Zach Werenski to miss rest of 2022-23 with shoulder injury

The Columbus Blue Jackets have announced that defenseman Zach Werenski has a torn labrum and a separated shoulder and will miss the rest of 2022-23.

The Blue Jackets also announced that defenseman Nick Blankenburg and forwards Sean Kuraly and Jakub Voracek have been placed on injured reserve. The team called up Gavin Bayreuther, Marcus Bjork and David Jiricek on emergency recall from the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters.

Werenski left Columbus’ game during the first period on Thursday against Philadelphia after going for a hit on Travis Konecny. Werenski hit the boards awkwardly and immediately left for the dressing room after 6:03 of ice time.

Werenski, the team’s top defenseman, had three goals and eight points in 13 games for Columbus prior to the injury. He had a career-high 48 points last season, leading the team without Seth Jones for the first time.

Werenski’s injury was to his right shoulder, but he has had left shoulder injuries in the past. He had post-season surgery after the 2017-18 season and again re-injured it during the 2019-20 season.

Together, Werenski and Blankenburg made up the team’s top defensive pairing. That means the Blue Jackets could be forced to use Vladislav Gavrikov and Andrew Peeke as the team’s top pair, unless someone like Jiricek – a first-round pick in 2022 – can step up. You have to imagine the team will be looking for long-term replacements, with Blankenburg out 6-8 weeks himself.