, though a conversation about his long-term future in Columbus will come at some point.
Zach Werenski Wins 2025-26 Norris Trophy
The NHL announced this morning that Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets has won the Norris Trophy, which is annually awarded to the defenseman who demonstrates the greatest all-around ability in his position.
Werenski finished the 2025-26 season scoring 22 goals for 81 points in 75 games this season. He received 113 first-place votes and 48 second-place votes with 16 third-place votes in the PWHA poll for a total of 1,589 points, and was a top-five pick on 194 of 198 ballots. A total of 14 defensemen received votes, with only Colorado’s Cale Makar eclipsing the 1,000-vote mark, second to Werenski and Buffalo’s Rasmus Dahlin, rounding out the top three with 13 first-place votes and 657 points.
The 28-year-old led the Blue Jackets in assists, points, points-per-game, and finished third in goals. He became the 10th defenseman in NHL history to lead his team in scoring in consecutive campaigns, scoring 82 points in 2024-25. Those back-to-back seasons helped him become the fifth U.S.-born defenseman in NHL history to record multiple 80-point campaigns and is the third to accomplish the feat in consecutive seasons, joining Phil Housley (1991-92 to 1992-93 in Winnipeg) and Brian Leetch (1990-91 to 1991-92 with the New York Rangers). In winning this season, he joins Rod Langway (2x), Chris Chelios (3x), Leetch (2x), Adam Fox, and Quinn Hughes as the sixth American player to win the Norris Trophy.
According to the Blue Jackets press release, Werenski is the seventh player in franchise history to win a major NHL award: joining Rick Nash – Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy (NHL goals leader), 2003-04; Nash – NHL Foundation Player Award (Community Service), 2008-09; Steve Mason – Calder Memorial Trophy (Best Rookie), 2008-09; Sergei Bobrovsky – Vezina Trophy (Best Goalie), 2012-13 and 2016-17; Nick Foligno – King Clancy Award (Leadership & Community Service), 2016-17; Foligno – Mark Messier Leadership Award, 2016-17; John Tortorella – Jack Adams Trophy (Best Coach), 2016-17; Sean Monahan – Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy (Perseverance, Sportsmanship, Dedication to Hockey), 2024-25.
The Grosse Pointe, Michigan native is set to enter the fifth season of a six-year contract that he signed back in July of 2021 with a total value of $57.5MM (9.583MM AAV). He’s spent his entire career in Columbus, signing a three-year $15MM ($5MM) deal in 2019 and his entry-level contract, which paid him $925K annually from 2016 to 2019. After being taken eighth overall in 2015 by Columbus, Werenski spent his post-draft season with the University of Michigan, scoring 36 points in 36 games.
Photo Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images.
Evening Notes: Oilers, Wild, Blue Jackets
Set to embark on their third head coaching search in the past four years after this morning’s news, the Edmonton Oilers don’t yet have their replacement lined up, and they’ll interview several candidates, reported by TSN’s Pierre LeBrun.
Former Vegas bench boss Bruce Cassidy has been immediately linked to Edmonton, but even if such becomes the case, there’s other figures to consider first given the weight of decisions from here. Few teams have the pressure that’s rising in Oil-land after their first round flop.
If they wish to go all out on trying to find a spark with the clock ticking on the Connor McDavid era, Peter Laviolette is always worth a thought. The 61-year-old last served as head coach of the Rangers, leading them to a Presidents’ Trophy in year one. He was out of a job a year later, but New York has by no means found greener pastures without him yet.
Craig Berube, fired yesterday by Toronto, also has a Stanley Cup to his name. Patrick Roy and Dean Evason, both of whom had their moments on Long Island and in Columbus, are worthy candidates to make the rounds in interviews from prospective teams this summer. Finally, a longshot who will probably warrant a look, assistant Paul Coffey, if they went the internal route.
Offering a roster which needs work, but still featuring two of the premier players in the NHL, Edmonton would assumingly be on the top of Cassidy’s list as a top job for the widely considered #1 available coach. Still, the Oilers have a two year window with McDavid under contract, and they must get it right. The next coach to come to town will be his sixth, and Leon Draisaitl’s eighth.
Elsewhere across the league:
- With the off-season now in swing after last night’s crushing overtime loss to Colorado, the Minnesota Wild face big questions if they’ll take another step. Michael Russo of The Athletic wrote on what’s next for general manager Bill Guerin as he must win over Quinn Hughes, with his upcoming free agency after next year an elephant in the room. Guerin assembled what is likely the most talented roster in franchise history, but they went out unceremoniously in five games. Already thin down the middle, Joel Eriksson Ek’s injury was a major blow, and Jonas Brodin’s absence forced them to lean on Jacob Middleton, which proved costly. It figures that another big trade swing will be in order, perhaps for Robert Thomas or Vincent Trocheck, the #1 priority. Veterans Vladimir Tarasenko, Mats Zuccarello, and Marcus Johansson’s contracts all expire this summer, not to mention trade deadline acquisitions Nick Foligno and Michael McCarron, presenting the opportunity to shake things up on the attack. Whatever’s in store, it’s not a stretch to say it’s the most important offseason in their 25 year history.
- Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet speculated on yesterday’s episode of 32 Thoughts Podcast that Zach Werenski would become the next Columbus Blue Jackets captain, depending on what may happen with their current “C” Boone Jenner, who is set to hit free agency. The longest tenured Jacket, Jenner broke though in 2013, during an era where R.J. Umberger was still a key contributor. 13 seasons later, his team just made a huge commitment to 34-year-old Charlie Coyle, enough to raise questions on what comes next. If Jenner is to move on, capitalizing on a dry free agent market, Werenski would have the chance to become the eighth captain in franchise history. The 28-year-old has held things down on the blue line in 642 regular seasons for Columbus, and is signed through 2027-28.
Rasmus Dahlin, Cale Makar, Zach Werenski Named Norris Trophy Finalists
As part of revealing the finalists for major league awards, the NHL announced the Norris Trophy finalists today. According to a league announcement, Rasmus Dahlin of the Buffalo Sabres, Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche, and Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets are the three finalists to be named the “defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-around ability in the position.”
Although he’s earned multiple votes over the last three years, this is the first time that Dahlin, 26, has been named a finalist for the Norris Trophy. Throughout the first four years of his career, there were several questions regarding Dahlin, particularly if he was the top defenseman that the Sabres believed he would be when they drafted him.
Over the last four years, he has proven he is everything Buffalo hoped he would be, if not more. Since the beginning of the 2022-23 campaign, Dahlin has scored 71 goals and 274 points in 379 games, topping out with a 19-goal, 74-point performance this season. Additionally, he’s averaged nearly 25 minutes a night over that stretch, showing he can play in every situation comfortably. He’s physical, he blocks shots, he puts a ton of them on net, and he has captained the Sabres to the playoffs for the first time in 14 years.
Unlike Dahlin, Makar’s name has become synonymous with the Norris Trophy throughout his career. Throughout his career, Makar has been a finalist for the Norris Trophy six times, winning the award twice. Even when he wasn’t a finalist during his rookie campaign, he still finished top-10 in voting.
Still, it’s fair to argue that Makar took a step back offensively this season. After posting back-to-back 90-point campaigns in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons, Makar dropped back to 20 goals and 79 points this season. Regardless, he sustained more than a point per game on average, blocked over 100 shots, finished with a +32 rating, and was the top defenseman on the top team in the league.
Meanwhile, Werenski finished as a Norris Trophy finalist for the second year in a row, at the very least. The Gross Pointe, MI native finished 22 goals and 81 points in 75 games, averaging over 26 minutes of ice time per night. Although he doesn’t block as many shots as Dahlin or Makar, and didn’t have a double-digit rating, Weresnki played in every situation and led the Blue Jackets in scoring by a 14-point margin, which is extremely uncommon for a defenseman.
Unfortunately, given that each of the finalists’ all-around game, it’s a toss-up who will ultimately come away with the award this season.
Although it’s difficult to argue either Dahlin, Makar, or Werenski out of being a finalist, there are a few other defensemen who easily could have found their way into the top three. Evan Bouchard of the Edmonton Oilers, who finished as the highest-scoring defenseman this season with 21 goals and 95 points in 82 games, has a case, as does Lane Hutson of the Montreal Canadiens, who finished with 12 goals and 78 points in 82 games, with a +36 rating.
Evening Notes: Smith, Blue Jackets, Protas
Already having sent out Michael McCarron, another pending free agent Predator could be on the move soon. Forward Cole Smith took just a three second shift in tonight’s game against Columbus, at one point leaving for the locker room, but eventually returning to the bench, still not playing. Insider Frank Seravalli reported that Tampa Bay is showing interest.
The undrafted 30-year-old has become a mainstay on Nashville’s fourth line over the past four seasons, where he’s played a total 230 games with 62 points. At 6’3”, he is a relentless penalty killing winger likely to bring back later-round draft capital.
A high character player, the Minnesota native would be missed by Nashville, but cashing in on their depth pieces while keeping the bigger stars still gives them a shot in the playoffs, although they’ll have to overhaul their shorthanded unit.
Elsewhere across the league:
- Along with their opponents making news today, the Blue Jackets are missing two key pieces tonight as captain Boone Jenner and star Zach Werenski were inactive, as noted by Jeff Svoboda, official team reporter. Such news can raise eyebrows in early March, but it’s absolutely not for any suspicious reasons. Werenski is thought to be ill, while Jenner is day-to-day for maintenance, as confirmed by the team. Both could return as soon as Thursday, their Jackets set to host Florida as they continue their push toward the postseason. Until then, Kent Johnson, a scratch in recent days, re-enters the lineup.
- As another headline which could be misinterpreted, Capitals star Aliaksei Protas is absent tonight, but it’s due to personal reasons, as reported by Tom Gulitti of NHL.com. The 25-year-old has missed three games this year, otherwise posting 42 points in 59 games, and reaching the 20 goal mark last week. His Capitals, just shy of Wild Card range, are back in action Saturday in Boston, likely to welcome Protas back then.