Few hockey players can dare dream about the year Zach Werenski just wrapped up.
Let's first go back to May 2025. That's when Werenski won gold with Team USA in the IIHF World Championship, a 1-0 overtime win over Switzerland, marking USA's first gold since 1933. Werenski had six points (one goal, five assists) in seven games.
Of course, Werenski and Team USA followed that up with Olympic gold in February with a 2-1 overtime win over Team Canada.
Jack Hughes' golden goal. Werenski with the golden assist.
It took all of 1:41 into the extra time to end the tension, including 46 years of waiting to be golden again.
A game in which USA goaltender Connor Hellebuyck stood on his head, making 41 saves, to give the Americans a chance. Everything came down to sudden death and Werenski, all while fighting off Nathan MacKinnon for puck possession, to be able to find Hughes for the feed and the goal to solidify USA's first Olympic gold in men's hockey since 1980.
Werenski had six points (one goal, five assists) in the Olympics.
Those gold medal feats are already enough to last a lifetime. Never mind being an NHL superstar and being one of the very best players at his position in the sport.
Werenski's Wonderful Year
- May 25, 2025: Wins gold with Team USA at IIHF World Championship
- Feb. 26, 2026: Golden assist helps Team USA capture gold at Olympics
- May 6, 2026: Werenski and wife, Odette, have a baby boy
- June 2, 2026: Wins Norris
A finalist for the Norris trophy a year ago, Cale Makar came away with the top prize for NHL defensemen. Werenski finished second in what was a breakout year for the Blue Jacket, setting several career highs with 82 points, 23 goals, and 59 assists.
In that season, Werenski had a 22-game point streak, tied for the third best in NHL history (Phil Housley) by a defenseman. This season, he had a 16-game home point streak.
After an encore season in 2025-26 in which Werenski recorded 81 points, 22 goals, and 59 assists, he was named a finalist once again for the Norris on May 7, alongside the two-time winner, Cale Makar, and Rasmus Dahlin. We stacked up Werenski's 81-point campaign against Makar and Dahlin.
As they posted on social media this afternoon, Zach Werenski and his wife Odette are now parents to Hudson Charles Werenski.
— 1st Ohio Battery (@1stOhioBattery) May 10, 2026
Hudson was born Wednesday, and it sounds like all are doing healthy and happy. pic.twitter.com/aVJPZQ9aN5
In the middle of winning gold on the ice, trying to lead the Blue Jackets into the playoffs, and playing Norris-caliber hockey, Werenski and his wife, Odette, announced the birth of their baby boy, Hudson Charles Werenski, on May 6.
On June 2, it was announced that Werenski was the winner of the Norris in a surprise announcement in front of friends and family. The video below shows how the momentous occasion occurred.
It was quite a whirlwind year for No. 8, and there's plenty left to accomplish in Columbus. Now's the time to check that box.
