Zach Werenski just made Columbus Blue Jackets history at Madison Square Garden, setting a new franchise record for career assists.
The milestone came just five minutes into Sunday’s game against the Rangers when he set up Justin Danforth’s first-period goal.
Rick Nash, the previous record holder and now the team’s director of hockey operations, didn’t wait long to congratulate his successor.
“I couldn’t think of a better guy to pass my record, a true Blue Jacket,” Nash said in a video message shared by the team.
Werenski’s been on fire this season, racking up 47 assists and 20 goals in 62 games. He’s also eating up huge minutes on the ice, averaging nearly 27 minutes per game.
It’s pretty amazing when you look at his entire NHL career. In nine seasons, he’s put up 369 points – 110 goals and 259 assists – in 548 games.
Before making it to the pros, Werenski showed his skills at the University of Michigan. In two seasons there, he tallied 61 points in 69 games.
He’s also been a regular on Team USA. He played in two World Junior Championships and just wrapped up the 4 Nations Face-Off in February, where he picked up six assists in four games.
The Blue Jackets could use some of that magic right now. They’re sitting at 30-24-8 with 68 points, but they’ve hit a rough patch lately, dropping their last two games and going 4-5-1 in their last 10.
