Blue Jackets face summer trade window for Werenski and Marchenko

Zach Werenski, the Blue Jackets’ first Norris Trophy winner, told the club through agents last week he will not sign an extension.

Trade options narrow quickly

Columbus general manager Don Waddell spent the draft weekend gauging Werenski’s market value after TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reported the 28-year-old defenseman’s reluctance. Werenski’s current deal runs through 2028, giving the Jackets two full seasons of control before his no-movement clause converts to a 10-team list.

LeBrun outlined three paths in The Athletic: move Werenski immediately, wait until next summer, or let the contract expire. The first route yields the highest return while the third leaves Columbus empty-handed.

Werenski’s Norris win and two-year remaining term set a baseline of at least a first-round pick plus a top prospect, according to multiple teams that inquired during draft week.

Marchenko’s restricted free agency adds pressure

Kirill Marchenko, 25, informed his representatives he also will not extend before becoming an RFA with arbitration rights next July. Weekes reported the winger’s camp seeks an average annual value near the $11 million cap hit Pavel Dorofeyev secured with the Rangers on a seven-year deal.

Marchenko currently carries a $3.85 million AAV and remains under team control through 2027-28. LeBrun stated Marchenko has not requested a trade and the Blue Jackets have no plans to move him.

Several clubs, including the Montreal Canadiens, have expressed interest should Waddell reverse course. That interest creates indirect leverage for the Jackets in any Werenski discussions.

Roster timeline shifts

The dual signals arrive while Columbus hoped to push for the playoffs in 2026-27. Retaining both players through next season keeps the lineup intact but guarantees future cap and asset loss.

Waddell can still reject offers below his threshold and retain Werenski for one more year. That choice, however, compresses the decision window into the 2027 offseason when the 10-team list activates.

Marchenko’s continued presence next season adds 82 games of production at a below-market rate before his next contract negotiation. Any extension he eventually signs elsewhere will cost Columbus draft capital only if he is traded first.

The combination leaves the Blue Jackets with one clear summer window to convert elite talent into future assets before both stars depart in 2028.