Werenski cleared to play against Penguins
Although the Blue Jackets have lost one of their top defensemen for an exhibition game Friday night against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the news was somewhat cushioned by the return of another.
In a game expected to feature first-choice lineups from both teams, Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski will appear in his first exhibition game after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery. The 21-year-old was fully cleared for contact Thursday, he said, and is on schedule to be in the opening-night lineup next Thursday at the Detroit Red Wings.
“We’ll have to see how it goes mentally playing without (the brace) but I’m excited to go out there and play hockey and be myself,” Werenski said. “Since the second I got on the ice I’ve felt pretty good. I think the main thing is going to be going out there and trusting that my shoulder is healthy and good to go, taking hits and giving hits.”
It’s been a gradual progression for Werenski, who started with battle drills last week after being held out when camp began. The Jackets will close the preseason Saturday at Chicago, but he might skip that game to further prepare for the regular season.
The Penguins will be Werenski’s first test.
“(It’ll be good) just to get some game action, see him get banged around a little,” coach John Tortorella said. “I think he needs to get banged around. He’s going to see some pretty good speed coming at him. Whenever guys come back from injuries, the last thing to get straightened out is the mental part of it. ‘Am I OK?’
“This will be a good game for him to try to get through.”
Werenski’s return helps to soften the blow of losing Seth Jones, who will miss four to six weeks with a sprained knee.
“I know he was really looking forward to this year to get things going,” Werenski said of Jones. “I was looking forward to going out there and playing with him and being healthy. He’s one of the best defensemen in the league so it’s hard to replace him, but we have a deep D core here.”
Mark Letestu is back for his third stint with the Blue Jackets. On Thursday, the team announced that it signed the nine-year NHL veteran to a one-year, two-way deal that will see him start with Cleveland of the American Hockey League.
Letestu had been in camp with the Florida Panthers but was released Monday. Tortorella said he wasn’t immediately sure where he would fit into the organization but said Letestu will provide leadership.
In parts of five seasons with the Jackets, Letestu has 44 goals and 58 assists in 253 games. He played in all six playoff games last season and had a minus-1 rating without a goal or an assist. He is likely to play Saturday at Chicago, Tortorella said.
Forward Alex Broadhurst is no longer in camp, Tortorella confirmed, and is headed to Cleveland. The Jackets also signed Monsters defenseman Michael Prapavessis to a two-year, entrylevel contract.