Zach Werenski closes the door on Maple Leafs trade talk with clear Columbus message

Zach Werenski has again made it clear that he wants to stay in Columbus, further closing the door on the Maple Leafs trade possibility that surfaced this summer.

Werenski was pressed about his thoughts on the entire trade rumour saga that dominated headlines this summer. After there were reports he wanted out of Columbus were quickly debunked, Werenski has been pretty quiet besides putting out a statement committing to the team.

Zach Werenski's new stance is a far cry from Toronto's trade opportunity in July

Well he doubled down on that commitment and pretty much put an end to all trade talks - including to the Toronto Maple Leafs:

I'm still eating this hoodie today with the Blue Jackets logo on it. This is where I want to be and I've felt that way since day one.

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The comments reinforce the position Werenski and Don Waddell publicly took in July after Columbus explored trade options and Werenski ultimately chose to remain with the Blue Jackets.

With the news that Dylan Larkin wanted to leave Detroit, and other trades that saw Quinn Hughes traded to Minnesota, and Brady Tkachuk traded to the Florida Panthers - Werenski was named as the next Olympian on the market.

Toronto was a legitimate option if Werenski had moved. Pierre LeBrun reported that the Maple Leafs were in the mix, while Chris Johnston later said Werenski was willing to go to Toronto or Tampa Bay but Columbus did not believe either club could offer the kind of NHL-ready return it wanted.

Without a blockbuster package that suited Columbus, they decided to nix any potential trade talks, and both Waddell and Werenski put out separate statements that downplayed the rumours and confirmed Werenski's commitment to the Blue Jackets.

Werenski staying in Columbus means Toronto needs to find another star blueline target

But with that, Werenski is staying put which means the Maple Leafs need to target a different star blueliner if they wish to move on from Morgan Rielly and really cement the offensive side of their back end.

Werenski would have been the undisputed QB1 of the power-play which would leave Darren Raddysh playing the second unit, or be part of the first and benefit from Werenski's playmaking ability. He'd also instantly become the new #1 over Rielly, and it finally gives Toronto a consistent and reliable offensive player on the blueline.

Werenski staying in Columbus also clarifies what Toronto lost access to: a reigning Norris Trophy winner who could have immediately become its No. 1 defenceman and primary power-play quarterback.

Replacing that profile is not as simple as moving on to another name, particularly after Columbus's reported preference for a high-end NHL-ready return exposed the limits of Toronto's trade package.

Toronto has to figure out a new direction if they want to add a premium offensive defenceman with Werenski now committing fully to Columbus. They can stick with what they have and hope that Rielly and Raddysh are able to provide the offence and defence that Werenski offers by himself - or they'll need to find a trade elsewhere.

Werenski's latest comments therefore do more than cool an old rumour.

They pretty much remove the clearest elite defenceman opportunity Toronto explored this summer, leaving them to hope that Raddysh and Rielly can provide enough offence from the blue line or there's another opening down the line.

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