COLUMBUS, Ohio — All that matters, at least for now, is that Zach Werenski and the Columbus Blue Jackets are back in each other’s good graces. The saga of the past two weeks behind them, they can resume their summers and start building momentum toward the 2026-27 season.But one of the strangest interludes in this franchise’s history — do you realize how strong a statement that is? — demands explanation beyond the statements that Werenski and Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell released on Wednesday after reaching their accord.Waddell met with the media on Thursday after the club wrapped up its annual development camp in Nationwide Arena, and he made it clear — or tried to — that Werenski is committed to winning with the Blue Jackets and wants to remain in Columbus.“There weren’t miscommunications between me and him and his agent (Judd Moldaver),” Waddell said. “When the media — nothing against the media — but when they get involved sometimes, there’s a lot of speculation about what’s going on. I’ve met with Zach multiple times and talked to his agent many, many times. It wasn’t a situation that we were on different pages by any means, as far as working against each other.”The fact remains, however, that the Blue Jackets agreed to trade Werenski to the Dallas Stars on Tuesday. The only reason the trade didn’t go through is because Werenski invoked the no-move clause that’s written into his contract.It took Werenski only an hour to decide that he didn’t want to be traded to the Stars, Waddell said. And it had nothing to do with the city of Dallas or the Stars, who are one of the top clubs in the NHL’s Western Conference.Werenski made it clear to Waddell, he said, that he didn’t want to leave Columbus.“The end result is, this is what we wanted,” Waddell said. “We didn’t want to see Zach go anywhere.“When it came time to make a decision, he made it very clear to me — very directly and very passionately — that he wanted to be a Blue Jacket. He’s been here (in Columbus) for 10 years and he wanted to remain here. So that was music to my ears.”Still, that climactic scene in the saga was dramatic enough to prompt a meeting on Wednesday morning, and Waddell included Rick Nash in the discussion.Could there be a better participant than Nash? One of the top players in franchise history, he now works for the club as director of player personnel, so of course he wants to keep the reigning Norris Trophy winner on the roster.But Nash also is familiar with the seat that Werenski now occupies as the Blue Jackets’ top player, most recognizable face, etc. Nash faced enormous public scorn when he requested a trade by the Jackets at the 2012 trade deadline. While Werenski did not ask for a trade, he, like Nash, faced a tidal wave of vitriol and criticism on social media from scorned Blue Jackets fans.Waddell made it seem as if Werenski did most of the talking.“I can’t say enough good things about how the conversation went,” Waddell said. “Zach led the conversation and made it real clear that he’s committed here, wants to play here, and wants to win here. It was outstanding, if I’m being honest with you.”Werenski has declined to speak with the media other than the statement he released through the club on Wednesday.Waddell has said repeatedly that Werenski never asked for a trade. He also didn’t tell Waddell definitively that he wasn’t going to sign an extension with the Blue Jackets when his current contract ends after the 2027-28 season. But it was articulated that Waddell can’t expect Werenski to endure too many more non-playoff seasons before his patience wears thin.“What we talked about is, Zach wants to be here,” Waddell said. “He wants to win here. We want to win here. Our fans have been great. They deserve a team that wins here. We’re going to worry about this year, put the best team on the ice we can, and get back in the playoffs.”Waddell traded for top-six winger Valeri Nichushkin and signed fourth-line winger Ryan Lomberg as a free agent. Veteran forwards Boone Jenner (Washington) and Mason Marchment (San Jose) were allowed to walk via free agency.Are those the kind of big moves that will be necessary to keep this Werenski story from surfacing again one year from now? If the Blue Jackets don’t play well next season, it won’t even take that long for the questions to surface again. Imagine what the trade deadline would be like if the Blue Jackets were once again out of playoff contention.Werenski and the Blue Jackets can’t extend his contract until he enters the final year of the deal, which happens on July 1, 2027. Another change occurs on that date, too: Werenski’s full no-move clause turns into a modified no-trade list, in which Werenski can pick 10 teams to which he would not approve a trade.What we have learned definitively in the past two weeks is something we already could have surmised. The urgency to push this organization forward from the rebuilding process that began in 2021 has never been stronger than now.And the reigning Norris Trophy winner is leading the push.Jul 2, 2026Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports terms