{"id":88658,"date":"2020-10-09T14:50:57","date_gmt":"2020-10-09T18:50:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=88658"},"modified":"2020-10-09T14:50:57","modified_gmt":"2020-10-09T18:50:57","slug":"florida-panthers-add-alexander-wennberg-to-lineup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2020\/10\/09\/florida-panthers-add-alexander-wennberg-to-lineup\/","title":{"rendered":"Florida Panthers Add Alexander Wennberg to Lineup"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Florida Panthers<\/a> signed free agent forward\u00a0 Alexander Wennberg<\/a><\/strong> to a one-year contract worth $2.25 million. This contract carries him through the 2020-21 season.<\/p>\n

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Wennberg signs a 1 year deal in Florida. $2.25 mil.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) October 9, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Florida Inks Alexander Wennberg<\/h2>\n

Over his six-year NHL career, Wennberg has played for only the Columbus Blue Jackets<\/a>. In those years, Wennberg has put up 40 goals and 161 assists for 201 career points in 415 career games. He was originally a first-round draft pick. In the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, the Blue Jackets took Wennberg 14th overall.<\/p>\n

During this past season, he scored five goals and 17 assists for 22 points. He also added 16 minutes in penalties. His possession numbers were 49 percent Corsi and a relative Corsi of 1.7.<\/p>\n

What This Means for the Future<\/h3>\n

After a breakout season back during the 2017-17 season. Wennberg recorded 59 points in 80 games. Yet, since then he has not been the same. Just a day after being bought-out by the Blue Jackets. Bill Zito<\/strong> and the Florida Panthers have added more depth to their forwards. With the acquisition of Wennberg, the Panthers have added a nice piece to their centre group. Agreeing on a one-year deal, this is another safe gamble with Wennberg. Zito has continued to add depth and keep contracts to a minimum. Something Tallon could not seem to do.<\/p>\n

With the Blue Jackets buying out Wennberg, they will save close to $4.5 million in cap space. Leaving Columbus with over $14 million in cap space with free agency just starting to heat up.<\/p>\n

The 26-year old Wennberg can play as either the second or third-line centre. At six feet, two inches and 200 pounds; Wennberg also adds some size to the Panthers lineup. With the additions of Wennberg, Carter Verhaeghe<\/a><\/strong>, and Radko Gudas<\/a><\/strong>. The Panthers are looking for versatility and to shed their identity of being an easy team to play against.<\/p>\n

Main Photo:
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>