Zach Werenski News

Werenski has not played since February 13th but will replace Scott Harrington in the lineup on Thursday. Werenski had a slow start to the season but had four assists in his last six games before getting injured.

Werenski returned to the lineup on Saturday but is not 100 percent, so he'll come out of the lineup Monday in Carolina. With Werenski sidelined, Dean Kukan will draw back in. Consider Werenski day-to-day.

Werenski has missed the last two games with a lower-body injury but will be back on the top pair with Seth Jones and top PP unit on Saturday. Werenski has had a slow start to the season, scoring one goal with three assists in his first 12 games.

According to John Tortorella, Werenksi is "banged up" and will not play on Sunday. In Saturday's practice Dean Kukan took Werenski's spot next to Seth Jones and it looks as if Scott Harrington will draw in as the sixth defenseman.

This is surprising. The Blue Jackets announced that Werenski will miss one month with a sprained AC joint just over two weeks ago, but activating him from IR suggests he will play tonight in Detroit. The 22-year-old is a Michigan native, so he will be playing in front of family if he is in the lineup and comes in with 16 points (6G / 10A) in 26 games this season.

Werenski is expected to miss one month with a sprain AC joint, so his move to IR opens up a roster spot to recall reinforcements if the Blue Jackets need them.

Werenski left Saturday's game with a shoulder injury and the Blue Jackets announced on Sunday that he'll be out for at least four weeks. Werenski's injury leaves the Blue Jackets with six healthy defensemen, so look for them to call someone up from Cleveland (AHL) before Tuesday's game. Don't expect to see Werenski until late-December/early-January.

Werenski has been excellent since breaking into the NHL in 2017, scoring double-digit goals in all three seasons and 40-plus points in two out of three. Overall, he is 11th among defensemen in goals (27) and 24th in points (81) over that span.

Despite a few days of over the Christmas break, Werenski still isn’t ready to return to the Blue Jackets blueline. Werenski missed the morning skate and will miss his fourth straight game tonight Pittsburgh. Werenski remains day-to-day and is questionable or Friday’s game in Ottawa.