The Zach Werenski situation in Columbus is getting complicated fast.
Sources told Chris Johnston that Werenski was presented with a trade option he refused to waive his no-movement clause for. His Blue Jackets situation is devolving.
Darren Dreger added Tuesday that Dallas was the team Columbus was willing to work with. But Werenski prefers to stay east.
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That preference eliminates Dallas as a direct destination. It also opens a door that's been quietly building all week.
Chris McCluskey connected the dots Tuesday morning. Dallas had a deal in place for Matthew Knies. Dallas had a deal in place for Werenski. And Werenski is open to Toronto.
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Three-way trade. That's where this is pointing.
The structure would make sense on paper. Columbus gets assets from Dallas. Dallas gets Knies as a Robertson replacement. Toronto gets Werenski, the right-shot defenseman they've been chasing all offseason.
Werenski posted 22 goals and 81 points in 75 games this season at a $9,583,333 cap hit. Toronto allowed 299 goals last season, worst in the Atlantic Division. The need is undeniable.
Toronto's cap math is the last wall standing between them and Werenski
Knies carries a $7,750,000 cap hit and went minus-30 this season. Moving him out creates real space. But absorbing Werenski at $9,583,333 still requires additional surgery on Toronto's books.
Morgan Rielly sits at $7,500,000 and went minus-18 this season. If he's part of the outgoing package in any variation of this deal, the numbers start to work differently.
Werenski never formally requested a trade, Johnston noted. But honest conversations since April tell you everything about where his head is at.
Columbus GM Don Waddell needs return. Dallas needs a center. Toronto needs a defenseman. One call could close all three files at once.
Should the Leafs pull the trigger on a three-way trade to land Zachary Werenski?
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