Columbus Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski Plays Reduced Role in U.S. Olympic Hockey Debut

Werenski assists in U.S. win over Latvia but sees limited ice time as team faces Denmark next

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Zach Werenski, the star defenseman for the Columbus Blue Jackets, made his Olympic debut for the U.S. men's hockey team in a 5-1 victory over Latvia. However, despite his impressive NHL resume, Werenski was relegated to a reduced role, skating on the third defensive pairing and the second power play unit. The U.S. team, led by head coach Mike Sullivan and including former Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella, opted to utilize Werenski in a less prominent way compared to his usual playing time with the Blue Jackets.

Why it matters

Werenski's limited role on the U.S. Olympic team has raised questions about the team's strategy and player selection, especially given Werenski's status as a Norris Trophy candidate and one of the NHL's top defensemen. If the U.S. fails to medal, Werenski's underutilization could be a major point of criticism for USA Hockey's preference for "grit" and "sandpaper" players over elite talent.

The details

In the U.S. team's opening 5-1 win over Latvia, Werenski recorded an assist and had three of the team's 38 shots. However, he skated just 17:15 on 21 shifts, the second-lowest among U.S. defensemen. The only player who saw fewer shifts was Vegas Golden Knights' Noah Hanifin, who was designated the extra/seventh defender. Werenski is also playing on the second power play unit, with Minnesota Wild's Quinn Hughes as the top unit's quarterback.

  • Werenski made his Olympic debut for the U.S. team in the 5-1 victory over Latvia on February 13, 2026.
  • The U.S. team will face Denmark in a Group C preliminary round game on February 14, 2026 at 3:10 p.m. ET.

The players

Zach Werenski

A star defenseman for the Columbus Blue Jackets who is making his third appearance for the U.S. national team in the past calendar year, including leading all scorers at the NHL's first 4 Nations Face-Off last February and helping the U.S. win gold at the 2025 men's world championships.

Mike Sullivan

The head coach of the U.S. men's hockey team at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics.

John Tortorella

A member of the U.S. men's hockey team coaching staff who previously served as the head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

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What’s next

The U.S. team will face Denmark in a Group C preliminary round game on February 14, 2026 at 3:10 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast live on USA Network and available for livestream on Peacock and NBCOlympics.com.

The takeaway

Zach Werenski's reduced role on the U.S. Olympic hockey team, despite his status as one of the NHL's elite defensemen, raises questions about the team's strategy and player selection. If the U.S. fails to medal, Werenski's underutilization could be a major point of criticism for USA Hockey's preference for "grit" and "sandpaper" players over top talent.