Zach Werenski commerce rumors: Six supreme suits for the 2026 Norris Trophy winner, Blue Jackets defenseman

In keeping with a number of stories, 2026 Norris Trophy winner Zach Werenski is on the commerce block as he is expressed a need to maneuver on from the Columbus Blue Jackets. Just lately topped the highest defenseman within the NHL, Werenski will draw huge curiosity, however solely a handful of touchdown spots really make sense.

Werenski is a celebrity defenseman on the high of his recreation, and he’ll instantly change the outlook of whichever crew acquires him. He is now topped 80 factors in back-to-back seasons, and the underlying numbers have been spectacular.

During the last three seasons, the Blue Jackets have had a plus-48 objective differential and a 52.3% anticipated targets share with Werenski on the ice at five-on-five, per Pure Stat Trick. In 2025-26, Columbus was markedly worse with Werenski on the bench.

With the NHL wage cap rising sharply annually, extra groups may have the room so as to add Werenski’s contract, which has two seasons remaining with a median annual worth of $9.5 million. With Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes set to get new offers over the following yr, Werenski may even appear to be a discount.

Werenski is a uncommon game-changing defender who can drive play from the again finish, and these six groups needs to be within the thick of commerce negotiations.

NHL Draft 2026 outcomes, takeaways, full record of Spherical 1 picks: Maple Leafs swing large, Sharks loading up

Austin Nivison

San Jose Sharks

Previous to the 2026 NHL Draft, there have been rumors that the Sharks could be prepared to half with the No. 9 general decide to amass a longtime defenseman. Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly was talked about in reference to San Jose, however frankly, common supervisor Mike Grier needs to be pondering greater. Because the newly-crowned Norris Trophy winner and an Olympic gold medalist, Werenski is strictly the kind of star the Sharks needs to be focusing on as they ascend to contender standing.

Even with a barren blue line and no depth at ahead, the Sharks fell simply 4 factors shy of a playoff spot final season. Werenski would kill two birds with one stone in that regard. He would give San Jose a bona fide No. 1 defenseman whereas additionally giving the offense extra firepower — each at even energy and on the ability play. The Sharks have the cap house and the property to make this occur, and they need to be ringing Waddell’s cellphone off the hook.

Detroit Crimson Wings

What if common supervisor Steve Yzerman was in a position to persuade captain Dylan Larkin to stay round and create maybe probably the most dominant defensive pairing within the NHL on the identical time? Buying Werenski could be the kind of enhance that places Detroit’s rebuild over the end line, and the Wings would have two true No. 1 defensemen in Werenski and Moritz Seider. In the meantime, Larkin could also be extra inclined to stay with Detroit if his Group USA teammate and fellow Michigander does so.

Would Detroit be desirous about giving up Simon Edvinsson, a younger defenseman with plenty of upside, in change for a completed product? The Crimson Wings even have the cap house and draft capital to make this deal work. Yzerman must be daring this summer time. The recipe is there for an enormous transfer.

Tampa Bay Lightning

After letting Darren Raddysh go in a sign-and-trade with the Maple Leafs, the Lightning have a necessity on the blue line. Julien BriseBois is likely one of the most aggressive common managers within the league, and he all the time appears to be poking across the greatest names on the commerce market. Moreover, Werenski solely prices $1 million extra per season than Raddysh, and he is a much more full participant.

The wage cap is a slight problem for Tampa with $13.1 million obtainable previous to free company, in accordance with PuckPedia. The excellent news for the Bolts is that the overwhelming majority of their roster is already below contract for the 2026-27 season. BriseBois would solely have to make tweaks on the fringes of the roster, and he would have roughly $3.6 million to do it. Tampa might need to maneuver a contract out to swing a Werenski commerce, however that is doable.

Anaheim Geese

The Geese want defensive assist for 2 causes. For one, they have been completely horrific on their very own finish final season. Secondly, Anaheim could lose three of its greatest defensemen with Jacob Trouba, Radko Gudas and John Carlson all set to hit free company. Werenski would improve the Geese’ blue line exponentially, however he would achieve this in a means that gels with the up-tempo attacking fashion that Joel Quenneville has applied on offense.

Leo Carlsson and Cutter Gauthier will each obtain gargantuan raises this summer time, however the Geese have $44.6 million in cap house. That can give them loads of respiration room to amass Werenski and signal their two younger superstars. Anaheim has two first-round picks and two second-round picks in final yr’s draft, and so they have an honest prospect pool to drag from. If the Blue Jackets need established NHL gamers in change for Werenski, that would complicate the deal for Anaheim. The Geese do not have many gamers of their prime that they’d — or ought to — be prepared to commerce.

Dallas Stars

Dallas is likely one of the strongest groups within the NHL, but it surely has struggled to seek out consistency exterior of two or three gamers on the blue line. Werenski would definitely remedy that drawback, however he would not come low cost. In actual fact, it will in all probability price the Stars a 24-year-old budding star set to make $10.5 million per season by 2033-34. Thomas Harley alone is probably not sufficient to get the deal finished, however the fee could be well worth the reward for common supervisor Jim Nill.

If Harley is included within the deal, Werenski would offer superior protection with out sacrificing any offense. Plus, as with the Crimson Wings and Seider, the chance to pair Werenski with one other Norris Trophy contender in Miro Heiskanen could be too good to cross up. Coming off a disappointing first-round playoff exit, Dallas wants to remain aggressive with a view to maximize its championship window.

New Jersey Devils

As an American, I can admit {that a} small a part of that is fan fiction. Reuniting Werenski and Jack Hughes after their “Golden Purpose” heroics could be the cherry on high of this deal, but it surely makes loads of sense on paper, too.

It is no secret that New Jersey has an curiosity in buying the third and closing Hughes brother, Quinn, in some unspecified time in the future over the following yr. Whether or not that occurs across the 2027 commerce deadline or in free company subsequent summer time, it would not matter. Each might be too late. Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier and Jesper Bratt are all of their prime, so the Devils cannot afford to attend on Quinn to save lots of the day on protection. With Werenski obtainable, New Jersey should strike now to rework itself into a real Cup contender.

In an effort to pull this off, the Devils would in all probability even have to maneuver out Dougie Hamilton and his $9 million-per-season contract. Hamilton has a 10-team commerce record, which might restrict New Jersey’s choices and create a doable hiccup in negotiations with Columbus. If the Devils can offload Hamilton’s contract, nonetheless, that will create the flexibleness to amass Werenski and improve different components of the roster.