With the Blue Jackets near the bottom in goals per game<\/a>, one might assume that Werenski\u2019s drought is the main catalyst for the team struggling to score. Some may even suggest the defenseman is struggling overall in his game.<\/p>\n In taking a deeper look, Werenski\u2019s zero goals is not a case of the player struggling. It\u2019s a case of the age-old adage in hockey striking at the worst time. <\/p>\n Variance.<\/p>\n In simple terms, variance in hockey is a measure of how much a player\u2019s actual performance fluctuates from what is expected. It does not discriminate who it affects. Every player encounters it at different points for different reasons.<\/p>\n If the rest of Werenski\u2019s game fell off along with the goals, then this is a different conversation. But he is contributing in other areas which back up the notion of variance\u2019s role in this matter. His goals will start to come if he continues what he\u2019s started this season.<\/p>\n Werenski\u2019s Positive Impact<\/p>\n Let\u2019s set the scene. Werenski has no goals this season in 34 shots on goal. His finishing is ice cold. But if we expand and look at his career shooting percentage, we start to get a clearer picture.<\/p>\n Werenski is a career 7.2% shooter. On 34 shots, that comes out to around 2.50 goals rounded. He would be expected to have 2-3 goals if he was scoring at his normal rate. Sites like Nat Stat Trick<\/a> have him somewhere around two goals below expected.<\/p>\n Now let\u2019s look at his shots on goal per game. This season, Werenski\u2019s 34 shots in 12 games comes out to 2.83 shots per game. In the last two seasons, his shots per game was at 3.57. That is a noticeable downtick but there is reasoning behind that.<\/p>\n Werenski has played more all-situations during games. With no Ivan Provorov until Saturday, Werenski has played over two minutes more per game on average with his focus not just on creating offense. That time-on-ice should start to come back to earth a little bit. That should allow Werenski to resume his more normal role knowing that Provorov can help with the tougher minutes.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s the thing. Werenski\u2019s point production is exactly the same after 12 games this season as it was last season. The only difference is goals.<\/p>\n![\"Zach](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Zach-Werenski-Blue-Jackets-4-1200x800.jpg\")
Zach Werenski is dealing with a case of variance, not struggle in his game. (Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images)<\/p>\n