Report: Canucks have inquired with Sharks about centre Alex Wennberg

In a market where there really aren’t many centres available, the Vancouver Canucks look to be turning to a division foe for reinforcements.

According to The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta, the Canucks have inquired about the availability of San Jose Sharks centreman Alex Wennberg.

“While a move is not yet believed to be imminent, Canucks GM Patrik Allvin is scouring the market for help at the dot and Wennberg is considered at option, though he is not the only player the Canucks are believed to have checked in on.”

Wennberg signed a two-year, $10 million contract with the San Jose Sharks on July 1, 2024, with an average annual value of $5 million. In his first season in San Jose, the Swedish centre scored 10 goals and 35 points with a minus-21 rating while averaging 18:51 minutes of ice time in 77 regular-season games. Through six games this season, Wennberg has scored one goal and two assists with a minus-seven rating. He is currently skating between Jeff Skinner and William Eklund on the Sharks’ second line.

The 31-year-old was originally drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets 14th overall in the 2013 NHL draft. His best year came in the 2016-17 season, where Wennberg scored 13 goals and 46 assists for 59 points in 80 games. This breakout season earned him a healthy raise, as he signed a six-year, $29.4 million contract with a $4.9 million cap hit to stay in Columbus. However, his numbers began to taper off, leading to the Blue Jackets buying him out in 2020.

During that offseason, Wennberg signed a one-year, $2.25 million contract with the Florida Panthers in 2020. He bounced back in the Sunshine State, scoring a career-high 17 goals in 56 games.

That season revitalized his career and earned him a three-year, $13.5 million contract with the Seattle Kraken, the new expansion franchise, in 2021, carrying a $4.5 million average annual value. At the tail end of that three-year contract, Wennberg was traded to the New York Rangers for a playoff run, where he scored just one goal and two points in 16 postseason games.