Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski threw the NHL trade market into flux on Tuesday after vetoing a proposed deal to the Dallas Stars.
The failed deal marks the second time in less than a week that the Stars have had a trade fall apart. On Thursday, it was reported that forward Jason Robertson, a restricted free agent, declined a sign-and-trade framework with the Seattle Kraken.
According to The Athletic’s Chris Johnston, who first broke the news, Werenski declined a trade possibility by executing the no-movement clause included in his contract to block the move.
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“Sources say Zach Werenski was presented with a trade option to a team he’s unwilling to waive his NMC for,” Johnston reported. “His CBJ situation seems to be devolving.”
At that point, the team trading for Werenski was unknown. That changed with a follow-up report from TSN’s Darren Dreger, who revealed that Dallas was the team involved in the proposed deal.
“I believe Dallas was team that stepped up and presented a trade option CBJ was willing to work with,” Dreger said. “Sounds like Werenski’s preference is to stay east.”
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman added further context later, clarifying two things about Werenski’s stance on a possible trade and his future in Columbus.
“Werenski’s decision appears to indicate two things: that his preference — for now — is the Eastern Conference, and that the relationship between player and the Blue Jackets is falling apart in what could be its final days,” Friedman reported.
The collapsed deal, per Friedman, included defenseman Thomas Harley as the centerpiece heading to Columbus, a package the Blue Jackets were prepared to accept before Werenski’s veto.
Johnston shared a new update nearing midnight on Tuesday, indicating that the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Tampa Bay Lightning are the leading landing spots Werenski would approve, confirming Friedman's initial report about his preference to remain in the Eastern Conference.
For the Maple Leafs, who had a horrid season last year and missed the playoffs, this is great and unexpected news amid an offseason of change in Toronto. The Leafs could try to pull off a trade for one of the best NHL defenders shortly after landing the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, winger Gavin McKenna, to load up the forward corps.
A 28-year-old blueliner coming off a Norris Trophy-winning season, Werenski scored 81 points in 75 regular-season games last season, split into 22 goals and 59 assists. Werenski is under contract through 2028 with an annual cap hit of $9.58 million.
