Zach Werenski should be considered for the Norris?

[Chet Donnelly]

Still has a lot of games left but if we voted today.. 100% he's a Vezina nominee.

Not too many good goalies this year, so I'm not mad at it.

 

[CBJx614]

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

20-game home point streak by Werenski is short only of guys named Orr, Coffey and Housley.

 

[CBJx614]

 

[CBJx614]

 

[Ncit3]

The race should only be between Makar and Werenski. They both play defense. Hughes doesn’t PK and plays against teams worst lines very often.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

Hughes’ injuries have really tightened up the race imo. Either one of the three have legitimate arguments for the Norris.

 

[Ncit3]

Hughes’ injuries have really tightened up the race imo. Either one of the three have legitimate arguments for the Norris.

Are we sure about that?

 

[ItsFineImFine]

Are we sure about that?

Yeah I was gonna say, for Norris voting, I'd have Werenski ahead of Hughes and Makar is in his own league.

For Hart voting though I'd give it to Hughes. I don't think he's the best dman in the league but he's the most valuable player to his team in the league if that makes any sense.

 

[Zanon]

Hughes’ injuries have really tightened up the race imo. Either one of the three have legitimate arguments for the Norris.

Only thing Hughes’ injury has tightened is the points race.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

Only thing Hughes’ injury has tightened is the points race.

I agree. I think he’s still the leader. The gap in points between him and the next highest Canuck player is just huge. He hasn’t had a ton of support and has really had to carry the team.

 

[CBJx614]

 

[ProfessorFink22]

Yeah but Crosby has a whopping zero career Norris Trophies, what are you getting at?

 

[Kaner9]

hot take maybe but id have him first on the ballot rn

beasting all around

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Yes but he never will be because he's in Columbus

 

[CBJx614]

 

[majormajor]

Everyone seems to like Werenski's play and I agree. Aside from the McDavid goal - an uncharacteristic play from Werenski - he was creating and gave up virtually nothing when he was out there. But it's worth noting he only played 13:47 tonight.

It's hard to argue with putting Slavin and Faber out there a lot when you're protecting a lead, and Mcavoy was great from the start. But I think Werenski is also a great option for protecting a lead and it seems Sully doesn't think so.

 

[SillyRabbit]

I felt like Werenski was questionable defensively against Canada.

Seemed like every time Canada had an odd man rush, Werenski was the culprit.

McAvoy on the other hand was the most impressive USA defenceman for me.

 

[wetcoast]

Why are you posting this in a Norris thread?

Zach could score a million points in the tournament none of it matters for the Norris.

 

[Dumais]

Werenski is playing a different system (looks like Torts' system) than he is with Evason's system. Zach is more a rover on CBJ, and now he is playing a more traditional style. And people still doubt him when putting up points.

Gotta be the most under-rated player in the league.

 

[GoldenKnight]

hot take maybe but id have him first on the ballot rn

Same here.

Honestly think Werenski deserves some Hart votes as well, especially if the Jackets make the playoffs.

 

[CBJx614]

Everyone seems to like Werenski's play and I agree. Aside from the McDavid goal - an uncharacteristic play from Werenski - he was creating and gave up virtually nothing when he was out there. But it's worth noting he only played 13:47 tonight.

It's hard to argue with putting Slavin and Faber out there a lot when you're protecting a lead, and Mcavoy was great from the start. But I think Werenski is also a great option for protecting a lead and it seems Sully doesn't think so.

Yeah i definitely noticed his lack of TOI, but like you said it's kind of hard to argue with the results. Could be him trying to adapt to a different system in such a short time frame.

Why are you posting this in a Norris thread?

Zach could score a million points in the tournament none of it matters for the Norris.

Because it's relevant, this is more of a Werenski general discussion thread than it is just his hunt for Norris. He's playing against the best of the best in the NHL, it's relevant to discuss how he's playing.

If Hughes was playing you better believe his thread would be getting blown up with his performance.

 

[The S5]

I felt like Werenski was questionable defensively against Canada.

Seemed like every time Canada had an odd man rush, Werenski was the culprit.

McAvoy on the other hand was the most impressive USA defenceman for me.

Agree with this assessment. I thought he looked a bit lost out there. I disagree with the McAvoy take though. Slavin was far and away the best D on the ice last night. He is the Eraser!

 

[majormajor]

Werenski is playing a different system (looks like Torts' system) than he is with Evason's system. Zach is more a rover on CBJ, and now he is playing a more traditional style.

Torts had Werenski play rover on the Jackets as well. In this tournament I don't know if it's the coaches or the system, maybe naturally it's harder to play as freely as he usually does when he doesn't know how his linemates are going to react to his movements.

 

[aylib]

Looking at ice time from the Canada game- Werenski and Fox played minimally in the third, while Faber and Slavin were out there for over 9 minutes.