As expected, Alex Wennberg has been traded by the Seattle Kraken. We’ve expected this to be the outcome for a while, and this move became a foregone conclusion when the team held Wennberg out of the lineup Monday and Tuesday for “trade-related reasons.” The only questions left to answer were: A.) Where would he end up? And B.) What would Seattle get back for him?
Those questions are now answered. For Wennberg, the Kraken received a second-round pick in 2024 and fourth-round pick in 2025 (DAL) from the New York Rangers. Seattle also retained 50 percent of Wennberg’s salary.
The Swedish center has been a fixture for the Kraken, playing 222 games for Seattle since signing as a free agent prior to the franchise’s inaugural season. He only missed two games during his time with the Kraken and racked up exactly 100 points. Only Adam Larsson has played more games in franchise history.
Wennberg was a key piece
Alex Wennberg was relied upon in all game situations and led all Kraken forwards with an average ice time of 18:25 per game over his three seasons.
The versatile center came to Seattle after signing a $13.5-million deal just after the Expansion Draft in July, 2021. This is a key point to think about when remembering Wennberg’s time in Seattle, because he chose to be one of the team’s first players and helped develop a hard-working culture for the organization.
Personally, I had hoped Wennberg would re-sign in Seattle. But since a deal had not been inked yet, it was becoming less and less likely the Kraken would be able to bring him back. So, general manager Ron Francis decided it was best to make a move and recoup what he could, the right decision in the end.
Since Wennberg got pulled from the lineup before Monday’s game in Calgary, Jared McCann has stepped into the role of second-line center and has done an outstanding job through two games, scoring five points, including two short-handed tallies and three assists. Shane Wright is waiting in the wings in Coachella Valley, and we would guess he’ll spend some time with the Kraken before the season is done.
Digging into Kraken lore, Wennberg was a key contributor to the Kraken’s first ever playoff victory against the Colorado Avalanche on April 18, 2023. Although Wennberg excels defensively, he had a two-point performance that night, including the game-winner and an assist. Wennberg was named the first star and helped set the tone for the series, which the Kraken went on to win in seven games.
Here are a couple other fun plays Wennberg made recently, just because…
On the defensive side of the ice, Wennberg led the team in both takeaways at 178 and takeaways minus giveaways at 96. “Best friend of the Pod,” Alison Lukan, wrote a great article on this topic last year.
Wennberg will be missed for his solid play on the boards, quick hands with the puck, defensive reliability, and occasional no-bucket warm-ups (you knew his hair was on point if he came out without a helmet). The penalty killing specialist led the franchise in blocked shots for forwards with 172, which was 33 more than Brandon Tanev, who was in second place. Blocking that many shots and only missing two games in three seasons is an impressive feat.
If you have consistently read Sound Of Hockey articles, you will know that the we are pro-Wennberg, and that his contributions will be missed. We wish Alex Wennberg all best with the New York Rangers. We definitely will be watching (and perhaps shedding a tear) when Wennberg makes a return appearance to Climate Pledge Arena.
This return feels underwhelming considering the other trades happening and the salary retention. Basically a 3rd and 5th based on where the Rangers are likely to pick.
Do we think his market dried up after the Avs moves?
I think ‘yes’. I believe there were four centers for five spots, but Middlestat changed that.
Kraken had to get something for him, but this return seems light considering what other, seemingly lesser forwards were getting on the market. Perhaps other franchises aren’t as convinced that Wennberg is as good as SOH thinks he is, and that it shouldn’t take hundreds of words to explain why and how.
How dare you, Boist. How dare you.
With the first round picks being thrown around for other centers, I was hoping for more. At the same time a second and an additional pick was always the expected return.
Avalanche and Oilers both locked up centers, which only left the Rangers. I don’t know if it dried up really, as Rangers were leading the rumor mill for Wennberg the past few days.
Not bad, not great.
It looks like when the music stopped, the only seat left for Seattle was in New York.
I think the Sabres getting into the market hurt the Kraken.
By the way… the NYR fourth is actually a Stars pick… either way it’s somewhere around 120th overall.
After what we’ve seen the last couple games, if this is it, I don’t think this is a “hard” sell.
Yep, you are correct it is a Dallas Conditional pick:
Conditions: The condition follows a previous trade. If Nils Lundkvist earns 55 cumulative points over the 2022-23 and 2023-24 regular seasons, the pick upgrades to Dallas’ 2025 3rd round pick.
Lundkvist is sitting at 31 points, so almost no chance this upgrades to a third-round pick. It is a 2025 pick though, so it will depend on if Dallas remains strong next year or not.
One other thing I think is worth mentioning…
I have heard multiple different accounts of the upcoming draft “dropping off a cliff” after the top twenty. Very obviously it would be ideal to get the first, but I don’t feel like this is a huge missed opportunity simply because Francis only got “fair value” for an impending UFA.
Go Kraken!!!
Write only has 5 games left before we lose his eligibility for year like Manny did. I do not expect him up unless it is an emergency. They have McCormick in the AHL and he plays hard and can score. I like the way the Kraken played the last 2 games without Wenneberg. We will see how this plays out as they move forward. If we can’t make the playoffs then I say trade all UFA’s as we can and stock up on 2025 draft picks. On a side note about the Coachella Firebirds is that I expect another stron push from them for the Calder and possible revenge with Hershey this year.
I was not right in typing Write and should have been Wright, right?
This team lacks top-end talent. Maybe their native 2nd and 3rd round picks can be packaged to move up higher into first round. Their prospects in the minors seem decent but more like replacement level talent.
With season ticket holders 3-year commitment expiring they’ll need to do SOMETHING to recapture the buzz they generated from last year’s playoff run. I sense (based on the large volume of resale tickets available online) that fans are seriously disillusioned given the combination of sub-par performance and grotesquely priced season tickets. Once they’re gone, it will take years to win them back, leaving them at a serious disadvantage once the NBA returns….
Still a couple years off, but the prospects in Juniors are performing very well:
Jagger Firkus – 108 points leads all of CHL
David Goyette – 98 points leads the OHL
Carson Rehkopf – 50 goals leads the OHL
Wright looks be ready in the AHL and probably a bit of a hot take, but I expect him to eventually take over the 1C job. Probably not next year and nothing against Beniers. Morrison and Ottavainen are have good seasons as well.
I am also not ready to through in the towel.on this season yet either, Kraken have a decent shot to make the playoffs. Once they can get through the next 2 game, they schedule will become a lot easier.