Sharks’ Kiefer Sherwood & Alex Wennberg Molded by Columbus Roots

Sherwood got his NHL start in March 2018 when he signed an entry-level contract with the Ducks. But it wasn’t until he got to Vancouver when things really started to take off for him.

It was with the Canucks that Sherwood recorded his first hat tricks. He also became known league-wide as the hits king. He recorded 462 hits which set a record for a single season.

It was Sherwood’s overall game that appealed to the Sharks. His $5.75 million cap hit is the biggest single-season cap hit of any player born in Columbus.

Sherwood gave credit to the players from Columbus that came before him that helped make the way for him and others that will soon follow.

“I owe a lot of credit to the guys that came before me and kind of paved that path,” Sherwood said. “The Connor Murphy’s. The Sean Kuraly’s. The Jack Roslovic’s. They paved the way. For me, a late bloomer, took a little longer to make it. You see the growth of the game here in Columbus and am super proud to be a part of it. And just super grateful for the opportunities that Columbus hockey has given me and many others. Each summer we come back, it seems like the game is growing more and more.”

“You see the interest and the passion from local hockey just continue to grow. Each time you go to the rink, and see just how much the kids are looking forward to it now. You got the battery and all these different programs too, obviously the Triple-A program. It’s just great to see how the game continues to build. Just to have a little part of that is something that’s kind of cool when you look back at things.”

Sherwood’s development path that led him to the pros fully took place in Ohio. Beside his time with the AAA Blue Jackets, he spent time in Cleveland, played his USHL hockey with the Youngstown Phantoms and played his college hockey at Miami (OH). But it was his Columbus roots that molded him into who he is today. He’s just the latest example of just how far hockey in Columbus has grown.

Wennberg’s Growth Since Columbus

While Wennberg took a much different path to get to the Sharks, it was his time in Columbus that ultimately helped him get to where he is today. It didn’t start in the most ideal way.

After the Blue Jackets made Wennberg their first-round pick in 2013, big things were expected. Many were hoping he’d be the long-awaited first-line center the team never really had before.

Wennberg got to 59 points in his third season while breaking out as a playmaker. But it went downhill from there. It ultimately led to him being bought out by the Blue Jackets when there was an opportunity to do so thanks to his age.

That’s when Wennberg had to prove himself to stay in the league. The Florida Panthers gave him that chance. He scored a career-high 17 goals. He then went to Seattle for parts of the next three years before being dealt to the New York Rangers.

Wennberg then signed with the Sharks last season. Now in season two, he’s put together the second-best season of his career with 45 points in 69 games going into Saturday’s game.

Like Sherwood, Wennberg had to evaluate if he saw himself as part of the solution with the Sharks. Given that he wears an A for them now plus his success, he saw the fit and signed on the dotted line.

“I feel like it could be a good fit for me as a mentor,” Wennberg said. “But also for me, I feel like I’ve taken a step in the right direction to be a better player as well to improve defensively and get more involved offensively. I like the city and just the way the organization is going. I am looking forward to the opportunity.”

If there was one thing Wennberg could relate to, it was how the young Sharks’ stars are dealing with being a high first-round pick. He was that but didn’t meet the expectations the Blue Jackets were hoping to get from him.

Wennberg now hopes to use his experience from the Blue Jackets to help the Macklin Celebrini’s, Will Smith’s, William Eklund’s and Michael Misa’s of the world learn and adjust to the NHL.

“The first year is tough. You’re coming in. There’s a lot of expectation. You have the pressure to be a centerman but to hold up defensively as well. So it’s just to pass on the knowledge. I had guys. Ryan Johansen helped me a ton when I came to Columbus. Nick Foligno also. I feel like it’s important to someone to lean on a little bit to help you through those bumps in your first season. I try to be myself but just pass on the knowledge.”

Wennberg has had time to reflect since the buyout took place. To this day, he still has nothing but positive thoughts and memories about his time with the Blue Jackets. He was able to take the disappointment of the end of his time in Columbus and turn it into a lesson learned and now a new opportunity to make a difference on an up and coming team in the Sharks.

“(Columbus) is where I started my career. I have so many good friends and teammates that came from that as well,” Wennberg said. “There’s nothing bad about this. You go through some tough times but you just got to learn from it and do better. So what it did, I got the opportunity from Florida. I feel like I made the most of that. Then after that, just try to build on it. For me, maybe it took a little bit longer to adjust to the game and find what type of player I wanted to be. It feels right now I’m finding my steps and know what to expect from me and what to bring every night. I feel like that makes me more confident in my game as well.”

Sherwood and Wennberg are now both important parts of the Sharks. While their journeys were different and full of twists and turns along the way, one thing remains a constant. Their Columbus roots molded them into who they are today.

Sherwood grew up in Columbus. Wennberg grew up and learned important lessons with the Blue Jackets. Their careers just prove once again how strong Columbus hockey has become. The momentum isn’t slowing down anytime soon.