Zach Werenski was the best player in the NHL last week.
Officially.
Werenski was named the league's Top Star of the week Monday, bringing recognition to a Columbus Blue Jackets team that went a perfect 3-0-0 for the period (Nov 18th-24th) and achieved their first three-game winning streak since March of 2022.
Zach Werenski (@BlueJacketsNHL), Mikko Rantanen (@Avalanche) and Joseph Woll (@MapleLeafs) have been named the NHLs Three Stars presented by GEICO for the week ending Nov. 24.#NHLStats: https://t.co/0HHn87N7sQ pic.twitter.com/8AXTQfibnt
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) November 25, 2024
Werenski had two goals and five assists for a total of seven points in the Blue Jackets' three wins last week, which came over top-tier teams including the Boston Bruins, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Carolina Hurricanes.
Five of the seven points came in Columbus' 7-6 overtime thriller against the Lightning, with Werenski's second goal (and fifth point) in the contest coming as in the form os his sixth career overtime winner. The game set a new career high in points for Werenski and tied the franchise record as well, with the 27-year-old becoming the first defenseman in franchise history to notch a five-point game.
ZACH WERENSKI WINS IT FOR THE JACKETS IN OVERTIME!#CBJ pic.twitter.com/gjHLgyzBhK
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) November 22, 2024
Werenski was a +6 plus/minus for the week and averaged more than 28 minutes of ice time, with a bulk of that coming against the opposition's top two forward lines.
He's tied for second among all NHL defenseman in both goals (6) and points (20).
The last Blue Jacket to be named one of the three stars of the week was Patrik Laine, for the week ending February 13th, 2022. Werenski became the first Columbus player to get the Top Star honors since Cam Atkinson in February 2021.
Colorado Avalanche forward Mikko Rantanen and Toronto Maple Leafs netminder Joseph Woll were named the second and third stars, respectively.
