COLUMBUS, Ohio — When the shock began to fade, and Zach Werenski’s eyes could fixate on the Norris Trophy in his hands, he started perusing the names listed on the NHL’s hardware given annually to the league’s top defenseman.The first name that caught his eye was Nicklas Lidstrom, the great Detroit Red Wing, whom Werenski idolized as a boy growing up in Michigan.“It’s not hard to find it, ’cause it’s on there seven times,” Werenski joked. “To do this once is an incredible feeling. To do what (Lidstrom) did, you know … it’s insane.”On Tuesday, Werenski became just the fourth Blue Jackets player to win a major award for his on-ice play, joining goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, who twice won the Vezina Trophy (2012, 2016) as the NHL’s top goalie, forward Rick Nash, who won the Rocket Richard Trophy (most goals in 2004) and goaltender Steve Mason, who won the Calder Trophy (2013) as the top rookie.After finishing as runner-up last season, Werenski earned 113 first-place votes among 198 ballots cast by members of the Pro Hockey Writers’ Association. Colorado’s Cale Makar, who won it last year, finished second, while Buffalo’s Rasmus Dahlin was third.The Blue Jackets were part of a surprise at Werenski’s home, where family and close friends had gathered over Memorial Day weekend. As Werenski spoke to a reporter from NHL.com, the trophy was quietly brought behind him and presented as a surprise.“The only two people who knew were my Odette (his wife) and my brother,” Werenski said. “I was surprised. The best part about it was how surprised my family was. Just seeing their reaction, and everybody’s reaction, that was the best part.”
Blue Jackets’ Zach Werenski honored, awed to join elite list of names on Norris
After finishing as runner-up in Norris voting last season, Zach Werenski earned 113 first-place votes among 198 ballots cast.











