#WerenskiWatch?

Ah, the few weeks after the NHL draft and free agency when, while the big squads take a break, the CHL and NCAA continue their eternal battle over talent. Last year, the Jackets were at the forefront as top pick Sonny Milano decided to forgo his commitment to Boston College and join the Plymouth Whalers of the OHL. It appears the Jackets could be at it again as 2015 first round pick Zach Werenski has the same option. What’s unique for the University of Michigan sophomore is that this time his rights are owned by a team with a reputation for getting top talent to head north of the border – the London Knights (instead of the team the Carolina Hurricanes liked to use as a junior farm club).

The noise around this situation started with what I would call a subtweet from Aaron Portzline that ended up quoted by Jeff Cox of SBNation College Hockey stating he’s heard concern of Werenski leaving Michigan with the Jackets giving the nudge towards London,  (last year it was believed the club left Sonny to make his own choice).

Some people think this is in response to Mike Reilly spurning the CBJ for free agency well…no, let’s take a look at the two. I almost bored you with all the legal mumbo jumbo from the NHL CBA but I decided not to. In the most fundamental terms, let’s look at the two players, Werenski and Reilly. When Mike Reilly was drafted he was a 5’6″ 156 pound high school student, whereas Zach tips the scales at 6’2″ 206 pounds and was the top defenseman on the always strong Michigan Wolverines (relevant to any option for free agency is the draft age and source as well as NHL readiness).  Don’t take this as bashing Reilly, as that’s not what I’m doing here, but it’s also relevent to realize it took Mike four years to become the offensive force he was. By comparison, do you really think Werenski is four years away?  (Again, free agent status-wise, number of years spent before going pro and number of years in college matters).

This degree of readiness within the player made me think within seconds of Zach going eighth overall that London would be calling, in part because they’ve done it before. Two years ago they got Canadians first round pick Michael McCarron to go to London instead of Western Michigan. Also important to note, the Knights have a tendency at the OHL draft of selecting players no matter if they have intentions of playing NCAA or with the U.S. National Development Program before going the NCAA route like two players they’ve added this summer (projected top 2016 picks Max Jones and Keith Tkachuk’s son Matthew).

Zach’s decision could come as late as the pre-season or mid-season as happened with the Knights in 2006 with Ohio State d-man Kevin Montgomery when he made his final choice 17 games into the season. Should Zach opt to go to the OHL, he wouldn’t be the first player to leave school after one season. The Jackets’ own Kevin Connauton left school for the Vancouver Giants after one season and Conn Smythe winner Duncan Keith left Michigan State midway through his sophomore year.

You may be wondering which option I think is better for Zach, and my opinion is…either. That’s right, in my opinion it really doesn’t matter to me which team he plays for. At Michigan, we have more chances to keep a close eye on him while he plays for one of the greatest of all time in Head Coach Red Berenson along with Undergraduate Assistant Coach/ex NHLer Mike Komisarek who Zach has said has been extremely valuable. 

Should he choose the Knights, in London he’ll be joining a team that never really has to rebuild they just reload. Zach would join a blueline that includes 2016 draft prospect Victor Mete and Stars draft pick Chris Martenet along with freshly drafted Finnish import Olli Joulevi. He’d also be joining a roster with the newest Jackets’ prospect, Kole Sherwood.

Also worth considering, the Knights have a history of developing NHL defenseman with Ex Jacket Marc Methot and Penguins Olli Maata as noted alumni. Another positive factor for London is it’s a more NHL style schedule. The team plays 68 games instead of the 37 matches Werenski would see in Ann Arbor. 

It will be interesting to watch this decision play out over the next few weeks, possibly months. As you can see, both avenues have very positive factors to them. If the Jackets are indeed steering Zach on a certain route, I have confidence in the front office staff the team has in place to trust that Zach’s development will be on the right path to lead him to the NHL.