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Zach Werenski News
The Blue Jackets have activated Zach Werenski (shoulder) from IR.

This is surprising. The Blue Jackets announced that Werenski will miss one month with a sprained AC joint just over two weeks ago, but activating him from IR suggests he will play tonight in Detroit. The 22-year-old is a Michigan native, so he will be playing in front of family if he is in the lineup and comes in with 16 points (6G / 10A) in 26 games this season.

Zach Werenski
Werenski will miss one month with a sprained AC joint.

Werenski left Saturday's game with a shoulder injury and the Blue Jackets announced on Sunday that he'll be out for at least four weeks. Werenski's injury leaves the Blue Jackets with six healthy defensemen, so look for them to call someone up from Cleveland (AHL) before Tuesday's game. Don't expect to see Werenski until late-December/early-January.

Zach Werenski
The Blue Jackets have re-signed Zach Werenski to a three-year contract worth $15 million ($5.0M AAV).

Werenski has been excellent since breaking into the NHL in 2017, scoring double-digit goals in all three seasons and 40-plus points in two out of three. Overall, he is 11th among defensemen in goals (27) and 24th in points (81) over that span.

Zach Werenski