I’m of the belief that, 15 years from now when his NHL career is over, Zach Werenski will be one of the best players to play for the Columbus Blue Jackets.
He will have company. Rick Nash’s name is in that conversation along with Sergei Bobrovsky, and the latter is definitely their best player right now and their most accomplished. But Werenski did something as 19-year-old that few players his age can do (let alone at the defensive position), and that’s transform the way a team plays and approaches the game.
“Safe is death” was a script written with Werenski as the main character.
John Tortorella was enamored with Werenski once he saw him in the Calder Cup playoffs two summers ago. He loved he way he got up the ice, defended with his legs and his stick, and could command the power play from the back end. Once that playoff run was over in Cleveland, there was little doubt Werenski was going to make his residence in Columbus in the fall.
Listening to Tortorella speak yesterday about his plans for Werenski — who, make no mistake, can play a lot better than he has thus far — it’s refreshing and exciting if you follow the Blue Jackets. They’re moving toward a faster, more exciting brand of hockey and one that emphasizes individual skill. Werenski fits the mold of how Tortorella wants the Blue Jackets to play, so it’s interesting to hear him say that he doesn’t really view Werenski as a defenseman anymore.
He’s an engine, a player that can spark something when they need it and easily create an odd-man situation. Instant offense.
“The way the game’s played…our D have been very aggressive up the ice, all of them. I think Z has a whole different level of what he can do. We want him to take chances, we want him to go. We don’t want him to hold back, even though a mistake may have been made. We want him to go.”
That's good shit.
TWO POINTS WOULD BE IDEAL
“Must win” is tossed around like mad, and it’s tough to give such a distinction to the ninth regular season game, but the Blue Jackets could use two points tonight at Nationwide Arena.
The Sabres are playing better after their horrid start and shut out the Detroit Red Wings in a 1-0 final last night in Buffalo. Their offense looks a little more dangerous and their goaltending is coming around, and this being the second night of a back-to-back, could mean the Blue Jackets will face Chad Johnson…a guy they can never seem to beat. It’s the weirdest thing.
But after their 5-1-0 start, the Blue Jackets have dropped two straight and their lines have once again been tossed into Tortorella’s Vitamix. Could he split up the No. 1 line tonight? It would not surprise me in the least. Will their power play personnel look a little different? Definitely.
I’m not saying it’s time to ask the hard questions or start white-knuckling, but you don’t want to be on the wrong side of a three-game run while the rest of the division is gaining ground. The Penguins won again last night, the Islanders have won three straight, the Flyers have been an early surprise and the Devils are somehow good.
MORE, MORE, MORE
We’re getting dangerously close to the point where enough is enough with The Last Jedi pre-promotion. Yesterday, USA TODAY dropped a two-minute behind the scenes video which focused on director Rian Johnson and the directions he’s taking the characters in the new movie. It was awesome. I hope the movie is awesome. We have two months until it comes out. My god.
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