from Nicholas J. Cotsonika of NHL.com,

"We were a young team last year," Werenski said. "We've been a young team all three years I've been in the League. For us to win against one of the best regular-season teams in the history of the NHL, to go out there and not only win but to sweep them and feel like we controlled that series … Obviously we've lost four big pieces of our lineup, but it's at that point now where us young guys, we've got to step up and fill those roles."

The Blue Jackets still have a core of talented players, including Josh Anderson, Cam Atkinson, Pierre-Luc Dubois and Nick Foligno up front and Werenski, Seth Jones and Ryan Murray on the back end. Forward Gustav Nyquist, who went to the Western Conference Final with the San Jose Sharks last season, signed a four-year contract as an unrestricted free agent July 1.

"I think [the UFAs' departures] had nothing to do with the city of Columbus or our fans or anything like that," said Werenski, a restricted free agent himself, whose agent is negotiating with the Blue Jackets. "I just think they were ready for a change, and that's their right. So, you can't be mad at them. But at the end of the day, these are guys who want to be here. We want to win. We're really excited for next season."

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