Zach Werenski

That's how much Zach Werenski will count against the salary cap for the next six seasons after signing an extension last July. According to capfriendly.com, Werenski will be the third highest-paid defenseman in the NHL, behind only Erik Karlsson and Drew Doughty, and the highest-paid player in Blue Jackets history based on average annual value (AAV).

This morning, the Blue Jackets took to the ice at Nationwide Arena prior to their final home game of the season (and penultimate game of the 2021-22 regular season). Tonight's matchup is a rematch with the Tampa Bay Lightning, who defeated Columbus 4-1 on Tuesday at Amalie Arena. The Lightning are gearing up for a playoff run where they'll try to win a third consecutive Stanley Cup – and Jon Cooper's team enters this matchup on fire. Tampa's riding a four-game winning streak with a 7-2-1 record in its last 10 games.

Werenski sustained a broken nose and won't be available for the Jackets' final two games of the season, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports Thursday. Werenski was just one game back from a previous upper-body issue and will now be sidelined again due to his broken nose. With Nick Blankenburg (upper body) also on the shelf, Jake Bean should see an uptick in ice time. For his part, Werenski will see his campaign come to a close having recorded a career-high 48 points in 68 games and should be capable of offering top-end fantasy value heading into 2022-23.

Werenski (upper body) will be in action against Tampa Bay on Tuesday, Blue Jackets team reporter Jeff Svoboda reports. Werenski missed the previous three games due to his upper-body injury but will rejoin the lineup for the first time since April 17 against Anaheim. In addition to rejoining the top pairing, Werenski figures to be back on the No. 1 power-play unit where he has generated 13 of his 47 points this year. As such, Werenski figures to once again be a top-end fantasy target for the club's last three games.

The Columbus Blue Jackets have languished without Patrik Laine, dropping three straight games, but with only four contests left on the docket and nothing left to play for, there may be no need to bring him back before the end of the season. The same is true for Zach Werenski,...

Werenski (upper body) won't be in the lineup for Friday's game versus the Senators, Blue Jackets team reporter Jeff Svoboda reports. Werenski will miss a second straight contest with his upper-body injury. At this point it isn't clear if Werenski will be ready to return before Columbus' last game of the season next Friday against the Penguins.

Werenski (upper body) won't be available for Tuesday's game against San Jose, Blue Jackets team reporter Jeff Svoboda reports. Werenski will miss at least one contest with the upper-body injury he suffered during Sunday's loss to the Ducks. Another update on the 24-year-old defender should surface prior to Friday's game versus Ottawa.

Werenski (upper body) will not return to Sunday's tilt with Anaheim. Werenski logged just 1:23 of ice time before exiting Sunday's game. The 24-year-old has 47 points through 67 games, tying the career high he set during his 2016-17 rookie campaign. An update on his status should be available ahead of Tuesday's matchup against the Sharks.

Zach Werenski is on the verge of posting his best offensive season with the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 24-year old has posted 11-36-47 in just 64 games this year, identically matching his final season statistics from his rookie season in 2016-17 in which he played 78 games. Werenski came into...

Werenski dished out three assists to go with six shots on goal and five blocked shots in Saturday's 5-4 overtime win over the Red Wings. Werenski failed to light the lamp himself, but he was all over the ice in this one. The offensively gifted blueliner assisted on two of Jack Roslovic's three goals, including the overtime winner. Werenski raised his season point total to 47, tying the career-high mark he set as a rookie in 2016-17.

According to Craig Merz of the NHL's website, Werenski will return to the lineup for Monday's home game against the Boston Bruins. "It was a clean hit," Werenski explained about the incident that sidelined him. The 24-year-old added he probably could've taken the ice for what became Saturday's 5-2 loss to Boston but said "there is no need to kind of rush back into things" because Columbus is a whopping 15 points behind the Washington Capitals in the race for the conference's final wild-card playoff berth.

Werenski scored his 11th goal of the season in Monday's 3-2 overtime loss to the Bruins. Making his return from a three-game absence due to an upper-body injury, Werenski earned the Blue jackets a point by tying the score at 2-2 late in the second period, going top shelf on Linus Ullmark from the faceoff circle after a slick pass from behind the net by Jakub Voracek. Werenski has been productive over the last month despite the injury, racking up three goals and 10 points over his last 12 games.

Werenski (upper body) will be in the lineup against the Bruins on Monday, Blue Jackets team reporter Jeff Svoboda reports. Prior to Werenski's three-game absence due to his upper-body injury, the defenseman was tearing it up with two goals and seven assists in his last 11 contests, including a trio of power-play points. The 24-year-old Michigan native should jump right back into the top pairing and No. 1 unit with the man advantage.

Werenski (upper body) won't travel with the team for its upcoming two-game road trip, Brian Hedger of The Columbus Dispatch reports. Werenski will miss Thursday's game versus the Islanders and Saturday's matchup with Boston, but he has yet to be ruled out of Monday's rematch with the Bruins. Vladislav Gavrikov will likely continue to skate on the top pairing until Werenski is ready to return.

Werenski (upper body) won't play Tuesday versus the Islanders, Mark Scheig of The Hockey Writers reports. Werenski will miss at least one contest with the upper-body injury he suffered during Saturday's loss to the Wild. The 24-year-old defender, who's racked up 42 points through 60 games this campaign, will be reevaluated ahead of Thursday's rematch with the Isles.

Werenski is considered day-to-day due to his upper-body injury ahead of Tuesday's matchup with the Islanders, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports. Werenski is currently stuck in a seven-game goal drought despite having recorded 23 shots over the stretch. The 24-year-old blueliner did pick up six helpers in those seven contests, including two with the man advantage. If Werenski does miss out, it could mean a significant uptick in ice time for Adam Boqvist, who was scratched for Saturday's contest.

Werenski (upper body) won't return to Saturday's game versus the Wild. Werenski took a hard hit from Jacob Middleton in the first period, with the latter's helmet appearing to hit the former in the head. The 24-year-old Werenski is the Blue Jackets' top defenseman, so any absence for him is significant. There will likely be an update on his status prior to Tuesday's game versus the Islanders.

Werenski recorded a power-play assist, three shots on goal, two blocked shots and a minus-2 rating in Friday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Jets. Werenski has kept the offense on simmer lately with two goals and seven helpers in his last 10 outings. He set up Oliver Bjorkstrand's third-period equalizer to force overtime in Friday's contest. Werenski is up to 42 points (13 on the power play), 193 shots, 87 blocks and a minus-13 rating in 59 appearances. He's got a good chance to surpass his career high of 47 points from his 78-game rookie season.