Defenseman Zach Werenski has arguably been the Most Valuable Player for the Columbus Blue Jackets this season. If you were to take him off of this team, the CBJ wouldn't be in the position they are in my opinion. Several national NHL personalities have even said that if the Blue Jackets make the playoffs, they're going to vote for Werenski for the Hart Trophy. The Hart is supposed to be awarded for the most valuable player to his team in the National Hockey League. Not the highest scorer, the most valuable player to his team, and Zach Werenski fits that description.
Werenski has set a few Blue Jackets records this season, and after his two-assist performance last night against the Nashville Predators, he has a couple more records in his sights.
Werenski has recorded 54 assists this season. With the two assists last night, he passed the late, great Johnny Gaudreau(53) for the fourth most assists in a single season.
Sitting ahead of him are former Jackets forwards Artemi Panarin and Jakub Voráček. Panarin recorded 55 assists in 2017-18 and 59 in 2018-19. Voráček had 56 in 2021-22. Meaning Werenski only needs 6 assists in his last nine games to set the record.
His 74 points also put him with the fifth most points in a single season, and he is currently tied with Johnny Gaudreau. The four players ahead of him are Ray Whitney(76), Rick Nash(79), and Artemi Panarin(82,87). While it will be hard to catch Panarin, Whitney and Nash are clearly in his sights.
Werenski has already cemented himself as the greatest CBJ defenseman and is on the verge of becoming the best Blue Jacket ever, regardless of position.
Up Next: The Colorado Avalanche visits Columbus on Thursday.
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