Alexander Wennberg facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Alexander Wennberg |
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Wennberg with the Seattle Kraken in 2023
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| Born | 22 September 1994 Nacka, Sweden |
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| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | ||
| Weight | 190 lb (86 kg; 13 st 8 lb) | ||
| Position | Centre | ||
| Shoots | Left | ||
| NHL team Former teams |
San Jose Sharks Djurgårdens IF Frölunda HC Columbus Blue Jackets Florida Panthers Seattle Kraken New York Rangers |
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| National team |  Sweden |
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| NHL Draft | 14th overall, 2013 Columbus Blue Jackets |
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| Playing career | 2011–present | ||
Alexander Wennberg (born 22 September 1994) is a professional ice hockey player from Sweden. He plays as a centre for the San Jose Sharks in the National Hockey League (NHL). Before joining the Sharks, he played for the Columbus Blue Jackets, Florida Panthers, Seattle Kraken, and New York Rangers. The Blue Jackets chose him as the 14th overall pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.
Contents
Playing Hockey
Starting Out in Sweden
Alexander Wennberg began his hockey journey in Sweden. For the 2010–11 season, he joined the under-18 team of Djurgårdens IF. He scored 11 goals and made 23 assists that year.
The next year, he moved up to the team's under-20 group. He also played for Sweden in international tournaments. These included the 2011 U19 World Junior A Challenge. He also played in the 2012 U18 World Junior Championship.
Joining the NHL Draft
Experts ranked Wennberg as one of the top European players. He was eligible for the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. The Columbus Blue Jackets picked him 14th overall. This was a big moment for his career.
In May 2014, he signed his first professional contract. It was a three-year deal with the Blue Jackets. When he joined the team, he wore jersey number 41. He changed his number in his second season.
Playing in the NHL
Time with the Columbus Blue Jackets
Wennberg played his first NHL game on 9 October 2014. It was against the Buffalo Sabres. He also earned his first NHL point in that game. He later scored his first NHL goal on 22 December. This goal came in a game against the Nashville Predators.
The next season was a great one for Wennberg. He played in 80 regular season games. He set new personal bests for goals and assists. He scored 13 goals and made 46 assists. On 1 September 2017, he signed a big new contract. It was for six years and $29.4 million.
During the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs, Wennberg faced a tough moment. He was injured in the first game. His team, the Blue Jackets, got a power play from this. They scored a goal during the power play. The Blue Jackets won that game in overtime.
Moving to the Florida Panthers
On 8 October 2020, Wennberg's contract with the Blue Jackets ended. The Florida Panthers then signed him to a new contract. This happened on 9 October. It was a one-year deal worth $2.25 million.
He had a fresh start with the Panthers. The 2020–21 season was shorter due to the pandemic. Wennberg had a fantastic year. He scored a career-high 17 goals in 56 games. He also added 12 assists. He was known for his strong two-way play. This means he was good at both offense and defense.
Joining the Seattle Kraken
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After his time with the Panthers, Wennberg became a free agent. The Seattle Kraken, a new team, signed him. He joined them on 28 July 2021. His contract was for three years and $13.5 million.
During training camp, Wennberg played on a line with two other Swedish players. These were Calle Järnkrok and Marcus Johansson. Fans quickly called their line the "Swedish House Mafia." This was a fun nickname for the trio.
Playing for the New York Rangers
On 6 March 2024, Wennberg was traded. The Kraken sent him to the New York Rangers. In return, the Kraken received draft picks. These picks included a second-round pick in 2024.
Signing with the San Jose Sharks
In the summer of 2024, Wennberg became a free agent again. He decided to sign a new contract with the San Jose Sharks. It was a two-year deal worth $10 million.
Life Outside Hockey
Alexander Wennberg has a partner named Felicia Weeren. They became parents in September 2021. Their son's name is Rio. They named him after a character from the TV show Money Heist. Alexander and Felicia grew up near each other in Sweden. However, they did not meet until later in life. They both support causes for LGBTQIA+ youth.
In July 2023, Wennberg became very popular on TikTok. This was especially true among a group called "BookTok." The Seattle Kraken even made TikTok videos about him. These videos were meant to connect with BookTok users.
Felicia, his partner, spoke about this attention. She felt it was too much and crossed a line. Wennberg also shared his thoughts online. He asked for "a little respect" for players. He said that "aggressive language about real life players is too much." After this, the Kraken removed their BookTok videos. This showed the importance of respecting athletes and their personal lives.
See Also
- List of Swedish NHL players
Images for kids
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Wennberg with the Seattle Kraken in 2023
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Wennberg with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2014.
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Wennberg with the Kraken in 2023.
