On Wednesday, Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski appeared on 97.1 FM The Fan's Rothman & Ice to talk about playing for John Tortorella, his injury, and more.
Hockey & Hounds w/ @ZachWerenski @BlueJacketsNHL #CBJ 1-3-24 https://t.co/rOS1s2Fqsc
— Rothman & Ice (@971RandI) January 3, 2024
Werenski has been out with an ankle injury he suffered against the Devils on Dec. 27 and is listed as week-to-week while on injured reserve.
"I don't really know my timeline right now," Werenski said. "That's kind of why it's week-to-week. It's more broad. I was hoping for good news, like more so day-to-day, but it's just not looking that way. So I'm kind of hoping [for] four weeks, but I guess we'll have to wait and see how I feel in a week or so if I can start skating again."
The Blue Jackets are in Philadelphia on Thursday to face the Flyers, coached by former Columbus bench boss John Tortorella. Werenski played five seasons for Tortorella, posting 65-124--189 in 335 regular season games in addition to 4-9--13 in 29 playoff games. Werenski had nothing but great things to say about Tortorella.
"I wish people knew him like I knew him," Werenski said. "Like (co-host Anthony Rothman) knew him. Like guys in the room know him. He's a wonderful human. I got injured in Jersey and I think they were on the Western Canada trip and within like 10 minutes of being injured, he's one of the first guys that texted me. And when I got hurt against Philly [on] opening night, even that contusion, he was the first one that came and saw me after the game. So he cares about his players deeply, cares about former players, [and] current players. And like you said there's no surprise he has that team going the right way because once you start to get to know Torts, you want to play for him, and that's what they're doing there in Philly."
Werenski also spoke about his current head coach, Pascal Vincent, and said he's done a great job this year.
"It's one of those things where I don't think where people and fans and people that are looking at it from the outside don't really get an everyday look at our conversations we have with him," Werenski said. "Our team meetings, our video, the message he's preaching, it might look like one thing on the ice, but behind closed doors, we're trying to do something different and we're trying to play a certain style. It's just not working."
The Blue Jackets are currently last in the Eastern Conference and 29th in the NHL based on points percentage.
"So I think he's getting through to all the guys," Werenski said. "I mean, he should be, right? He's a newer coach. He has the respect of the guys in the room. He's been here for three years now, two as an assistant [and this is his] first year as a head coach. But for me, it's one of those things where no matter who your coach is, I think as players and as professionals, you have a job to do no matter what it is. And I think so far he's done a great job at getting through to the room, but obviously I can't speak for everybody but it seems like he's doing a good job."
One of the defensemen who has had to step up in Werenski's absence is 20-year-old rookie David Jiricek, who has posted 1-8--9 in 33 games this season. He's averaged 18:31 TOI/game in the three contests since Werenski's injury, nearly four minutes above his season average of 14:37.
"Jiri's a good player," Werenski said. "And he's gonna be a good player for a long time. And obviously, he's young and like you said, it's definitely a change of pace when you go from the American [Hockey] League, to the NHL and then to playing big minutes in the NHL....But I think when you can play a lot, play against the best players in the league, learn from that, learn from mistakes, [and] gain confidence. I think it's great for a young guy like him."
The Blue Jackets will look to pick up a win against the Flyers on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET on Bally Sports Ohio.
