Pondering the Whole Werenski vs Tortorella Defense Thing

Zach Werenski is an elite offensive-defenseman in today’s NHL.

He is, when you consider today’s defenseman — like Brent Burns, Erik Karlsson — are more well-known for their offensive production that lights the lamp, than even their own defense, and especially those that might attest to the definition of a true shutdown d-man. Those that are most noticeable on the ice in keeping the opponents’ lamp dark, than lighting their own.

When you read about the Norris Trophy finalists every year, how many times are the offensive stats what jump off the page?

The kind of the narrative clinging to ‘Z’, lately, more so brought on by his own head coach and the minutes he’s playing as a result, is ringing opposite. In what is now his third NHL season, Werenski has worked himself back from off-season shoulder shoulder surgery for an injury that limited him last season, but only contained him in possibly just how many points he could have scored.

Werenski still had 16 goals, setting an already career-high, but also breaking the goals record by Blue Jackets defenseman in a season. He only missed five games on the season, playing the bulk of the schedule with an injury sustained against the Bruins that occurred Oct. 30 last season.

Through the majority of his two seasons in Columbus, Zach has played the majority of his time on the Blue Jackets top defensive pairing with Seth Jones. But so far this year, Werenski is finding more time on the third pairing, customarily with Scott Harrington.

That’s because John Tortorella wants Werenski to focus more in areas of his game away from the puck. Similar to what has been said regarding Anthony Duclair, and others that might score, but may not be excelling ‘away from the puck.’ Those areas of the game Tortorella deems as important, if not more so, than the offense a player might provide.

Or, it’s accountability as Tortorella will tell you. Regardless of the offensive numbers Duclair and Werenski might be posting, they have to play a full 200-foot game, or learn to check, if you’re playing for Torts.

Seth Jones and Zach Werenski 5v5

Player 1	Player 2	GP	TOI	CF	CA	CF%	FF	FA	FF%	SF	SA	SF%	GF	GA	GF%	SCF	SCA	SCF%	HDCF	HDCA	HDCF%	HDGF	HDGA	HDGF%	On-Ice SH%	On-Ice SV%	PDO	Off. Zone Faceoffs	Neu. Zone Faceoffs	Def. Zone Faceoffs	Off. Zone Faceoff %
Zach Werenski	Seth Jones	16	136:25	131	141	48.16	108	109	49.77	73	83	46.79	7	7	50	59	63	48.36	30	31	49.18	4	3	57.14	9.59	91.57	1.012	69	53	55	55.65
Zach Werenski	w/o Seth Jones	23	248:55	225	260	46.39	186	191	49.34	138	135	50.55	11	11	50	102	119	46.15	37	44	45.68	6	5	54.55	7.97	91.85	0.998	83	86	56	59.71
w/o Zach Werenski	Seth Jones	16	167:12	166	166	50	133	121	52.36	94	81	53.71	7	4	63.64	92	79	53.8	35	31	53.03	2	4	33.33	7.45	95.06	1.025	45	57	69	39.47
w/o Zach Werenski	w/o Seth Jones	23	550:03	526	533	49.67	400	397	50.19	297	292	50.42	29	26	52.73	250	225	52.63	110	91	54.73	18	16	52.94	9.76	91.1	1.009	172	207	185	48.18

Before Saturday’s game against Pittsburgh, there was this quote from Werenski about new defensive partner, Scott Harrington.

What does Harrington allow Werenski to do in his game?

"I think it allows me to take more control of my own game. Sometimes when you play with Jonesy, you can kind of get lost just watching him. I think I take more pride in playing better now." #CBJ

— Mark Scheig (@markscheig) November 24, 2018

Scott Harrington and Zach Werenski 5v5

Player 1	Player 2	GP	TOI	CF	CA	CF%	FF	FA	FF%	SF	SA	SF%	GF	GA	GF%	SCF	SCA	SCF%	HDCF	HDCA	HDCF%	HDGF	HDGA	HDGF%	MDCF	MDCA	MDCF%	MDGF	MDGA	MDGF%	LDCF	LDCA	LDCF%	LDGF	LDGA	LDGF%	On-Ice SH%	On-Ice SV%	PDO	Off. Zone Faceoffs	Neu. Zone Faceoffs	Def. Zone Faceoffs	Off. Zone Faceoff %
Zach Werenski	Scott Harrington	19	65:34	55	75	42.31	42	52	44.68	35	38	47.95	3	4	42.86	26	35	42.62	7	9	43.75	1	1	50	19	26	42.22	2	3	40	26	30	46.43	0	0	-	8.57	89.47	0.98	18	27	13	58.06
Zach Werenski	w/o Scott Harrington	23	319:46	301	326	48.01	252	248	50.4	176	180	49.44	15	14	51.72	135	147	47.87	60	66	47.62	9	7	56.25	75	81	48.08	5	5	50	142	144	49.65	1	2	33.33	8.52	92.22	1.007	134	112	98	57.76
w/o Zach Werenski	Scott Harrington	19	121:21	103	151	40.55	79	123	39.11	54	94	36.49	6	2	75	51	71	41.8	23	35	39.66	2	2	50	28	36	43.75	2	0	100	39	69	36.11	2	0	100	11.11	97.87	1.09	34	53	33	50.75
w/o Zach Werenski	w/o Scott Harrington	23	595:54	589	548	51.8	454	395	53.47	337	279	54.71	30	28	51.72	291	233	55.53	122	87	58.37	18	18	50	169	146	53.65	7	7	50	229	253	47.51	4	3	57.14	8.9	89.96	0.989	183	211	221	45.3

Recently, we discussed the possibility of trading Werenski for William Nylander. Or really, just threw the idea out there. It’s not going to happen. But anyway, for the record, no, I would not look to trade Werenski.

Forget the fact he’s still working his way back from off-season shoulder surgery, and will likely take some time to get into the natural flock of playing a physical hockey game on a nightly basis, the kid is still just 21-years-old.

The core, beyond its regulars, is not deep beyond Seth Jones, Ryan Murray, David Savard, and Werenski.

Not that you couldn’t use another skilled forward in Nylander, but the Jackets’ offense is not a problem (3.35 GF/GP). Though he could be considered a replacement of sorts for the potential UFA departure of Artemi Panarin, Werenski is not the man to move in facilitating such a trade.

I’ve been trying to figure out the best way to really evaluate the defensive aspect of a defenseman in the NHL. Is it simply how many goals the opponent is able to score when that defenseman and pair is on the ice?

Sure, that’s the most basic intrinsic way to put a number on it. Or probably, more specific, it would be evaluating the CF%. If the opponent has the puck more than the defense, that’s a problem.

By paring Jones with Werenski, is Jones simply covering up the defensive-inefficiencies of Werenski? Is it tough-love demoting Werenski in hopes he can shore up his own defensive deficiencies as opposed to sacrificing that aspect of the game if he can make up for it with his offensive contribution?

Is Tortorella’s mindset, a defensive philosophy of the game, and what he deems important enough to place emphasis on in his hockey players, even if it means demoting said player, simply an outdated model in today’s NHL?

All offense and no defense make hockey a dull game?

Obviously not but play along.

Last season in 5v5 play, the pair of Jones and Werenski on the ice contributed towards 53 goals for and 37 against, with a 55.23 CF%. You also figure into the equation that when you are prone to scoring, and setting up offensively, you will undoubtedly leave your man or space open when jumping into the offensive play. The Harrington-Werenski combo probably isn’t long to last forever.

Back in August, NHL.com listed their top 20 NHL defenseman in the game, with Jones listed 6th overall, and Werenski, 12th. So far this season, Tortorella is finding a teaching moment for Werenski on the third pairing, which, in Torts’ eyes, is said to help find his confidence. Ironically, in Werenski wanting the puck more.

Marc Scheig went into detail recently regarding the new-look defense and some of the results paying off.

Said Jones on playing with Murray:

“He gives me the confidence to make plays. It’s a pleasure to play with him. He’s solid. He’s smart. He really never finds himself out of position. He’s always there for me.”

Seth Jones and Ryan Murray 5v5

Player 1	Player 2	GP	TOI	CF	CA	CF%	FF	FA	FF%	SF	SA	SF%	GF	GA	GF%	SCF	SCA	SCF%	HDCF	HDCA	HDCF%	HDGF	HDGA	HDGF%	MDCF	MDCA	MDCF%	MDGF	MDGA	MDGF%	LDCF	LDCA	LDCF%	LDGF	LDGA	LDGF%	On-Ice SH%	On-Ice SV%	PDO	Off. Zone Faceoffs	Neu. Zone Faceoffs	Def. Zone Faceoffs	Off. Zone Faceoff %
Seth Jones	Ryan Murray	16	145:58	135	150	47.37	105	108	49.3	74	70	51.39	7	4	63.64	76	71	51.7	32	29	52.46	2	4	33.33	44	42	51.16	3	0	100	44	64	40.74	1	0	100	9.46	94.29	1.037	45	55	63	41.67
Seth Jones	w/o Ryan Murray	16	157:39	162	157	50.78	136	122	52.71	93	94	49.73	7	7	50	75	71	51.37	33	33	50	4	3	57.14	42	38	52.5	3	3	50	77	72	51.68	0	1	0	7.53	92.55	1.001	69	55	61	53.08
w/o Seth Jones	Ryan Murray	23	253:37	279	223	55.58	220	168	56.7	156	125	55.52	18	17	51.43	141	87	61.84	61	30	67.03	12	9	57.14	80	57	58.39	4	7	36.36	111	109	50.45	2	1	66.67	11.54	86.4	0.979	90	85	93	49.18
w/o Seth Jones	w/o Ryan Murray	23	545:19	472	570	45.3	366	420	46.56	279	302	48.02	22	20	52.38	211	257	45.09	86	105	45.03	12	12	50	125	152	45.13	6	5	54.55	204	251	44.84	4	3	57.14	7.89	93.38	1.013	165	208	148	52.72

Still, as Adam Gretz back in October points out, the contributions formed by Jones and Werenski since 2016-17 — such as outscoring opponents 102-76 to date — are hard to ignore. We’ll see what sticks as the season plays on.

What do you see?