Columbus Blue Jackets defenceman Zach Werenski was injured during Thursday’s game and was seen with some discomfort in his right leg. Today, the team announced he was put on IR.
Werenski was seen in some discomfort in the final minutes of Thursday’s game.
Today, #CBJ announce the rover is on IR retroactive to that same date https://t.co/9MEm9fcX4G
— Alison (@AlisonL) February 6, 2021
Zach Werenski Injured, On IR with Lower-Body Injury
Werenski has been a mainstay of the Blue Jackets’ defence for years. Since his rookie season in 2016-17, he has never worn another team’s jersey. So far this season, he’s played all 12 games, scored once, and dished out three assists for four points. He has nine minutes in penalties and has 11 blocked shots. His Corsi is a 46.7%, and his relative Corsi is a 1.5. Over his five year career, Werenski has played in 312 games, scored 59 goals, had 114 assists for 173 total points. He has 340 blocked shots and 212 hits over those games. His Corsi is a 52.2%, with a relative Corsi of 3.5.
What This Means for the Future
Zach Werenski injured means he joins goaltender Elvis Merzlikins, who also recently placed on IR. With Merzlikins out, the Blue Jackets needed all the help they could get. Losing a top-pairing defenceman is the worst-case scenario. Werenski averages the second-most ice time per game, and has the second-most ice time on the team out of the skaters, and is top 10 in blocked shots. Even though his numbers aren’t fantastic, he’s still an incredibly important piece for Columbus.
While the Blue Jackets have a very deep blue line, a team can only sustain so many injuries before breaking. With Seth Jones still on the top pairing, the Blue Jackets are still in a decent position. The Jackets play the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday and Monday, and with Carolina looking to push for that top seed, it will be a tough matchup. With the Hurricanes’ high-powered offence, it will only be a matter of time before the defence gets worn down.
