Zach Werenski just found himself on Columbus' second PP unit, and that immediately started talks about a looming trade away from the struggling Blue Jackets.
It's not really a secret that the Columbus Blue Jackets' season hasn't gone according to plan. Sitting with a 4-5-0 record, good for last in the Metro Division, Rick Bowness' crew is feeling the pinch early on.
They are last in the league in goals scored (21) but rank fourth in the league in goals against (30). They can certainly prevent the opponents from scoring - but that's a two-way road it seems as the Blue Jackets can't put the puck in the net.
Zach Werenski shoved down the lineup as Columbus searches for answers
A lot of those issues point to star defender Zach Werenski who has yet to score a goal this year and only has six assists through nine games.
There's obviously time for him to turn it around but it seems like Columbus is giving him a much different look in order to do so:
Midway through special teams practice, they've flip-flopped Werenski and Mateychuk as PP point guys, so Werenski now with PP2 and Mateychuk QB for PP1.
We'll see if that sticks tomorrow in Philly.
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Well that's certainly a switch-up for Columbus and it shows how desperate they are to try and get some modicum of offense going this year. Werenski hasn't necessarily disappointed - but after his Norris-winning season last year, it's underwhelming.
Mateychuk isn't a bad defender, and at 22 already has a 13-goal, 31-point season under his belt, and it's clear that Bowness doesn't feel like Werenski has the oomph yet to run the PP.
Werenski demotion sparks trade speculation once again
That means trade speculation immediately sparked once again, as the Blue Jackets are a team who seem to be on the verge of a fire sale. They traded Kirill Marchenko, have been shopping Dmitri Voronkov, and have already dealt with a flurry of Werenski rumours.
At least one fan on social media believes that one team could certainly benefit from a Werenski trade - and another blockbuster between the two clubs:
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If the Blue Jackets do end up dealing Werenski, it will end a saga that has been dragging on for months, as the American defender looks to get competitive and find himself in playoff contention - not another rebuild.
Whether that trade involves the Maple Leafs or not remains to be seen, but for now if the reigning defenseman of the year is being shoved down the lineup?
Things must truly be dire in Ohio.
Do you think Zach Werenski is going to get traded from the Columbus Blue Jackets?
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