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Zach Werenski will likely be included on a lot of ballots for the Norris Trophy, which goes to the NHL’s top defenseman, but his leadership has also drawn award consideration.
The Blue Jackets announced Tuesday that Werenski is the team’s nominee for this year’s King Clancy Memorial Trophy, which is awarded annually to the NHL player, “who best exemplifies leadership on and off the ice, and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution to his community."
More: Zach Werenski leading Columbus Blue Jackets with words, points: 'He is all business'
Nominees from all 32 teams are considered by a committee that includes NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, past King Clancy winners and winners of the NHL Foundation Player Award. This is the second year in a row the Blue Jackets nominated Werenski, an alternate captain whose leadership was critical after captain Boone Jenner and alternate captain Erik Gudbranson underwent shoulder surgeries in October.
While helping the Jackets establish a higher playing standard as a locker room presence, Werenski has put together the best statistical season of his NHL career — setting franchise records that he’d previously held in goals (22), assists (56) and points (78).
Werenski also set a franchise record with a 22-game home point streak that placed him among a select few NHL defensemen who’d eclipsed 20 straight home games with a point. The streak ended in a tie for third-longest in league history with Phil Housley’s 22-game streak for the Buffalo Sabres in 1991-92 and trails only Paul Coffey’s 23-game streak in 1985-86 for the Edmonton Oilers and Bobby Orr’s 25-game streak in 1973-74 for the Boston Bruins.
Werenski also represented the U.S. at the NHL’s 4 Nations Tournament and led all players in scoring with six points on six assists in four games — helping his country advance to overtime of the gold medal game before falling to Canada.
Werenski has also established ties to the Columbus area through community programs, including his “Z-Suite” to give special groups a memorable evening watching the Blue Jackets play from a suite he purchased in 2023. Among the 2,000 children and families who’ve enjoyed a game from the “Z-Suite” were kids battling life-threatening illnesses, military families, first responders, youth hockey players and young people from underserved communities.
Werenski’s father, Ken, was a police officer and first responder whose service-oriented profession inspired his son’s involvement in multiple charitable efforts throughout central Ohio.
Nick Foligno, a Blue Jackets’ former captain, is the only player in franchise history to win the King Clancy Memorial Trophy. He was named the award’s recipient following the 2016-17 season, when Werenski was a standout rookie.
The Blue Jackets play the Philadelphia Flyers on April 15 at Wells Fargo Center with another chance to extend their playoff hopes.
Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at [email protected] and @BrianHedger.bsky.social
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets nominate Zach Werenski for King Clancy trophy
Continue reading...
The Blue Jackets announced Tuesday that Werenski is the team’s nominee for this year’s King Clancy Memorial Trophy, which is awarded annually to the NHL player, “who best exemplifies leadership on and off the ice, and has made a noteworthy humanitarian contribution to his community."
More: Zach Werenski leading Columbus Blue Jackets with words, points: 'He is all business'
Nominees from all 32 teams are considered by a committee that includes NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, past King Clancy winners and winners of the NHL Foundation Player Award. This is the second year in a row the Blue Jackets nominated Werenski, an alternate captain whose leadership was critical after captain Boone Jenner and alternate captain Erik Gudbranson underwent shoulder surgeries in October.
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While helping the Jackets establish a higher playing standard as a locker room presence, Werenski has put together the best statistical season of his NHL career — setting franchise records that he’d previously held in goals (22), assists (56) and points (78).
Werenski also set a franchise record with a 22-game home point streak that placed him among a select few NHL defensemen who’d eclipsed 20 straight home games with a point. The streak ended in a tie for third-longest in league history with Phil Housley’s 22-game streak for the Buffalo Sabres in 1991-92 and trails only Paul Coffey’s 23-game streak in 1985-86 for the Edmonton Oilers and Bobby Orr’s 25-game streak in 1973-74 for the Boston Bruins.
Werenski also represented the U.S. at the NHL’s 4 Nations Tournament and led all players in scoring with six points on six assists in four games — helping his country advance to overtime of the gold medal game before falling to Canada.
Werenski has also established ties to the Columbus area through community programs, including his “Z-Suite” to give special groups a memorable evening watching the Blue Jackets play from a suite he purchased in 2023. Among the 2,000 children and families who’ve enjoyed a game from the “Z-Suite” were kids battling life-threatening illnesses, military families, first responders, youth hockey players and young people from underserved communities.
You must be registered for see images attach
Werenski’s father, Ken, was a police officer and first responder whose service-oriented profession inspired his son’s involvement in multiple charitable efforts throughout central Ohio.
Nick Foligno, a Blue Jackets’ former captain, is the only player in franchise history to win the King Clancy Memorial Trophy. He was named the award’s recipient following the 2016-17 season, when Werenski was a standout rookie.
The Blue Jackets play the Philadelphia Flyers on April 15 at Wells Fargo Center with another chance to extend their playoff hopes.
Blue Jackets reporter Brian Hedger can be reached at [email protected] and @BrianHedger.bsky.social
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Blue Jackets nominate Zach Werenski for King Clancy trophy
Continue reading...
