Chris Johnston talked about why the Toronto Maple Leafs never got their trade done for Zach Werenski, even though the Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman said he would want to move there.

Chris was speaking on his podcast, the Chris Johnston Show, on July 2 and said Columbus did not like what the Maple Leafs or the Tampa Bay Lightning had to offer for Werenski.

"Columbus never liked either of whatever those teams [Toronto and Tampa] could put on the table," Johnston said. "It was basically presented to Zach as it's Dallas or Columbus."

It all started on June 30, when Werenski used his no-movement clause to block a trade to the Dallas Stars. That deal would have sent defenseman Thomas Harley to Columbus.

"He was willing to go to Toronto and Tampa," added Johnston in the same podcast. "They didn't have something like Thomas Harley to offer up."

Werenski wanted to stay in the Eastern Conference, so Toronto and Tampa Bay became the only teams he was willing to join.

This shows how important Harley’s role was in setting Columbus' expectations. Once general manager Don Waddell saw potential in an NHL defenseman in the Dallas offer, there were smaller deals that no longer looked as good, even from teams Werenski liked.

Toronto's biggest trade was with forward Matthew Knies, who was discussed alongside Werenski for weeks. Tampa Bay had already cleared up the cap space, just in case a deal came together. 

But no team, according to Johnston, offered a player as good as Harley. Without that kind of return, Columbus did not have much to make a deal, even if Werenski approved.

Werenski Committed to Columbus

With no trade happening with Toronto or Tampa Bay, things settled down fast for Werenski. His agent, Judd Moldaver, and Waddell talked on July 1 about what happened with the blocked trade with Dallas. Later, both sides released statements saying Werenski would stay with the Blue Jackets.

Both of them agreed that Waddell would look into all the trade options and bring any offer back to Werenski. Once the Dallas trade was called off, Werenski told the team that he wanted to stay. Blue Jackets' official account posted on X on July 1.

"It has been my home for the past 10 years, and I have always been proud to be a Blue Jacket," Werenski said in his statement. He also added that he wants to help the team make it to the playoffs after falling short in the last two years.

Werenski is under contract till 2027-28 and cannot sign an extension until July 1, 2027. He just finished the best season yet, with 22 goals and 81 points in 75 games, plus his first Norris Trophy and an Olympic gold medal with Team USA.

He has spent his entire career with the team. For now, Columbus plans to rebuild and improve around him rather than trading him away.

Will Werenski lead the Blue Jackets to their first playoffs? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Aadhya Nalla

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar