Just in: New York Rangers acquire another 29-year old top-tier passer from Seattle Kraken

According to various sources, the New York Rangers have secured center Alex Wennberg from the Seattle Kraken. Emily Kaplan from ESPN broke the news of the Wennberg trade on Wednesday afternoon amidst a busy trade deadline period.

The Kraken agreed to retain 50 percent of Wennberg’s remaining salary for the 2023-24 season and obtained two draft picks in return: the Rangers’ own 2024 second-round pick and the Dallas Stars’ 2025 fourth-round pick. Frank Seravalli from Daily Faceoff was the first to report the details of the exchange.

Wennberg, aged 29, has recorded nine goals and 25 points in 60 games with the Kraken this season. He initially joined Seattle as a free agent signing prior to the team’s inaugural 2021-22 campaign.

Full trade, per sources:

To #NYR: Alex Wennberg (50% retained)
To #SeaKraken: 2024 2nd Rd Pick, 2025 DAL 4th Rd Pick

Forgot to properly credit: @emilymkaplan first on the deal.

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) March 6, 2024

The Columbus Blue Jackets drafted Wennberg in the first round (No. 14 overall) of the 2013 NHL Draft. Standing at 6’2″, the center made his NHL debut with the Blue Jackets during the 2014-15 season.

For the initial six seasons of his NHL career, Wennberg played in Columbus after signing a significant six-year, $4.9 million average annual value (AAV) contract with the team in 2017. The Blue Jackets later bought out his contract three years later, leading Wennberg to join the Florida Panthers on a one-year deal.

Following a productive season in Florida, Wennberg inked a three-year, $4.5 million contract with the Kraken, where he was expected to contribute in the team’s middle-six forward rotation. During his three-year stint in Seattle, Wennberg amassed exactly 100 points across 222 games.

In his NHL career spanning 693 games over ten seasons with the Blue Jackets, Panthers, and Kraken, Wennberg has accumulated 90 goals and 330 points. The Swedish player from Stockholm has also recorded seven goals and 17 points in 42 playoff appearances.

With the latest transactions, the Kraken now hold nine picks in the upcoming 2024 NHL Draft – including six of their picks, except for their fifth-rounder, along with the Rangers’ second-rounder, Toronto’s third-rounder, and Calgary’s seventh-rounder.