Alexander Wennberg, Columbus Blue Jackets.
Alexander Wennberg is one of the most interesting players that will take the ice for the Seattle Kraken this season. He was a first-round draft pick by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2013. After six years, a fairly sizeable contract, and a buy-out, he went to the Florida Panthers last season.
Wennberg made the jump to the NHL for the 2014-15 season from Frolunda in Sweden. His rookie season was nothing special but solid for a player adjusting to the North American game. The following two seasons were very impressive, with him putting up 40 points in 69 games and 59 points in 80 games, respectively.
Coming off of his career year in 2016-17, Columbus signed Wennberg to a six-year contract with a cap hit of just under $5M per season. Immediately, Wennberg’s performances started trending downward as his point total declined annually. Columbus had enough after the 2019-20 season and bought out the remaining three years of the contract.
The biggest critique about Wennberg from both fans and the coaching staff was his hesitance to shoot the puck. While making an extra pass typically isn’t a bad thing, it becomes an issue when a player is passing while he has surefire goals at his fingertips.
Although Wennberg doesn’t have a phenomenal shot, it’s certainly serviceable at the NHL level. His lack of shooting seemed mainly like a confidence issue. He had more faith in his teammates to score goals than in his own ability to put the puck in the net.
A defensive-minded playmaking center is a great asset for any team; however, their effectiveness is minimalized when the defense knows exactly what he’ll do with the puck on his stick. Opponents practically dared him to shoot by laying off him and defending his teammates.
After his buy-out, Wennberg hit the open free agent market for the first time. Former Blue Jackets Assistant General Manager Bill Zito filled the Panthers’ GM opening and immediately reunited with the center.
Wennberg’s contract with Florida was only a one-year deal and came with a much lower cap hit. But it was another chance to show that he could compete at the NHL level. It was a prove-it deal, and for the most part, he did.
With Florida, Wennberg scored a career-high in goals (17) and was on a decent pace for points (29 in 56 games). It was also the first time in his NHL career that he scored more goals than assists. For the first time in a while, he was comfortable with his shot. Additionally, the pivot came close to winning 50 percent of his faceoffs for the first time in the NHL. He won 388 of 788 draws (49.2 percent).
Wenneberg’s resurgence was one of the reasons why Florida made only their second trip to the playoffs since 2012. Once his contract expired following the 2021 Stanley Cup Finals, the 27-year-old was again a free agent. Next stop, the Emerald City.
Once free agency opened, the Swedish forward took a risk and signed with the brand new Seattle Kraken. His current contract is similar to the one he signed with Columbus, however much shorter. Kraken General Manager Ron Francis gave Wennberg a three-year deal with a cap hit of $4.5M per year. The Kraken is in a difficult position with this contract simply because it’s a gamble.
If they get the Wennberg that Columbus saw from 2017 to 2020, the contract is an albatross. If they get a revitalized Wennberg as Florida had last season, he could be a solid middle-six forward.
With that being said, this is the time when an organization should take these gambles. During a franchise’s first season, there are very few expectations. Although Seattle fans want them to replicate what Vegas did their first season, it’s not likely to happen.
Points aren’t everything with a player like Wennberg, though. He’s a great defender who can improve his team’s penalty kill, but he’s also an entertaining playmaker. Fans may get frustrated watching him pass when he has a clean shot; it’ll never be because it’s a bad pass but rather because it was the wrong call at the time.
It is also worth noting, from all previous accounts Wennberg appears to be a popular player in locker rooms. A good presence won’t make up entirely for less than stellar play; however, it’s something that needs to be considered. Whether or not Seattle gets a great player with Wennberg remains to be seen. At the very least, they’ve signed someone who seems to be an ideal teammate.
How do you feel about Alexander Wennberg on the Seattle Kraken? Let us know in the comments section below or on social media.