Player Discussion: All purpose: Gold Medal & 2026 Norris Trophy Winner Zach Werenski thread (Rejects trade to DAL; May only waive for TB/TOR, maybe not at all?)

[Sdrawkcab321]

This F’n dude. Make him play out his contract. Run him into the ground. Make him lead the league in minutes.

 

[ClevelandJacketFan]

Guess we’ll see him in training camp. I am actually f***ing shocked he’d veto Dallas.

And yet somehow, Toronto is still showing up as a preferred destination? What the f***?

If they bring him to camp, itd be the biggest failure in this organization's history.

 

[majormajor]

We absolutely did not go through this with Bob and Bread, what are you talking about? Ive disagreed with you alot lately but this one... oof. Bread was traded for and a was only here for 2 years, much more understandable. Bob gave us 7 years and was publicly questioned by his own GM. Werenski was drafted, developed, went through the Kivlenieks and Gaudreau tragedies and championed the whole "thank you for choosing Columbus when others wouldnt" and then quit but also handcuffed the team on the way out. This is not at all the same with the fans or the team

The fan reaction might be different but we did go through having the two best players on the team say that they weren't coming back and still the team functioned when it had to and had a great playoff run.

 

[ViD]

If he stays with the club and Jenner leaves, certainly can’t give him the C

 

[GoJackets1]

If they bring him to camp, itd be the biggest failure in this organization's history.

Are we sure? Doesn’t his NMC change next year? His value wouldn’t be that different next year if right now he’ll only go to two teams.

 

[Long Live Lyle]

Keep him. Hs BFF Brady forced a trade to Florida, he thinks he can to TB.

Call his bluff. Make him report and play out the year. See where things stand next year when he’s at least a rental option to 22 teams.

The return won’t be worse than whatever garbage we’d get from being able to only get 2-3 teams in a bidding war now, and we keep the Norris winner on our roster in 2026-27. Plus, on principle, this garbage of players using NMCs as weapons instead of shields needs to stop.

Don’t cave.

 

[stevo61]

The fan reaction might be different but we did go through having the two best players on the team say that they weren't coming back and still the team functioned when it had to and had a great playoff run.

Best player for a couple years via trade vs best player drafted, developed, after 10 years gave all these speeches about the city and the top UFA choosing them... yep, exactly the same thing. That team also went for it, this one tried to go with the players request and are being forced to take a worse move to suit him

 

[CalBuckeyeRob]

Even that is not even close to fair value for a Norris winner

The only way to win this trade is to take a bunch of highly rated prospects that are close to being ready and hope a couple pan out. No one will give you multiple proven high end guys unless their contracts are expiring. And I dont want a Nash trade that just has B-level prospects and 3rd and 4th line types of forwards. Getting more guys like Miles Wood and Conor Garland is a waste.

 

[ClevelandJacketFan]

Are we sure? Doesn’t his NMC change next year? His value wouldn’t be that different next year if right now he’ll only go to two teams.

And what if he

1) doesnt play
2) plays but plays awful
3) plays and gets hurt

And we end up losing value?

No, im done with the cirus. Its not worth it to keep him. Both the team and the player want to see the other side of this situation, just get it done.

 

[MissADD]

Keep him. Hs BFF Brady forced a trade to Florida, he thinks he can to TB.

Call his bluff. Make him report and play out the year. See where things stand next year when he’s at least a rental option to 22 teams.

The return won’t be worse than whatever garbage we’d get from being able to only get 2-3 teams in a bidding war now, and we keep the Norris winner on our roster in 2026-27. Plus, on principal, this garbage of players using NMCs as weapons instead of shields needs to stop.

Don’t cave.

No. Because you run the risk of a Carter or PLD situation where he just goes through the motions and then his preferred destination of Tampa or Toronto have us over a barrel. Get him out before came and immediately give out the number 8 to someone else.

 

[OldSoul]

If he stays with the club and Jenner leaves, certainly can’t give him the C

wouldn’t shock me knowing the moves this franchise has historically comically made.

 

[Banana duck]

Best player for a couple years via trade vs best player drafted, developed, after 10 years gave all these speeches about the city and the top UFA choosing them... yep, exactly the same thing. That team also went for it, this one tried to go with the players request and are being forced to take a worse move to suit him

Buccigross - who I’m warming up to slightly because of how mad he is about this - kind of went off about Zach today - saying he only became truly good this past couple of years and we created him - and this is the way he’s thanking us

 

[Long Live Lyle]

No. Because you run the risk of a Carter of PLD situation where he just goes through the motions and then his preferred destination of Tampa or Toronto have us over a barrel. Get him out before came and immediately give out the number 8 to someone else.

I kinda don’t care. You know who we got for PLD? Patrik Laine. How’d that turn out?

Carter was a completely different situation too, bc, in fairness to him [and I can’t believe I’m saying that…] he never asked to be in Columbus. Quite the opposite too, he signed a huge deal specifically to stay in Philly and the rug was swept out from under him. The return for him in the LAK trade was also just solid, but not great.

Make Z stay. If he is honorable, he will play hard since it’s a contract he signed, and for a city he supposedly once loved at one point. If he’s not honorable, then in a sadistic, twisted way, I’ll almost get more enjoyment out of watching his reputation crumble further and him being miserable this season.

Nothing we trade him for is going to help us this year anyway if we can’t get teams into a bidding war bc he only wants to go to 2 or 3 places. His value will be limited. So keep him, hope he gives his best, and ship him off July 1 next year.

 

[Banana duck]

Toronto fans are saying they would probably throw in Hildeby too. He’s probably ready to play in the NHL now.

Gardner needs time, who knows what’s happening with Ivanov, we could actually move on from Elvis.

 

[majormajor]

Best player for a couple years via trade vs best player drafted, developed, after 10 years gave all these speeches about the city and the top UFA choosing them... yep, exactly the same thing. That team also went for it, this one tried to go with the players request and are being forced to take a worse move to suit him

I'm angry about the timing of it, we were on the upswing. But him being here for so long doesn't make more angry than if he was here for two years.

Zach has been here for ten years. I don't think he was faking his connection to the city. Sometimes people choose to make a move.

 

[majormajor]

Toronto fans are saying they would probably throw in Hildeby too. He’s probably ready to play in the NHL now.

Gardner needs time, who knows what’s happening with Ivanov, we could actually move on from Elvis.

Knies is a substandard headliner for a deal and all of their "plusses" are just awful. No interest.

 

[stevo61]

I'm angry about the timing of it, we were on the upswing. But him being here for so long doesn't make more angry than if he was here for two years.

Zach has been here for ten years. I don't think he was faking his connection to the city. Sometimes people choose to make a move.

I dont care if it makes you more angry, the situations are not at all the same with the fanbase or the franchise

 

[Longtime Local]

Guess we’ll see him in training camp. I am actually f***ing shocked he’d veto Dallas.

And yet somehow, Toronto is still showing up as a preferred destination? What the f***?

I have to think it's because of Matthews.

 

[Banana duck]

Knies is a substandard headliner for a deal and all of their "plusses" are just awful. No interest.

Do you think Moser and a bunch of crap is better

 

[majormajor]

Do you think Moser and a bunch of crap is better

Moser better than Knies? Probably.

I'd be much more excited for guys like Dominic James over a medium goalie prospect like Hildeby.

 

[CBJWerenski8]

The worst part of a Toronto deal is they have zero first round picks to give.

Tampa deal is better. Even if Moser isn’t sexy, I’ll be working through potential targets from both teams soon

 

[Banana duck]

Moser better than Knies? Probably.

I'd be much more excited for guys like Dominic James over a medium goalie prospect like Hildeby.

Ugh I hate Zach

 

[MissADD]

Do you think Moser and a bunch of crap is better

Yes because I think Moser is significantly better than Kines.

 

[LJ7]

I really hope our FO doesn't rate Knies very highly. I think only McKenna can trump a Moser deal from Toronto.

 

[punk_o_holic]

The worst part of a Toronto deal is they have zero first round picks to give.

Tampa deal is better. Even if Moser isn’t sexy, I’ll be working through potential targets from both teams soon

I asked earlier to confirm but Toronto might have the Av's 1st round pick but it's top 10 protected. But Av's will most likely finish near the top of the standings so the 1st round pick will be garbage lol.