The clock is ticking on Zach Werenski’s time in Columbus, and unlike some trade sagas that drag out in vague whispers, this one has a very specific target. According to TSN insider Pierre LeBrun, the Lightning are Werenski’s team of choice. That part is clear. What’s less clear is whether Tampa Bay can actually get a deal done with the Blue Jackets front office.
LeBrun laid it out on Tuesday night’s Insider Trading segment. He said this thing could take days or even weeks to play out. The Blue Jackets have been going over offers and weighing different scenarios. But Werenski is laser focused on one spot.
“(The Tampa Bay Lightning) is the team of choice for Zach Werenski. Now, whether or not there is a trade with Tampa Bay that can satisfy Columbus is another factor altogether,” LeBrun reported.
Werenski just won the Norris Trophy for the first time in his career. That’s not a small thing. He put up his second straight 80-plus point season for Columbus, which is honestly kind of remarkable given the roster he’s been surrounded by. The Michigan native has spent his entire NHL career in a Blue Jackets uniform. But that window is closing fast.
The Playoff Problem
Here’s the thing about Werenski’s time in Columbus. He’s been to the playoffs four times. And the Blue Jackets have never been anywhere close to a Stanley Cup. Not really. They had that bizarre sweep of Tampa Bay back in 2019, but that was more of a weird anomaly than a sign of anything sustainable. Since then it’s been mostly early outs or no outs at all.
His contract ends next summer. And it sounds like he’s ready to write a different chapter. Some guys are fine being the franchise guy on a rebuilding team. Werenski does not appear to be one of those guys. Not anymore.
What Tampa Bay Offers
The Lightning are still a contender. They’ve got Victor Hedman anchoring the blue line but Hedman is 33 now and Father Time is undefeated even in hockey. Adding a 27-year-old Norris winner would give them a transition plan that most teams can only dream about. Plus playing alongside guys like Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point probably sounds a lot better than grinding through another lottery season in Ohio.
The question is whether Columbus can get fair value back from Tampa Bay. The Lightning don’t have a ton of cap space or high-end prospects to throw around. But when a player of Werenski’s caliber tells you where he wants to go, the trade market gets a little weird. Teams sometimes take less to do right by the player. Other times they hold out for a godfather offer from somewhere else.
The Blue Jackets haven’t tipped their hand yet. But Werenski has tipped his. Now it’s a waiting game.
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