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Zach Werenski Gets Massive Deal to Stay With Blue Jackets

The Columbus Blue Jackets just made Zach Werenski the third-highest paid defenseman in the NHL with a six-year extension.

Defenseman Zach Werenski signed a massive six-year extension with the Columbus Blue Jackets carrying a $9.583 million per season salary. It’s more than what Seth Jones signed for in Chicago or what Dougie Hamilton signed for in New Jersey. He’s a solid defenseman, but many are calling this a “please stay in Columbus tax.”

Weresnki said of the deal, “It was really a no-brainer. I’m a Blue Jacket. I want to continue to be a Blue Jacket and do everything I can to bring a Stanley Cup here.”

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As Chris Johnston notes, the top AAV’s for NHL blueliners in 2022-23 are as follows:

  • $11.5M — Erik Karlsson
  • $11M — Drew Doughty
  • *$9.583M — Zach Werenski
  • *$9.5M — Seth Jones
  • $9.059 — Roman Josi
  • *$9M — Dougie Hamilton
  • *$9M — Cale Makar
  • $8.8M — Alex Pietrangelo
  • *$8.45M — Miro Heiskanen

Essentially, Werenski is being paid as though he’s the third-best NHL defenseman. He is a quality offensive defenceman who scores a lot of goals. That said, it’s hard to argue he’s even close to the third-best defenseman in the league. He can be dangerous and productive at times, while having a strong transition game. Still, this is a big overpayment.

In his defense, Werenski has played 335 games and recorded 65 goals and 189 points. Few defensemen can boast those kinds of numbers. He played a career-high 24:22 time on ice per game this year.

The idea here is that the Blue Jackets send a message that there is a very talented player eager to stick with the team. While some will say the money is the reason, Werenski has demonstrated a willingness to stick to the hockey club, especially since his deal has trade protection worked in.

The breakdown is as follows:

2022-23: $2MM SB, $8MM salary
2023-24: $2MM SB, $10MM salary
2024-25: $2MM SB, $9.5MM salary
2025-26: $2MM SB, $7.5MM salary
2026-27: $6.25MM SB, $1MM salary
2027-28: $6.25MM SB, $1MM salary

Next: Brandon Saad Signs Five-Year $22.5M Deal with Blues

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  1. Pingback: David Krejci Says He Won't Be Returning to Boston Bruins Next Season

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