A verbal agreement between the Dallas Stars and Columbus Blue Jackets for a Zach Werenski trade was struck, scheduled to be finalized Wednesday morning, and then stopped—Werenski exercised his full no-move clause.
The Dallas Stars thought they were heading into a trade agreement with the kind of forward momentum that comes with a verbal deal and a calendar that’s finally ready to turn. Instead, by Tuesday night, they were told the move was dead.
The stumbling block was Zach Werenski, the Norris Trophy winner who has a full no-move clause. The Stars and the Columbus Blue Jackets had a verbal agreement on a Werenski trade that was expected to be completed on Wednesday morning—until Werenski vetoed it. The reason timing mattered is blunt: the deal apparently needed July 1 to be reached because of contractual and/or cap reasons.
Columbus had envisioned Thomas Harley as the centerpiece of the return, though the framework suggested other players and picks could have been part of the package as well.
Werenski’s decision carries weight because it points in two directions at once. One is straightforward: for now, his preference appears to sit with the Eastern Conference. The other is harder to ignore. The relationship between Werenski and the Blue Jackets appears to be breaking down in what could be the final days of his time in Columbus.
Last week, Sportsnet reported that Columbus planned to meet with Werenski after the draft. Instead, the feeling from Werenski’s side seems to have been that the future was already addressed back in April. He indicated he would play out the remainder of his current contract—two years remaining—but would not commit to an extension.
For Dallas, the blow comes with a specific sting: the trade, as it was understood, was agreed to late Monday. Then the Stars were informed on Tuesday night that the plan would be vetoed. The result is a sudden pivot for a deal that was moving toward completion before the clock crossed the line into July 1.
How this reshapes the next steps for both teams remains unclear. What’s clear is the moment it turned: an agreement that appeared close enough to finalize is now pulled back by a player decision—and it has taken a nasty turn.
Zach Werenski Dallas Stars Columbus Blue Jackets Norris Trophy winner no-move clause Thomas Harley trade NHL news