What Blue Jackets’ Decision To Keep Captaincy Vacant May Say About Zach Werenski’s Future

Strategic Caution or Premature Trade Risk? Insights Into the Blue Jackets’ Captaincy Dilemma and Zach Werenski’s Future

To say the past year has not been kind to the Columbus Blue Jackets would be a major understatement.

They failed to make the Stanley Cup playoffs for a sixth consecutive season, and the off‑season changes orchestrated by GM Don Waddell were ranked by The Hockey News as the sixth‑worst off‑season of any team in the NHL.

For as bleak as the summer proved to be for Columbus, it could not have been worse. Reports indicated that a Zach Werenski trade had nearly been completed with the Dallas Stars before the Norris Trophy winner enforced his no‑trade clause.

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This week, Waddell executed a massive blockbuster trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs, sending Kirill Marchenko to Toronto in a six‑player deal anchored by Matthew Knies.

In fairness, the Knies‑Marchenko swap brought long‑term structural pieces to Columbus, but it also underscored a strategic shift: this season the Blue Jackets chose not to name a captain.

Such a decision reveals consideration around the future of Werenski’s tenure. Had Waddell conferred the captaincy upon Werenski now, only to watch him pursue a trade the following summer—or sooner—it would inflict damage beyond measure on the Blue Jackets’ brand and signal a protracted, painful rebuild.

Compare this to the Detroit Red Wings after former captain Dylan Larkin voiced a desire to leave. Once a model for franchises, the Wings suffered when their installed captain sought to escape the city, even while playing in his own home stadium—a rupture irreparable to the organization’s standing.

Consequently, with residual chances of a Werenski trade lingering, there was no plausible path to awarding him the “C.”

Blue Jackets Must Learn From Canucks’ Mistakes To Keep Werenski

Many clubs bestow the captaincy upon their top talent, mirroring the Boston Bruins’ recent granting of David Pastrnak the honor. Yet for Columbus, patience is preferable; the league is watching to see which players most convincingly demonstrate leadership.

Adam Fantilli, a 21‑year‑old forward who just signed a six‑year contract, appears the most likely candidate to emerge as captain—representing a view of Waddell asking him to earn the privilege rather than dictate it.

Moreover, the Blue Jackets gained a highly promising asset, Matthew Knies, who is slated to serve as an alternate captain moving forward and must prove his ability to thrive within the Metropolis Division as the club seeks improvement.

Even if Werenski demonstrated unwavering commitment to Columbus for the long haul, ceding captaincy would signal trust in him—too soon. Conversely, continued deliberation leaves the possibility open for any player to ascend.

Yet this hesitation underscores considerable hurdles lying ahead for the franchise.

Columbus fans will need to wait patiently before discovering who finally wears the number C. The Knies‑Marchenko acquisition was a message that a younger layer of the roster is being cultivated, and eventually that space will become available to one newcomer. Recognizing the magnitude of the challenges facing the organization is essential.

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