The Columbus Blue Jackets blue-liner won the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top defenceman, the league announced on Tuesday.
It’s the American’s first time taking the honour as well as the first Norris in Blue Jackets franchise history.
Werenski, 28, beat out fellow finalists Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche and Rasmus Dahlin of the Buffalo Sabres for the award.
Across 75 games, the Grosse Pointe, Mich., native registered 22 goals and 59 assists, placing him second among NHL defencemen in points (81) behind only Edmonton’s Evan Bouchard.
Werenski, who is the Blue Jackets’ all-time leader in goals, assists and points, becomes the sixth American to claim the Norris, garnering top-five placement on 194 of 198 ballots, including 113 first-place selections, for a total of 1,589 points.
He had a career-high nine-game point streak across January and February, helping key a late-season push that fell just short of the playoffs.
Werenski also won Olympic gold with the U.S. in February in Milan.
Makar finished second in voting (1,191 points), while Dahlin was third (657 points) and Bouchard placed fourth (593 points).
Montreal Canadiens defenceman Lane Hutson finished sixth with 357 points, including three first-place nods.
