Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Contributes helper in loss
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Werenski notched an assist and two shots on goal in Sunday's 3-1 loss to the Bruins.
Werenski has four helpers over his last three contests, though this was the first time in six games he didn't block a shot. The 26-year-old blueliner has stayed fairly healthy this season, and he's showing what he can do when unimpeded by injuries, racking up a goal and 18 assists over 24 contests. He's added 58 shots on net, 37 blocked shots and a plus-2 rating while playing a massive role on the top pairing and first power-play unit.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Generates two power-play assists
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Werenski notched a pair of power-play assists, three shots on goal, three blocked shots and two PIM in Friday's 4-2 win over the Senators.
Werenski racked up 10 assists over his last 11 games in November and has kept the playmaking train rolling in December. The 26-year-old defenseman is up to 18 points (one goal, 17 assists) through 23 outings this season. While he's maintained a spot on the Blue Jackets' top power-play unit, Friday's effort tripled his man-advantage production on the year to three helpers.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Erupts for four-point night
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Werenski racked up four assists, including one on the power play, in Wednesday's 7-3 win over Chicago.
He added two shots on net, two PIM and a plus-5 rating to his ledger. Werenski looked a bit rusty and tentative to begin the season as he made his return from shoulder surgery, but Wednesday's bonanza puts an exclamation mark on a run that has seen him get onto the scoresheet in six of the last seven games. On the season, the 26-year-old blueliner has one goal and 15 points in 18 contests.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Snags assist Sunday
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Werenski registered an assist, four shots on goal and four blocked shots in Sunday's 4-3 shootout loss to the Rangers.
Werenski has bounced back from a three-game point drought with a helper in each of his last two contests. The defenseman has mostly stayed healthy in 2023-24, which has been a big challenge in recent years. That has allowed him to rack up eight points, 34 shots on net, 19 blocks and a minus-1 rating through 13 appearances in a top-four role.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Pockets helper in Saturday's loss
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Werenski recorded an assist while adding four blocked shots, two shots on net, one hit and a plus-2 rating in Saturday's 5-4 loss to the Red Wings.
The blueliner snapped a brief three-game point drought with a helper on Sean Kuraly's second-period tally. Werenski missed most of last season due to a serious shoulder injury, but he's looked like his usual self to begin 2023-24, collecting a goal and seven points in 12 games. The 26-year-old has also seen a career-high 3:32 in ice time on the power play so far, but he's still looking for his first point of the season on the man advantage.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Deposits one into empty net
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Werenski (quadriceps) returned to the lineup with an empty-net goal in Friday's 3-1 win against the Flames.
Werenski missed a pair of games while on the injured reserve list. He also registered an assist with a plus-1 rating and three shots on goal, looking a lot more like himself. He is expected to play in the second end of the back-to-back situation in Minnesota on Saturday, so fantasy managers can safely plug him back into the active lineup.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Taken off IR
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Werenski (quadriceps) has been activated off injured reserve, putting him on track to return to action Friday versus the Flames.
Werenski was previously regarded as a game-time decision for Friday's contest versus Calgary, but this move suggests he'll be in the lineup. The 26-year-old defenseman missed Columbus' previous two games due to the injury. Now that he's healthy, Werenski is likely to serve in a top-four capacity and feature on the first power-play unit.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Could play Friday
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Werenski (quadriceps) is expected to be a game-time decision versus Calgary on Friday, Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site reports.
Werenski is currently on injured reserve, so a corresponding move will need to be made if Werenski is good to go. Werenski was injured Opening Night versus the Flyers -- he was unable to hit the scoresheet in 13:43 of action in that contest.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Hopes to return Friday
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Werenski (quadriceps) hopes to return for Friday's game versus Calgary, according to Aaron Portzline of The Athletic.
Werenski, who has missed Columbus' last two contests, took part in Wednesday's practice and will see how his quadriceps feel Thursday before a determination is made about his availability. If Werenski's able to play Friday, then David Jiricek might lose his spot in the lineup. Werenski had 11 goals and 48 points in 68 games in 2021-22, but he was limited to 13 appearances last season due to a shoulder injury.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Goes on injured reserve
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Werenski was placed on injured reserve with a quad contusion Friday.
Werenski was injured in the second period after taking a hit courtesy of the Flyers' Garnet Hathaway, who was assessed a kneeing penalty. It was a tough break for Werenski, who was playing in his first game since Nov. 10, when he suffered a shoulder injury that required surgery. The Blue Jackets recalled David Jiricek to replace Werenski.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Exits game with quad injury
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Werenski left Thursday's game against Philadelphia due to a quad contusion and won't return.
Werenski recorded a shot in 13:43 of ice time before he exited the game. He sustained the injury on a hit from Philadelphia's Garnet Hathaway in the second period that resulted in a kneeing penalty, per Brian Hedger of The Columbus Dispatch. Werenski was limited to 13 games last season because of a shoulder injury but did score three goals and eight points when healthy. The 26-year-old typically skates on the first pairing and top power-play unit when he's available. Head coach Pascal Vincent said after the game that Werenski's injury is not believed to be long term, per Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Looking for first preseason point
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Werenski has zero points and 14 shots on goal through four preseason contests, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports.
The blueliner missed most of last season due to a shoulder injury he sustained in early November, and he hasn't been able to shake off all the rust yet in training camp. "Certain things are harder than I thought they'd be," Werenski said after Wednesday's game against the Sabres. "Like going back on pucks, plays I'm usually really good at. Finding the middle guy (on the breakout), holding it an extra second and finding the seam (pass to a forward). Those plays, I feel like I'm not seeing them yet." The Blue Jackets are counting on Werenski to return to the form that saw him rack up 11 goals and 48 points over only 68 games in 2021-22. Still, fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised if the 26-year-old blueliner gets off to a slow start this campaign. There is no guarantee he stays healthy either, as he hasn't played a full schedule since 2018-19.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: No delays expected at camp
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Werenski (shoulder) feels 100 percent and will be ready for training camp, Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site reports.
Werenski underwent shoulder surgery Nov. 29 after playing in just 13 games last season prior to the injury. The defenseman should return to a top-four role if he doesn't suffer a setback before Opening Night. Werenski has been able to train normally this summer and has been playing in summer-league games in the Columbus area.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Skates at practice Friday
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Werenski (shoulder) skated at practice Friday, Jeff Svoboda of the Blue Jackets' official site reports.
This is the first time that Werenski has skated with the team since his successful shoulder surgery Nov. 29. He will not play the rest of the season but is hoping to be at full strength before he returns home during the summer. Werenski had three goals and eight points in 13 games this season before his injury.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Has shoulder surgery
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Werenski had successful shoulder surgery Tuesday.
Werenski is gone for the season as he is expected to miss the next six months. The talented defenseman should be ready to go in September when training camp for the 2023-24 season begins. He had three goals and five assists in 13 games before his injury.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Shifts to LTIR
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Werenski (shoulder) was placed on long-term injured reserve Saturday, according to CapFriendly.
Werenski, who is expected to miss the remainder of the 2022-23 season, was put on regular injured reserve earlier this week. The Blue Jackets brought up blueliner Billy Sweezey on Saturday.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: On injured reserve list
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Werenski (shoulder) was put on the injured reserve list Tuesday, per Blue Jackets team reporter Jeff Svoboda.
Werenski isn't expected to play again this season, which makes his move to the injured reserve list unsurprising. He's a huge part of the Blue Jackets' defense, so his absence has naturally left a big hole to fill. Jake Christiansen made his NHL season debut Saturday and could find himself playing fairly regularly with Werenski unavailable.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Expected to miss rest of season
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Werenski suffered a separated shoulder and torn labrum and is expected to miss the remainder of the season.
Werenski suffered the injury in the first period Thursday after picking up a goal and an assist in a 5-2 win over Philadelphia. The injury is a huge blow to the Blue Jackets, who have relied on Werenski being their top defenseman. Look for Jake Bean to take Werenski's place, quarterbacking the first power play.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Facing long-term absence
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Head coach Brad Larsen said Werenski's upper-body injury "is not good at all," indicating the defenseman could be out long-term, Mark Scheig of The Hockey Writers reports.
A specific timeline on Werenski's return has yet to be established and will likely require additional evaluation. Fantasy managers should prepare to find a replacement for Werenski on virtual squads. Jake Bean seems likely to take on his power-play role, and the Blue Jackets will likely call up a blueliner to fill Werenski's spot in the lineup.
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Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski: Suffers upper-body injury
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Werenski sustained an upper-body injury in the first period of Thursday's contest against Philadelphia and will miss the rest of the game.
Werenski was off to a fantastic start, recording a goal and an assist before being forced to exit the contest. He's a vital part of the Blue Jackets' defense, having averaged 25:04 of ice time through 12 games prior to Thursday's contest. Columbus will have a tough time adjusting if he misses any significant amount of time. Jake Bean in particular might be asked to do more if Werenski is unavailable.
