Zach Werenski Named Masterton Nominee By Columbus Chapter Of PHWA

The Columbus Chapter of the PHWA has nominated Zach Werenski for the Masterton Memorial Trophy. Aaron Portzline of The Athletic, who is also the local Chapter's chair, announced the nomination on X today.

Zach Werenski came back this season after suffering a horrific shoulder injury last season. He separated his shoulder and tore his labrum against the Flyers, thus ending his season. His season ended with him getting 8 points in 13 games.

The video below details his injury and his road to recovery. I highly recommend that you watch it. 

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Not7-3cuj7Y[/embed]

Werenski has come back from two shoulder surgeries now. The first one being in May of 2018. He was able to come back from that surgery, play in all 82 games the next season, and total 44 points. After his latest shoulder surgery in December of 2022, there was no doubt that Werenski was going to come back in a big way. He has 49 points in 64 games this season. He's back. 

Unfortunately for Zach, he has had to miss some time this season due to injury. In game 1 of the season, Garnet Hathaway took a cheap shot on Werenski behind the net, scaring Werenski and leaving the crowd at Nationwide Arena both stunned and speechless. In the "Behind the Battle" episode above, Werenski was mic'd up. After a play, he told his teammates on the ice, "I think Hathaway is gonna try to kill me over there." Just seconds later, Hathaway put a knee-on-knee hit on Werenski that left him sprawling on the ice and in serious pain. He was able to be helped off, and thankfully later it was diagnosed as a quad contusion, and nothing serious. Werenski missed the following two games but then came back against Calgary and immediately made an impact, scoring two points. 

This season Zach Werenski, despite missing 12 games, has been able to bounce back after a serious injury and not only be the Werenski of old, but much better. He has set career highs in both assists and points. He's moved into second all-time for assists by any player, 1st all-time in goals, assists, and points by a defenseman, tied for most points in a game by a defenseman with 4, and is 8 points away from most points in a season by a blueliner. He has owned the record for most goals in a season by a defenseman since 2020. If not for the 12 games he missed, he would most likely have the single-season record already. 

Zach Werenski has also taken huge steps in the leadership aspect of his game as well. His teammates love him, and after games, especially losses, he is the first one to say what went wrong, and that they need to be better. Over the years, Werenski has gone from the quiet youngster on the team to the vocal veteran. When he signed his long-term extension a few years back, fans were wondering if he would be named Captain after he signed, but even he knew he wasn't ready for that, commenting in his presser that he knows he isn't the most vocal guy. But just a couple years later, he is now that guy. It's possible that Zach Werenski could be the Captain of this team in a few years.

Congrats to Zach Werenski on being nominated for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. 

What's Next - John Tortorella brings his Philadelphia Flyers into Nationwide Arena on Saturday night.

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