Columbus Blue Jackets general manager said Thursday that he and defenceman Zach Werenski will meet sometime after Friday’s NHL Draft to discuss his future with the club.
“There are some matters we’re dealing with that should probably stay internal. My plan is still to meet with Zach in the near future and see where he’s at,” Waddell told reporters. ”We’ve had some conversations with his agent, but there’s been no definitive plan."
Werenski, 28, has two years remaining on his contract that carries an AAV of $9.58 million. The deal includes a full no-movement clause for the upcoming 2026-27 season and a modified no-trade clause in the 2027-28 season, where Werenski can provide an approved list of 10 teams.
With the draft coming up, Waddell said that the Blue Jackets are trying to improve their roster, which may include trading the 14th overall pick in the draft.
“We’re still trying to make some deals to make our team better, and that may include the draft pick that we have at 14. Our goal hasn’t changed from the season’s end. We know we want to try to be better,” said Waddell. “We have a lot of balls in the air right now, trying to upgrade our forward group. You never know until a deal is done, but we’re hoping we can make some moves that strengthen our offensive abilities.”
The Blue Jackets have not made the postseason since the 2019-20 season, when they were eliminated in five games by the Tampa Bay Lightning.
TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun, says that while Werenski has not yet requested a trade, sources around the league believe he will eventually ask for a change of scenery.
“We’ll see what happens over time with Norris Trophy winner Zach Werenski and the Columbus Blue Jackets. To be clear, he has not asked for a trade, but teams around the league believe that’s coming over the next 12 months,” LeBrun wrote in The Athletic
Werenski recorded 22 goals and 81 points in 75 games this past season, en route to the first Norris Trophy of his career. In 642 NHL games since being drafted eighth overall by the Blue Jackets in 2015, the Grosse Pointe, Mich., native has 135 goals and 465 points.
