The Seattle Kraken trades Alex Wennberg to the New York Rangers, enhancing the team’s depth with strategic draft picks.
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- Alex Wennberg has been traded from the Seattle Kraken to the New York Rangers.
- The trade includes a second-round draft pick in 2024 and a fourth-round pick in 2025, with Seattle retaining 50% of Wennberg’s salary.
- Wennberg is expected to serve as the No. 3 center for the Rangers, enhancing the team’s depth down the middle.
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Kraken Trade Alex Wennberg to Rangers
The Seattle Kraken have decided to trade Alex Wennberg to the New York Rangers. This exchange includes a second-round draft pick in 2024 and a fourth-round pick in 2025. Seattle has agreed to retain 50% of Wennberg’s salary for this transaction.
Trade call was just completed. Alex Wennberg traded to the Rangers.
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) March 6, 2024
Wennberg’s Journey and Impact
Selected as the No. 16 first-round pick by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2014, 29-year-old Wennberg has had a distinguished 10-year NHL career, with stints in Columbus, Florida, and Seattle. His versatility as a second-line center, known for reliability in all game situations and faceoff circle efficiency, has been his hallmark.
Alex Wennberg is more of a passer than a shooter, but with the right deployment could be a very effective 3C and PK’er in New York. pic.twitter.com/hy7qwjVBWo
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) March 6, 2024
Despite the Kraken reaching the second round of the 2023 NHL playoffs in their second season, their performance has dipped this year, landing them fifth in the Pacific Division with a 28-23-11 record.
Wennberg’s Role with the Rangers
Wennberg is expected to join the Rangers as their No. 3 center, providing the team with the much-needed depth down the middle rather than high-end skill. Wennberg has showcased his versatility from top penalty-killing forward, playing on the power play, to taking the majority of faceoffs for Seattle. However, with the Rangers, his focus will shift to anchoring a third line that complements the team’s top six, embodying the 200-foot center the Rangers sought.
With Seattle absorbing half of Wennberg’s $4.5-million cap hit, the Rangers now enjoy approximately $2.9 million in cap space. This financial flexibility could increase with potential lineup adjustments, including adding another forward and possibly sending down waiver-exempt rookies currently on the roster.
Future Prospects for the Rangers
The Rangers’ quest for enhancement doesn’t end with Wennberg. They are reportedly still searching for a top-six wing, especially for the right side. With their first-round picks for this and the next year still in hand, targets like Anaheim forward Frank Vatrano and Pittsburgh wing Jake Guentzel remain potential acquisitions, depending on negotiations.
Moreover, the Rangers might look for a depth, left-shot defenseman, prioritizing forward additions with Wennberg’s acquisition now setting a new strategic direction for the team.
