Blue Jackets’ Zach Werenski breaks franchise record for most assists

Columbus Blue Jackets’ defenseman Zach Werenski passed Rick Nash on the franchise’s all-time assists record on Sunday against the New York Rangers.

Werenski achieved the feat five minutes into their Sunday matinee against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden, assisting on Justin Danforth’s first period goal.

Nash, who spent 10 seasons with the Blue Jackets and is now the director of hockey operations for Columbus, released a prerecorded statement through the team after Werenski accomplished the feat.

“Zach, I want to congratulate you on becoming the all-time Columbus Blue Jacket leader in assists,” Nash said in a prepared video statement. “I couldn’t think of a better guy to pass my record, a true Blue Jacket.”

Werenski has 20 goals and 47 assists for 67 points while averaging 26:58 in 62 games this season.

Now in his ninth NHL season, Werenski has 110 goals and 259 assists for 369 points in 548 career regular-season games.

Before turning professional, Werenski spent two seasons playing college hockey at the University of Michigan, scoring 20 goals and 41 assists for 61 points in 69 games. Internationally, he played for the U.S. Under-20 team twice, scoring three goals and eight assists for 11 points in 12 games.

He also represented the U.S. in February’s 4 Nations Face-Off, recording six assists in four games

Going into Sunday’s game, the Blue Jackets are 30-24-8 with 68 points, but they’ve lost two straight and were 4-5-1 in their last 10 games.