Going into the Four Nations Faceoff break, Blue Jackets’ defenseman Zach Werenski is squarely in the conversation for this year’s Norris Trophy. Colorado’s Cale Makar, Vancouver’s Quinn Hughes, and Werenski are the top three in nearly all statistical categories for NHL defensemen.

Werenski has continued his hot play in Four Nations play. In the USA’s first game against Finland, he recorded three assists in his squad’s 6-1 victory. In the team’s 3-1 win over Canada, which featured three fights in the game’s first nine seconds, Werenski added another assist. His fifth helper came in the USA’s 2-1 loss against Sweden Monday.

His five points leads the United States and is tied for the most among all players in the tournament. Only Canada’s Sidney Crosby also has five points, with a goal and four assists.

The Sweden contest was the least exciting for fans of the Red, White & Blue, and the least important for the team, because the USA had already qualified for Thursday’s championship game in Boston. The opponent will once again be Canada, who defeated Finland Monday to earn the other spot in the title tilt.

The Blue Jackets are back at it this Saturday when they host the Chicago Blackhawks at Nationwide Arena. With 26 games remaining for the CBJ, they find themselves one point out of the last wild card position in the Eastern Conference.