Zach Werenski was born in Gross Pointe, Michigan, on July 19th, 1997. He began his professional hockey career as a defenseman with the United States National Team Development Program of the United States Hockey League during the 2012-13 season. Werenski was at the USNTDP at the same time as captain of the Detroit Red Wings, Dylan Larkin. In 35 games played for the USNTDP, Werenski scored six goals and added 13 assists.<\/p>\n
Werenski spent two seasons with Larkin at the University of Michigan. In those two seasons, Werenski scored nine and 11 goals in 35 and 36 games played. During the 2014-15 season, Werenski had 25 points, and the next season he raised his level to 36 points. To be a point-per-game player at the college level as an 18-year-old is impressive. The following season, Werenski earned All-Big Ten First Team honors again and was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.The <\/p>\n
Columbus Blue Jackets Draft Zach Werenski out of the University of Michigan<\/p>\n
Werenski was seen as a smooth-skating puck-moving defenseman before being drafted. The \u201cissue\u201d was that Werenski could not stand out from his defensive partner at the University of Michigan, Noah Hanifin, who would be drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes with the fifth overall pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. The question was where Zach Werenski would be drafted as a defenseman who could do everything at the college level.<\/p>\n
After two seasons at the University of Michigan, Werenski had a brief time with the Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League during the 2015-16 season. In seven regular-season games with the Monsters, Werenski scored one goal. In the AHL playoffs for the Monsters, Werenski scored five goals and added nine assists in 17 games. The Monsters won the Calder Cup as champions of the American Hockey League.<\/p>\n
With the eighth pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, the Columbus Blue Jackets drafted Zach Werenski out of the University of Michigan. Werenski has spent 10 seasons with the Blue Jackets, being named alternate captain before the 2021-22 season. In five of those seasons, the Blue Jackets made the Stanley Cup playoffs. In that time, however, the Blue Jackets only won one playoff series. The head coach of the Blue Jackets, Rick Bowness, was critical of the Blue Jackets\u2019 roster, saying that the players did not care. The same cannot be said about Werenski.<\/p>\n
Zach Werenski Looking to Win First Norris Trophy<\/p>\n
Zach Werenski was recently named one of the three finalists for the Norris Trophy as the top \u201cdefense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position.\u201d Last season, Werenski had 22 goals and 59 assists for 81 points in 75 games played for the Blue Jackets, one fewer than he had during the 2023-24 season in 81 games played. The other two Norris Trophy Candidates are two of the premier defensemen in the NHL.<\/p>\n
Rasmus Dahlin of the Buffalo Sabres and Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche are the other two nominees for the 2026 Norris Trophy. Makar has won the Norris Trophy twice, most recently after the 2024-25 season, and is looking to repeat. This is the fourth time that Werenski has been nominated for the Norris Trophy. Werenski finished second in Norris Trophy voting during the 2024-25 season behind Makar with 66.28 percent of the vote.<\/p>\n
Despite being a perennial Norris Trophy candidate, Werenski has not won with the Columbus Blue Jackets. The team may need a new captain as Boone Jenner recently switched agents as his free agency draws closer. Jenner is a 32-year-old center who, like Werenski, has played his entire career in Columbus. The Dorchester, Ontario native scored 13 goals and added 25 assists in 67 games played during the 2025-26 season. If Jenner does indeed leave in free agency, this may signal the start of a rebuild, and Werenski could follow.<\/p>\n
Zach Werenski On the Ice for Team USA\u2019s Gold Medal Winning Goal<\/p>\n
Team USA won the gold medal at the Winter Olympics, defeating Canada in the gold medal game in overtime by a score of 2-1. Werenski was on the ice when Jack Hughes scored the game-winning goal. In six games for Team USA at the 2026 Olympic Games, Werenski scored one goal and added five assists. Additionally, Werenski has won a gold medal for Team USA at the 2025 World Championships in Herning, Denmark. In seven games at this tournament, Werenski scored one goal and added five assists.<\/p>\n
Werenski was named the 2026 James Norris Memorial Trophy winner on June 2, 2026. He became the first Blue Jackets player to win the Norris.<\/p>\n
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