From the official NHL release:
BLUE JACKETS’ WERENSKI NAMED
ROOKIE OF THE MONTH FOR NOVEMBER
NEW YORK (Dec. 1, 2016) – Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski, who led rookie blueliners and shared third place among all first-year players with 3-7—10 in 14 games, has been named the NHL’s Rookie of the Month for November.
Werenski edged Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Matt Murray (7-2-0, 2.02 GAA, .929 SV%, 1 SO), Toronto Maple Leafs center Mitch Marner (6-7—13 in 14 GP), Winnipeg Jets right wing Patrik Laine (7-4—11 in 16 GP), Colorado Avalanche right wing Mikko Rantanen (3-7—10 in 14 GP) and New York Rangers defenseman Brady Skjei (0-9—9 in 15 GP) for the honor.
Werenski, the eighth overall selection in the 2015 NHL Draft, registered at least one point in eight of his 14 appearances, including a pair of two-assist efforts to open the month (Nov. 1 vs. DAL and Nov. 4 vs. MTL). He also scored the overtime winner Nov. 9 vs. ANA, becoming the first rookie defenseman in franchise history to achieve the feat.
Werenski, who spent the past two seasons at the University of Michigan, paces rookie defensemen and ranks fifth among all first-year players with 5-11—16 in 21 total games in 2016-17. He joins Toronto Maple Leafs center William Nylander (October) as a Rookie of the Month winner this season.
