Suffering an injury in game 12 last season, Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski played 65 games thereafter with a shoulder that would eventually require surgery. That number climbs to 71 if you count the playoffs.
Call me Captain Obvious, but if you didn’t appreciate his toughness after the Pittsburgh puck-to-face incident, the young Michigander’s legend is only growing.
Perhaps spoiled by his scorching rookie season (47pts, 11G, 36A), CBJ fans might have been wondering what was wrong with #8 last year? It might not have been obvious to the casual eye, but long-time Jackets fans or NHL die-hards noticed a subtle difference in Werenski’s slap shot.