Possible trade destinations for Blue Jackets defenceman Zach Werenski

The idea a defenceman like Columbus Blue Jacket Zach Werenski could be had via trade is enough to make anybody snap to attention. The notion he might pair up with an old buddy who could also be on the move is downright flabbergasting.

Speaking on the 32 Thoughts podcast that dropped Monday morning, Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman — acknowledging he was just “spit-balling” — wondered aloud if Werenski and Detroit Red Wings centre Dylan Larkin — two good pals from Michigan — could actually wind up on the same squad.

“Part of me has wondered if there’s a team that could pull off both guys,” Friedman said, blowing back the well-coiffed hair of co-host Kyle Bukauskas

The clubs Friedman mused about specifically? Vegas and Dallas.

It’s almost too much to imagine Werenski and Larkin — who have both had conversations with their current teams about moving on — landing on the same NHL squad. For now, we’ll zero in on Werenski, letting Friedman’s comments from 32 Thoughts guide us toward a handful of teams that are logical destinations if the reigning Norris Trophy winner is, in fact, dealt by the Columbus Blue Jackets. 

When you’re talking about a move as big as potentially trading Werenski, it’s rarely straightforward.

That said, when you play the checking-boxes game, a swap between Columbus and Dallas makes a lot of sense.

First off, the Stars would seem to fulfil Werenski’s desire to be on a team that can win the Cup beginning as early as 2027. If you’re Dallas, you’d feel pretty good about the odds you can retain Werenski beyond the summer of 2028, when he’s currently eligible to become a free agent.

As for the Jackets, GM Don Waddell is pretty clear — Werenski or no Werenski — he wants a competitive team next fall in Ohio and isn’t looking to land three teenagers for his star defenceman.

So what about a young, established blue-liner who could immediately become his new No. 1?

“On its [face], I find it hard to believe there’s a better trade out there for Columbus than Thomas Harley,” said Friedman, referencing the 24-year-old who just finished his third full season in Texas.

Now, as Friedman noted, Columbus would have to know Harley was on board with the notion of being dealt. Even though he doesn’t have trade protection, nobody wants to swap one unhappy all-world defenceman for another.

However, if moving to the Jackets — where he’d be the unquestioned No. 1 — intrigued Harley, Columbus would certainly be making the best of a tough situation by recouping a player who’s locked up for his best years through 2033-34.

Just for fun, let’s quickly circle back to the idea one team — in this case, Dallas — could land Werenski and Larkin. Is there any world where those two buddies go to Texas, pending RFA Jason Robertson comes to Detroit on a new contract and the Jackets land Harley?

What a whopper that would be. 

“I 100 per cent believe Toronto will try,” Friedman said, being unequivocal about the Leafs’ desire to supercharge a blueline makeover with Werenski.

What Friedman did flag, though, is whether Werenski would see Toronto as a club that can win right now.

Again, there does seem to be some kind of transaction building block in place with the Leafs’ apparent willingness to deal 23-year-old power forward Matthew Knies. If Columbus can’t get a defenceman back for Werenski, perhaps it could grab Knies, then maybe leverage another player whose name has hit the rumour mill — winger Kirill Marchenko — to fill a need on the blueline.

As always, there are a few moving parts in the desert. The Knights opened up some cap space by dealing away Pavel Dorofeyev at the draft and still have some business to tend to with pending-UFA defenceman Rasmus Anderson. The Knights are also said to be looking at the futures of forward Tomas Hertl and goalie Adin Hill.

Clearing the space to not only get Werenski, but keep him in Nevada long-term is probably doable for the Golden Knights. Where Vegas might hit a roadblock, though, is — especially with Dorofeyev already dealt — there’s not an obvious starting point for a desirable return from Columbus’ perspective the way there is with Dallas and Toronto. 

Friedman didn’t mention the Hurricanes by name, but it feels safe to say Carolina is a logical candidate.

First off, the Canes are the defending Cup champions, so that should take care of any questions Werenski has about the club’s ability to win.

And, really, Carolina just won the title without an elite puck-mover driving things from the back end. Could you imagine throwing Werenski on a core that already includes his Team USA buddy and all-world defensive D-man Jaccob Slavin? 

Carolina has the cap space to make this work, especially if it can find a taker for centre Jesperi Kotkaniemi. 

The Canes also have intriguing pieces to dangle, like 24-year-old defenceman Alexander Nikishin (who needs a new contract) and a ripe forward prospect like 21-year-old Bradly Nadeau.

If you’re Waddell, the idea of landing cornerstone pieces on both the blueline and up front is a comforting thought while navigating the difficult terrain of trying to deal a stud defenceman like Werenski.