Following the Expansion Draft, the Seattle Kraken had questions upfront, as well as a ton of cap space. They used some of that cap space and have added a solid centre in free agency today. The Kraken signed unrestricted free agent centre Alexander Wennberg to a three-year deal today. The deal is worth $13.5 million, or $4.5 million AAV.
Welcome to SEA-town!
The #SeaKraken have agreed to terms with @AlexWennberg on a 3 year contract ($4.5M AAV). pic.twitter.com/65RLEN3iHv
— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) July 28, 2021
Alexander Wennberg Signs With the Seattle Kraken
Over his seven-year NHL career Wennberg has played for the Florida Panthers, and Columbus Blue Jackets. He has put up 57 goals and 173 assists for 230 career points in 471 career NHL games. He was originally drafted in the first round, 14th overall of the 2013 NHL draft by the Blue Jackets.
Last season, with the Panthers, he scored 17 goals and 12 assists for 29 points in 56 games. He also added eight minutes in penalties. His possession numbers were 49.8 percent Corsi and a relative Corsi of -5.0. Wennberg was used in a heavy defensive role, playing against opponents’ top lines.
Wennberg had one goal and one assist for two points in the Panthers first-round loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. He has made the Stanley Cup Playoffs four times in his career. In 28 career Stanley Cup Playoff games Wennberg has scored five goals and five assists for 10 points.
Wennberg joins Yanni Gourde, Jared McCann, Calle Jarnkrok, Mason Appleton, and Colin Blackwell as centre options on the Kraken. This addition is important as centre was arguably the Kraken’s weakest position following the Expansion Draft. The Kraken also took Matty Beniers with the second overall pick in the NHL Draft but the 18-year-old is expected to spend another year in college.
Main Photo:
SUNRISE, FL – FEBRUARY 05: Alexander Wennberg #21 of the Florida Panthers skates with the puck after taking it away from Dante Fabbro #57 of the Nashville Predators at the BB&T Center on February 5, 2021 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Joel Auerbach/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
