Zach Werenski’s evolution over the last two seasons has reached a point where it can no longer be ignored. What was once viewed as potential or flashes of brilliance has now turned into consistent, elite-level production from the blue line. In an era where offense from defensemen is more valuable than ever, Werenski is not just keeping pace — he is setting it.
Playing in a market that rarely gets national attention and on a team still finding its identity, Werenski has quietly become one of the most impactful defensemen in the NHL. When you combine his production, his responsibility, and his historical pace, the Norris Trophy conversation becomes unavoidable.
From Draft Day to Franchise Pillar
When the Columbus Blue Jackets selected Zach Werenski 8th overall in the 2015 NHL Draft, they were betting on more than raw skill. They were betting on projection — that his skating, intelligence, and composure would eventually allow him to shoulder far more than a typical top-pair role. What they could not fully predict was how quickly that responsibility would arrive.
Werenski stepped into the NHL almost immediately and never looked overwhelmed. His skating translated right away, his reads were clean, and his ability to move pucks under pressure allowed Columbus to trust him in situations most young defensemen are protected from. He wasn’t eased into the league — he was thrown into it — and he survived by playing the game the right way.
The road was not smooth. Injuries disrupted key stretches of his development, and constant roster turnover around him made consistency difficult. Yet through it all, the foundation never cracked. Werenski continued to log heavy minutes, take on tougher matchups, and grow into the type of defenseman teams build around rather than supplement.
Columbus stayed patient because Werenski gave them reason to.
And Werenski stayed committed because he understood what he could become.
Now, years later, that early investment has fully materialized. What began as a high-upside draft pick has evolved into a true franchise pillar — a defenseman capable of carrying a team on his back, night after night, without shortcuts or excuses.
A Rare Commitment in Today’s NHL
One element of Werenski’s career that deserves more respect is his decision to stay in Columbus. In today’s NHL, elite players often look for exits when teams struggle. Werenski went the opposite route.
By signing a long-term contract, he accepted not only the money but the responsibility that comes with being the face of a franchise. Columbus is not a destination where stars line up to play. Werenski chose it anyway, and that choice has shaped the team’s identity on and off the ice.
He didn’t chase attention. He embraced leadership.
The Breakout That Changed the Narrative (2024–25)
Werenski’s 2024–25 season marked the true turning point in how the league views him. Finishing the year with 82 points , while averaging over 26 minutes of ice time per game, he didn’t just lead the Blue Jackets in scoring — he placed himself firmly among the NHL’s elite defensemen and earned serious Norris Trophy consideration as a result. What stood out most was not just the raw production, but how naturally it came within the structure of the game. Werenski was not forcing offense or cheating for points; he was driving play through clean zone exits, confident entries, and elite puck movement as the quarterback of Columbus’ power play. His ability to lead the rush, transition from defense to offense with speed, and still recover defensively showcased a complete evolution in his game. His skating was fluid and controlled, allowing him to create separation under pressure, while his vision at the blue line opened lanes that few defensemen can consistently see. Add in a shot that demanded respect every time it left his stick, and the result was a season that shifted the conversation around him permanently — from a talented cornerstone to a legitimate elite defenseman in today’s NHL.
Zach Werenski – 2024–25 Regular Season
- Games Played: 81
- Goals: 23
- Assists: 59
- Points: 82
- Average TOI: 26:14 per game (approx., among NHL leaders for defensemen)
- Power-Play Points: 32
- Even-Strength Points: 50
This Season’s Pace and Historical Context Since 2000
What Zach Werenski is doing this season pushes the Norris Trophy discussion far beyond projection and into historical territory. Through his current stretch of games, Werenski is not just hovering around elite production — he is tracking toward the high end of it, pacing toward nearly 98 points over a full 82-game season, a number that immediately places him in one of the rarest categories for defensemen in the modern NHL.
Since the year 2000, only a handful of defensemen have even approached that level of offense. Erik Karlsson’s 101-point season in 2022–23 remains the only 100-point campaign by a defenseman in the 21st century, a historic outlier that reset expectations for the position. Roman Josi (96 points), Quinn Hughes (over 90 points), and Cale Makar, who combined elite production with a rare 30-goal season, make up nearly the entire list of blue-liners who have crossed the 90-point threshold. That’s not a long group — it’s a closed circle.
Werenski’s current season belongs firmly in that conversation. His production has not come in short bursts or power-play-heavy stretches, but through sustained dominance since opening night. He has already recorded 17 multi-point games, including five games with three or more points, an absurd level of consistency for a defenseman logging heavy minutes against top competition. Night after night, he is driving offense at even strength, on the power play, and in transition, without sacrificing his defensive responsibilities.
What makes this even more impressive is the context. Werenski is doing this while playing well over 26 minutes per game, facing top lines, starting shifts in difficult situations, and carrying the load for a developing Columbus roster. This isn’t sheltered offense. This is production earned through volume, intelligence, and complete control of the game from the back end.
If this pace holds, Werenski doesn’t just join the elite — he places himself directly beside the most productive defensemen of the last 25 years. In a league where scoring from the blue line defines the modern era, his season is no longer surprising.
It’s historic in the making.
What Makes Werenski Special on the Ice
Werenski’s offensive success is built on intelligence, endurance, and control rather than chaos. Playing over 26 minutes per game, he brings the same pace and energy late in games as he does in the first period, a reflection of how well he takes care of his body after battling through injuries earlier in his career. Over the last three seasons, durability has become a strength rather than a question mark, highlighted by 81 games played last season, and that availability has allowed his full impact to surface.
At the core of his game is elite skating. Werenski is an exceptional skater, and it is what truly separates him from most defensemen in the league. His stride is smooth, effortless, and efficient, allowing him to carry the puck with confidence through all three zones. That skating ability enables clean exits under pressure and controlled zone entries that immediately put defenses on their heels. In that sense, his game often draws comparisons to Scott Niedermayer, not because of flash, but because of how naturally he moves the puck forward while staying composed defensively.
Werenski’s hockey IQ ties everything together. His vision allows him to read plays one step ahead, anticipate pressure, and recognize open ice created by opponents before it fully appears. He consistently jumps into soft areas at the right moment, extending offensive possessions and creating space not only for himself, but for his teammates. That awareness has helped him evolve into one of the league’s most effective power-play quarterbacks, where his patience at the blue line and ability to shift defenders laterally open passing lanes and shooting angles that most players simply don’t see.
In transition, Werenski is outstanding. He supports the rush, joins it at the right time, and still has the skating base to recover defensively when plays break down. His offensive instincts never come at the cost of structure, which is why coaches trust him in every situation. That balance is rare among high-scoring defensemen.
His shot has taken another leap this season. With a shooting percentage around 11.3 percent, second among NHL defensemen, Werenski has become one of the most efficient scorers at the position, a jump of roughly four percent compared to last season. That improvement is not accidental. His accuracy, timing, and understanding of traffic have turned his shot into a true weapon, helping him lead all defensemen with 18 goals. Even when he isn’t scoring directly, his ability to get pucks through creates rebounds and chaos that fuel Columbus’ offense.
Taken together, Werenski’s skating, vision, endurance, and offensive instincts make him one of the most complete defensemen in the NHL today. His game is modern, efficient, and sustainable — and it is exactly why his name now belongs among the very best at his position.
Measuring Himself Against the Norris Standard
Cale Makar is the standard for modern NHL defensemen. That part is not up for debate. His blend of elite skating, offensive dominance, and championship pedigree has made him the benchmark at the position. Every Norris conversation starts with his name — and rightly so.
What makes Zach Werenski’s case compelling, however, is how close his overall impact has become when context is applied. This isn’t about highlight reels or reputation. It’s about responsibility, workload, durability, and production while carrying a franchise.
📊 Defensemen Comparison — Last Two Seasons
| Player | Season | GP | G | A | PTS | TOI / GP | S% |
| Zach Werenski | 2024–25 | 81 | 23 | 59 | 82 | 26:45 | 7.7% |
| Zach Werenski | 2025–26 | 44 | 18 | 34 | 52 | 26:40 | 11.1% |
| Cale Makar | 2024–25 | 80 | 30 | 62 | 92 | 25:43 | 12.2% |
| Cale Makar | 2025–26 | 46 | 14 | 39 | 53 | 24:57 | 11.6% |
The takeaway isn’t that Werenski is Makar — it’s that the gap has narrowed more than most people realize, especially when workload and environment are considered.
Werenski plays more minutes per night, faces tougher matchups, and does it on a developing Columbus roster. Since the start of this season, he has already recorded 17 multi-point games, including five three-point performances, an outrageous level of consistency for a defenseman. He currently leads all NHL defensemen in goals, driven in part by a massive jump in efficiency — an 11.3% shooting percentage, second among all defensemen and more than four percent higher than last season.
Historically, this matters. Since 2000, only one defenseman has topped 100 points — Erik Karlsson’s 101-point season in 2022–23. The modern 90-point club is incredibly small: Karlsson, Roman Josi, Quinn Hughes, and Cale Makar. Werenski is now tracking just below that tier while carrying heavier minutes than any of them.
Context is where this comparison truly sharpens.
Makar was drafted 4th overall in 2017 and stepped into one of the best offensive environments in hockey. He plays alongside Nathan MacKinnon, one of the most dominant players of this generation. For years, he also had Mikko Rantanen, a perennial 100-point winger, finishing plays and stretching defenses. Even after roster changes, Colorado continues to ice elite puck-moving forwards who tilt the ice and inflate offensive efficiency. That matters for any defenseman.
Werenski, drafted 8th overall in 2015, has taken the opposite road. He is not feeding a MacKinnon or a Rantanen. In Columbus, he is the driver. The offense runs through his stick — through his exits, his entries, his ability to jump into open ice and create space for teammates. He quarterbacks the power play, leads transition, closes games late, and still logs over 26 minutes per night against top competition. Columbus does not shelter him. They lean on him.
His durability adds another layer. After battling injuries earlier in his career, Werenski has played 81 games last season and has carried one of the heaviest workloads in the league over the last three years. He has learned how to manage his body while still playing at maximum pace — something very few defensemen can do.
Internationally, the comparison sharpens even more — not because they play together, but because they stand on opposite sides.
Zach Werenski is a cornerstone defenseman for Team USA, relied upon for heavy minutes, matchup responsibility, and two-way stability. Cale Makar, meanwhile, is a centerpiece of Team Canada, bringing elite skating, offensive creativity, and game-breaking ability from the back end. When international tournaments arrive — including the Olympics — these two are not partners, but rivals, expected to anchor their respective blue lines against the world’s best. Different countries. Different roles. Same elite tier.
It’s about recognizing that Zach Werenski now belongs in the same sentence, the same conversations, and the same tier of defensemen shaping the NHL today. His numbers, minutes, leadership, and commitment to Columbus have earned that seat — and he’s not giving it up quietly.
It’s about recognizing that Werenski has earned his seat at the table. This isn’t about replacing Cale Makar at the top.
Leadership That Goes Beyond the Stat Sheet
Statistics tell part of the story. Leadership tells the rest — and this is where Zach Werenski separates himself even further.
In Columbus, Werenski is not just a top defenseman. He is the standard. He sets the pace in practice, the tone in games, and the response after losses. On a team that has gone through rebuilding years, roster turnover, and growing pains, he has remained the constant. Young players don’t just watch his highlights — they watch how he prepares, how he handles minutes, and how he carries responsibility when things are not going well.
Coaches trust Werenski in every situation because he has earned it. He starts shifts in the defensive zone, closes games late, quarterbacks the power play, and takes on the toughest matchups night after night. There is no sheltering in his usage. When Columbus needs stability, the puck is on his stick. When the game is on the line, he is on the ice.
What truly defines his leadership is how he handles pressure. Werenski does not deflect blame during losing stretches, and he does not disappear when the standings are unforgiving. He speaks calmly, owns his performance, and continues to play heavy minutes with the same urgency regardless of the scoreboard. That accountability matters in a locker room, especially for a young team still learning how to win at the NHL level.
His durability over the last few seasons adds another layer of respect. After battling injuries earlier in his career, Werenski has adapted his preparation, conditioning, and in-game management to withstand one of the heaviest workloads in the league. Playing over 26 minutes per night while maintaining elite production is not just a skill issue — it is a leadership one. It shows commitment to the group and an understanding of what the team needs from him every single night.
This is the type of impact that does not always show up in a box score. It shows up in trust. In consistency. In the way teammates settle when he is on the ice.
That matters more than highlight clips.
Final Thought
Zach Werenski is no longer knocking on the door of the NHL’s elite — he is firmly standing inside the room, and he has done it the hard way. His rise has not been fueled by market hype, stacked lineups, or sheltered usage. It has been built through responsibility, durability, and elite production while carrying a franchise through its most difficult years.
His numbers place him in rare historical company among defensemen since 2000. His workload places him among the most relied-upon players in the league today. And his commitment to Columbus — at a time when many stars look for exits — speaks volumes about the type of leader he has become. This is not a player benefiting from circumstance. This is a player shaping it.
When you combine his scoring pace, his heavy minutes, his improved efficiency, and the degree of difficulty attached to his role, the case becomes clear. Werenski is not chasing the Norris conversation anymore — he is driving it. His impact now stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the very best defensemen in the game, not as an outlier, but as a peer.
If this level continues, the discussion around the Norris Trophy does not feel forced, inflated, or premature.
It feels earned.
And it feels overdue.
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