Zach Werenski is back on the NHL trade radar as the Columbus Blue Jackets have started listening to inquiries for their Norris Trophy-winning defenseman, with Dallas, Carolina and Philadelphia named among the early teams to monitor. After a standout 2025-26 se
The phone calls have started—quietly, but enough for the rumor to pick up weight.
Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski. one of the most-discussed players on the NHL trade market this offseason. has drawn early interest from multiple teams. NHL insider Pierre LeBrun posted that there will be at least a dozen teams who will inquire over time. adding three clubs to watch first: Dallas. Carolina and Philadelphia.
Werenski’s production has made the attention unavoidable. During the 2025-26 season, he posted 81 points in 75 games. The numbers came with a familiar warning label, too: his days in Columbus are expected to be numbered.
LeBrun later confirmed what many around the league are already watching for. “Nothing imminent. but the Blue Jackets have started listening to teams calling on Zach Werenski. sources confirm.” He added that the organization is aware the Norris Trophy winner is unlikely to extend past his deal. “No guarantee he’s dealt this summer but Jackets’ best deal could be now versus waiting a year. We’ll see how it develops.”.
Columbus’s season only sharpened the urgency. The Blue Jackets failed to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs this past season, finishing with 92 points. Even with the team struggling, Werenski stood out—he was voted as the NHL’s top defenseman.
For fans who associate Werenski with the franchise, the situation carries extra gravity. Werenski has played his entire 10-season NHL career with the Blue Jackets. His place in team history is secure in the numbers: he is second on their all-time list with 465 points (135 goals. 330 assists) in 642 games. with Rick Nash leading Columbus with 547 points (289 goals. 258 assists). If change comes now. it would be the end of a decade-long run that’s been one of the franchise’s most stable storylines.
The playoff track record of the teams mentioned adds another layer to the timing. Of the three clubs highlighted—Carolina, Dallas and Philadelphia—each made the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season. Carolina went on to win the Stanley Cup. Dallas lost to the Minnesota Wild in the opening round. Philadelphia defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins before bowing to the Hurricanes.
The thread running through all of it is simple: Columbus is listening. the market is gathering. and Werenski’s contract future appears to be the hinge. With time, the question is no longer whether the calls will keep coming. It’s whether one of those early contenders turns interest into a deal—before Werenski’s next season. and his next chapter. is set in motion elsewhere.
Zach Werenski Columbus Blue Jackets NHL trade Pierre LeBrun Dallas Stars Carolina Hurricanes Philadelphia Flyers Norris Trophy NHL offseason