The saga ends: Werenski stays, Marchenko leaves?
The star defenseman vetoed the trade and remains in Columbus. Don Waddell had to step down, but Marchenko's future is uncertain.
Zach Werenski, the winner of the 2025/26 NHL defenseman trophy, has finally put an end to debate about his departure after weeks of nervous speculation, announcing that he is staying with the Columbus Blue Jackets. General manager Don Waddell publicly acknowledged that he was actively considering trades to rebuild the roster and acquire draft picks, but ran into a bulletproof wall in the form of Werenski's no-trade clause. The defender used it to its full extent, prioritized the pursuit of victory in the current jersey and blocked any move elsewhere, thus de facto forcing the leadership to retreat.
