With Blue Jacketsâ Zach Werenski out, will David Jiricek get a bigger role on defense?
COLUMBUS, Ohio â The Columbus Blue Jackets learned last season what it was like to play without defenseman Zach Werenski. It wasnât pretty.
On Thursday, the Blue Jackets didnât announce any diagnosis on Werenski, who got his legs tangled with New Jersey forward Ondrej Palat midway through the second period on Wednesday and fell awkwardly to the ice. He crawled part of the way to the bench and needed help to get off the ice.
But what Blue Jackets coach Pascal Vincent would reveal regarding Werenski after a brief practice in Nationwide Arena could be considered a mixed bag.
Werenski, the Blue Jacketsâ top point-producer and one of the NHLâs top offensive defensemen, will miss a decent chunk of the season. But he wonât miss the rest of the season, as he did last season after suffering a shoulder injury in November that required surgery.
âItâs not going to be day-to-day,â Vincent said. âMost likely itâs going to be week-to-week. How many weeks, I donât know. But thatâs where weâre at.â
Werenski appeared to suffer an injury to his left knee or ankle, as he put no weight on his left leg as he was helped to the dressing room.
On a personal level, this is the continuation of unimaginably bad luck early in Werenskiâs career. He missed the final 69 games of last season (shoulder), the final 14 games of 2020-21 with a sports hernia, and the final two games of a first-round playoff series vs. Pittsburgh in 2016-17.
Without Werenski last season, the Blue Jackets went 21-39-9. They also allowed a franchise-record 329 goals, second only to Anaheim (335) in the NHL.
As for the impact on the Blue Jacketsâ lineup, thatâll be significant in at least two ways.
First, it will elevate either Ivan Provorov or Damon Severson to the top pair in Werenskiâs left-side spot, a luxury the Blue Jackets didnât have last season when Werenski went down.
The Blue Jackets acquired Provorov and Severson in trades last summer to buttress their top four, so Werenskiâs absence might not be quite so devastating.
Werenskiâs absence might also force Vincent to start playing rookie David Jiricek heavier minutes, perhaps even on the power play, on which he played extensively back home in Czechia and last season when he made his North American arrival playing for AHL Cleveland.
In Thursdayâs practice, Severson had switched from the right side to the left side and settled into Werenskiâs spot on the top pair. Jiricek, strictly a right-side player, was on his side, perhaps an indication that thatâll be the top pair on Friday vs. Toronto.
Jiricek, 20, has 1-8-9 in 30 games, putting him fourth in the NHL among rookie defensemen in scoring. But to this point, heâs played only 14 minutes, 13 seconds, per game. Thatâs 25th among rookie blueliners.
In Wednesdayâs loss in New Jersey, Jiricek played only 13:35, despite the fact that the Jackets were down a defenseman (Werenski) for more than half the game.
âHeâs playing really well right now,â Vincent said. âWeâre putting him in a position to succeed. Sometimes we donât need to give him more, just be steady in what weâre giving him right now, build that confidence. Heâs made some really good plays offensively.
âThis young man is just growing and growing and growing. He doesnât need to do more. He just needs to understand the (NHL) game, get used to it and feel good about himself. We see it more and more. Itâs not a lack of confidence on our part, itâs making sure we manage the young man.â
Four of Jiricekâs six goals last season in Cleveland were scored on the power play. He also has big one-timer, which could give the Blue Jacketsâ power play, currently 25th in the league at 14.9 percent, a different look.
On Thursday, Vincent said Jiricek would be a consideration on the point.
âWeâll see how it goes,â he said. âWe have Provorov and Severson, right? Jiricek is right there. Eventually, heâs going to see those minutes, but, yeah, thatâs an option. So is Jake Bean.â
The situation on defense without Werenski is similar to what Vincent has faced beginning earlier this month at forward, ever since top center Boone Jenner went down with a broken jaw on Dec. 9. Without Jenner, Vincent has been forced to play rookies Adam Fantilli and Dmitri Voronkov more.
It hasnât been a huge change: Fantilli is playing 16:40 since Jenner went down vs. 15:12 when Jenner was healthy. Voronkovâs numbers are 14:13 vs. 13:01.
But every little bit helps, right? The Blue Jackets have won 11 of 36 games so far this season. Barring a miracle second-half run, theyâre going to miss the playoffs for a fourth straight season. Why not get your young cluster of players some beneficial experience the rest of the way?
The Blue Jackets may get veteran forward Jack Roslovic back for Fridayâs game vs. Toronto. Heâs been out since Nov. 12 with a fractured ankle.
