The Werenski Trade Talk Isn’t Over — It’s Just on Hold

Trade rumors almost never go in reverse. Once a star’s name is out there, once they say they want to be traded and a team goes from “exploring the market” to “actively shopping,” things usually end in one of two ways — a deal quickly gets done, or it drags out for months until one finally does. What happened with Zach Werenski and the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday is the rare third option: everybody just stopped.

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In a joint statement, GM Don Waddell and Werenski laid out what actually happened behind the scenes and why the two sides have decided to no longer pursue a trade. According to Waddell, discussions began with Werenski about his future in Columbus. They wanted to know if he was sold on staying. One of the questions asked was, if a team came forward with a trade offer the Blue Jackets could live with, would he like it to be presented to him? The feeling was that Werenski likely wouldn’t re-sign, so he said OK.

Columbus found something it liked and presented it to Werenski. Then, after talking it over with his family, Werenski said no.

Things Got Blown Out of Proportion

Obviously, once it became known that trade talks were underway and that Werenski had declined a move to Dallas, the entire thing went public. Before you knew it, everyone was talking about where he’d land, what teams were in, who he might be willing to join, and what the return would be. For Werenski, it became too much. Columbus has been his home for the past 10 years. He loves the fans and his teammates. The realization that he might be on the move, just days after the idea was presented to him, was a lot. He was upset and emotional. Werenski didn’t want to play anywhere else.

The defenseman got back together with GM Don Waddell and wanted this noise to go away. Wednesday’s double release was as an attempt to “tone it all down” after what he called a day full of hard feelings. Things had gone off the rails a bit and feelings were hurt. Before the relationship genuinely frayed, both sides decided to step back rather than push forward into a trade neither party was fully sold on.

What It Means Going Forward

Unlike Dylan Larkin, who most people believe needs to be moved and can’t return, Werenski’s situation wasn’t too far gone. Unlike Darnell Nurse, who felt his expiry date in Edmonton had passed, so he expanded his trade list to include San Jose, Werenski isn’t on the receiving end of fan vitriol.

This was fixable, even if it’s only temporary.

Elliotte Friedman’s framing — “we’ll see how that develops over the summer” — is a reminder that a public reset isn’t the same as a resolved issue. Werenski could feel like he’s helped calm the storm, but does he still not see his future in Columbus? He might feel differently in six months. So too, Columbus’s rebuild timeline hasn’t changed just because one conversation ended in “no.” They can’t afford to let Werenski simply walk away as a free agent.

For now, both sides have chosen the version of this story where Werenski becomes the guy Columbus builds around again, rather than the guy Columbus rebuilds without.

Next: NHL Trade Talk Recap: Maple Leafs, Oilers & Canadiens With Huge Free Agency Wins