Canada Day dawned with Toronto in the running to get Norris Trophy winner Zach Werenski to wear its maple leaf on their blueline. Late Tuesday, The Athletic reported Werenski had used his no movement clause to block a trade that would’ve sent him from Columbus to the Dallas Stars. Featured in the deal would have been Stars’ defenceman Thomas Harley, just beginning an eight-year extension at a cap hit of $10.587 million.
Werenski's preferences and potential suitors
Given Werenski seems more interested in staying in the Eastern Conference and if something can’t be worked out in Detroit for the Michigan native, the Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning are shaping up as the best suitors. Columbus wants impact players, not draft picks, which works for the Leafs, who only have Colorado’s first-rounder in 2027 for the next two years from the Nicolas Roy trade, having dealt No. 1s to Boston (for Brandon Carlo) and Philadelphia (Scott Laughton).
But the Blue Jackets would almost certainly ask for winger Matthew Knies in any return package and perhaps a younger prospect in Easton Cowan. While he’s been reluctant to put Knies’s name out there to date, Toronto general manager John Chayka would have no choice if he’s sincere about taking “big swings” this week to get his team back to playoff readiness.
Trade package and competition
Tampa already has contender status, good weather and a favourable tax situation once Werenski gets past the $9.583 million still owed on his Columbus deal through 2027-28. What the Bolts might not have is the package the Jackets desire, since their top players also enjoy plenty of trade protection with the exception of defenceman J.J. Moser and centre Connor Geekie.
Columbus GM Don Waddell is under no deadline to trade Werenski this season. But since the news got out that the latter didn’t intend to re-sign in two years, everything has been fast-tracked, with some hard feelings on the team and among the Jackets’ fan base. Harley, meanwhile, now knows the Stars feel he’s expendable.
Leafs' position and possible three-way trade
Toronto, which got ahead of the market in its sign-and-trade with Tampa Bay for defenceman Darren Raddysh, is also under no obligation to trade the farm for Werenski. Except that few chances such as this come around for a blueline re-do that adds high-end newcomers. There’s also a possibility of a three-way trade with the Jackets, Stars and Leafs to sort this out.
According to Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun, the Leafs are considering a significant move to bolster their defence, with Werenski as a prime target. The situation remains fluid as the offseason progresses.
