Season goes from bad to worse for Columbus after Zach Werenski suffers season-ending injury
Following a win Thursday night that marked previous head coach John Tortorella's return to Nationwide arena, the Columbus Blue Jackets beat the Philadelphia Flyers 5-2, snapping a five-game losing streak. Although the Blue Jackets had won the game, the result came at a much greater cost. The Blue Jackets' top defenseman, Zach Werenski, suffered a separated shoulder and torn labrum after crashing into the boards awkwardly and is now expected to be sidelined for the remainder of the season.
In last night's game, Werenski took an awkward fall and was slow to get up. After leaving the game with an apparent injury, he did not return. Unfortunately, the Blue Jackets already face a series of injuries without including Werenski. Notable names are Kent Johnson, Jakub Voracek, Nick Blankenburg, and Sean Kuraly. The team currently sits at the bottom of the NHL, winning only four games, tallying for 8 points through 13 games. As they already face many injury problems, the loss of Werenski is much more detrimental.
Werenski, the seventh-year veteran defenseman, was one of the only bright spots of the Blue Jackets' season thus far. He was utilized in all situations, but his presence was felt on the Blue Jackets power play, recording goals in consecutive games. Before his injury, Werenski was projected to have a career year. He led the team in average total ice time (23:25) and was on pace for a 50-point season. As one of the best players on the team, Werenski was the floor general of the Blue Jackets' offense and defense, where he controlled the pace of play when he was on the ice.
As it stands, Werenski is tied for second on the team in points with 8 (3 goals, 5 assists), trailing only behind superstar forward Johnny Gaudreau. With the injury to star forward Patrick Laine at the start of the season to now the injury to their best defenseman, things keep getting worse for this Blue Jackets organization.
With the current struggles being faced, fans are coming to realize there is a glimpse of hope at the end of a dark tunnel this season. Although it is still early, many of the Blue Jackets' supporters are encouraging tanking after Werenski was presumed to be finished for the year. With the 2023 NHL Entry Draft in the near future, headlined by future star Connor Bedard, Blue Jackets fans are all in on this generation's possible next-greatest prospect.
Credit: hockeydb.com
| POLL | ||
NOVEMBRE 11 | 64 ANSWERS Season goes from bad to worse for Columbus after Zach Werenski suffers season-ending injury Will the Blue Jackets end up with a top-3 pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft? | ||
| Yes | 37 | 57.8 % |
| No | 27 | 42.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
