Former Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk requesting a trade and being sent to join his brother with the Florida Panthers might not be the only bombshell move we see in the National Hockey League this summer.
Multiple players have already requested a change of scenery recently, including Detroit Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin and Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse.
And Columbus Blue Jackets superstar Zach Werenski could be following suit, as The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun reported on Monday morning.
“We’ll see what happens over time with Norris Trophy winner Zach Werenski and the Columbus Blue Jackets,” the hockey insider wrote.
“To be clear, he has not asked for a trade, but teams around the league believe that’s coming over the next 12 months.”
Werenski is widely regarded as one of the NHL’s premier defensemen, and he is fresh off winning his first Norris Trophy in 2025-26 after posting 81 points in just 75 games while averaging over 26 minutes of ice time.
The 28-year-old has spent his entire NHL career in Ohio after being selected eighth overall in the 2015 NHL Draft. He has repeatedly expressed his desire to help bring sustained success to the organization, but the Blue Jackets have struggled to establish themselves as a consistent contender throughout his tenure.
The Blue Jackets have won just two playoff rounds in franchise history and are currently dealing with a six-year postseason drought.
Several star players around the league have recently become more willing to seek changes of scenery when they feel their organizations are not progressing quickly enough. LeBrun’s report suggests some executives believe Werenski could eventually reach a similar crossroads.
For now, however, any discussion of a trade remains speculative. The Blue Jackets are still building around Werenski, and there is no indication that either player or club is actively pursuing a separation.
But if one of the league’s best blueliners is made available, it’ll be one of the more intriguing storylines to monitor in a year that is going to be chalk full of them around the NHL.
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