4 Trade Landing Spots for Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski Amid NHL Rumors

The NHL is going wild this offseason with trades.

The combination of a weak free agent class, a rising salary cap, and players forcing their way out of situations they do not want to be in has produced blockbuster after blockbuster, and there could still be more on the horizon.

One of the more intriguing names gaining traction is Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman -- and reigning Norris Trophy winner -- Zach Werenski.

Given that several of his Team USA teammates have already requested trades and helped force their way into better situations, there has been some speculation that Werenski could be next, especially in the context of the Blue Jackets missing the playoffs again this past season.

He still has two years remaining on his contract at $9.5 million per season, and is reportedly going to sit down with Blue Jackets management after the draft to discuss his future. While he cannot sign a new contract extension this summer, if Columbus walks away from that meeting feeling he is unlikely to remain with the team after this deal, it could lead to a trade sooner rather than later.

And that's assuming he doesn't request one sooner.

So with all of that on the table, let's talk about some teams that could potentially be in play for him if he were to be on the move at some point.

Detroit Red Wings

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On one hand, it might not be Werenski's preference to go from one team that struggles to make the playoffs to a team that is stuck in a perpetual rut of mediocrity and a seemingly never-ending rebuild.

But he is from Michigan; he went to college there, and there could be a connection.

There would certainly be a need from a Red Wings perspective because they simply need more difference-makers and another potential high-end defenseman.

Moritz Seider is sensational, and adding Werenski to the blue line to team up with him would be a potential franchise-changer. Perhaps even the type of thing that could get the Red Wings out of this rut. He's also a slightly different player than Seider and brings an entirely different dimension. While Seider is a lockdown, all-around player that can impact play all over the ice, Werenski is one of the elite offensive defenseman in the league and could also help jumpstart an offense that finished 22nd in the league in goals scored this past season.

Teams that have two Norris-caliber defensemen on the roster (which the Red Wings could have if they managed to acquire a player like Werenski) historically do extremely well and usually contend for titles.

Carolina Hurricanes

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Yes, it is in the division. Yes, that would be tough for Columbus fans -- and perhaps even Columbus management -- to accept. But Carolina would be a potential landing spot for any star-level player who becomes available at the moment.

Not only are they the Stanley Cup champions, which should make them an attractive destination for players, but they also have an aggressive front office unafraid of blockbusters. They also have salary cap flexibility, given that most of their core is locked into team-friendly contracts, and they have a ton of trade assets at their disposal, including four first-round picks over the next three years.

A combination of some of those picks, and perhaps a young player like Alexander Nikishin, could be a starting point for a Werenski blockbuster.

Toronto Maple Leafs

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The Maple Leafs are in the process of overhauling a significant chunk of their roster, including their defense.

Darren Raddysh is already in the mix, and Morgan Rielly could soon be on his way out of town.

Not only should they have interest in another potential top-pairing defenseman, but they would also still have a need for one, even after adding Raddysh.

Could this be a situation where something involving Matthew Knies is in play in a pure hockey trade? With the Maple Leafs likely to select Gavin McKenna No. 1 overall this week and still having Auston Matthews and William Nylander on the roster, there could be a path to move Knies to keep improving the defense.

Knies will only be 24 years old when the 2026-27 regular season begins, has improved every year he's been in the league and could be the top of top-line scorer and finisher Columbus really needs in its lineup.

Anaheim Ducks

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The Ducks are building a potentially impressive team in the Western Conference with one of the best young forward groups in the NHL, led by Leo Carlsson, Beckett Sennecke, and Cutter Gauthier. But for as good as the forward group is, and for as big a step forward as the team took this season by making the playoffs, there are still some big questions on the defense in terms of both quality and quantity.

Jacob Trouba, John Carlson, and Radko Gudas are all unrestricted free agents this summer, and there is no guarantee any of them will be back.

It's also a defense that needs to improve.

The entire team needs to get better defensively.

Werenski would be a huge addition to an on-the-rise team and give a potentially outstanding 1-2 punch along with Jackson LaCombe down the left side of the defense.

Would Columbus have an interest in Mason McTavish in the hopes that he could still realize his full potential?

Defenseman (and restricted free agent) Pavel Mintyukov would figure to be a potential option.

The Ducks have both of their first-round picks in 2027 and 2028, as well as three second-round picks that could also be used here.

Anaheim has nearly $38 million in salary cap space this offseason, but a lot of that is going to get eaten up on contract extensions for restricted free agents Carlsson and Gauthier. But if a McTavish gets included in a potential package, that helps offset the cost.