“I forgot how much fun winning was": Zach Werenski sets his sights higher with Columbus Blue Jackets following breakout season

Zach Werenski’s hunger for winning has reached a new level after a year filled with personal milestones and international glory. Following his best NHL season to date with the Columbus Blue Jackets and a gold medal performance at the 2025 IIHF World Championship with Team USA, Zach Werenski isn’t just looking for accolades—he wants to bring a Stanley Cup run to Columbus.

International success drives Zach Werenski's push for a playoff breakthrough in Columbus

Winning fever struck close to home for Zach Werenski in two poignant moments this off-season. The 27-year-old was at the center of a surprising Blue Jackets season that had the team one victory from a playoff spot. But instead of dwelling on how close they got, Werenski's focus already is on what comes next—and just how much higher the team can reach.“I forgot how much fun winning was,” said Werenski. “I won the Calder (Cup) when I first signed out of college (with AHL Cleveland in 2016), but I didn’t really understand then what it meant to win and how hard it was."

That pang was compounded when he saw his old teammates Sergei Bobrovsky and Seth Jones hoist the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers. It was Florida's second consecutive championship and third year in a row to appear in the Finals—a streak that caused Werenski to think about what it would take to do something similar in Columbus. The Blue Jackets’ 2024–25 season was a major step forward. Werenski posted career highs across the board—23 goals, 59 assists, and 82 points—and earned top-three Norris Trophy consideration.

He finished seventh in Hart Trophy voting and served as the team’s emotional and tactical anchor.

Still, there are questions. Can this young core develop into a tested contender? Is the defense, outside of Werenski, deep enough? Will the goaltending be consistent? Werenski feels the answers are in the culture they've established. Now back in offseason training mode—and in July, he has a wedding to attend—Zach Werenski is already looking ahead to Team USA's Olympic camp next month and, more significantly, a bigger year in Columbus.Also read: Zach Werenski and Odette Peters are soaking up sun-kissed luxury in AthensFor the Columbus Blue Jackets and their foundation defenseman, the next move isn't merely getting into the playoffs—it's constructing a roster that can at last pursue the Cup.