By Geoff Baker / The Seattle Times
SEATTLE — One day after the Kraken completed a strong, last-ditch bid to remain in playoff contention, the team has traded original member Alex Wennberg to the New York Rangers for a second-round draft pick this summer and a fourth-rounder next year.
The Kraken will also retain 50% of Wennberg’s salary.
The deal was announced Wednesday.
The Swedish native, selected from the Florida Panthers in the July 2021 expansion draft, had nine goals and 16 assists this season while seeing ample special-teams play. A dearth of available centers on the short-term rental market meant multiple NHL teams were vying for the services of the 29-year-old pending unrestricted free agent.
With the Kraken believed to be on the verge of promoting AHL centerman Shane Wright, their No. 4 overall draft pick in 2022, the moving of Wennberg frees up a roster spot for a player the team was not expected to keep beyond this season.
The move comes as the Kraken remained on the fringes of Western Conference wild-card contention with a road victory Tuesday night over the Winnipeg Jets following Monday’s win over the Calgary Flames. That left the Kraken six points behind Nashville and Vegas, holders of the conference’s two wild-card positions — with games remaining against both teams. The Golden Knights visit Climate Pledge Arena next Tuesday.
The Kraken also have a game in hand against Nashville, which they play host to March 16.
Trading Wennberg was always a strong possibility regardless of whether the Kraken remained in the race, namely because the team would like to get Wright up to the NHL playing center. Another possible trade commodity with an in-house replacement is defenseman Justin Schultz, also an unrestricted free agent whose lineup presence has been limiting the use of rookie defenseman Ryker Evans.
But dealing Schultz became more complicated Monday when defenseman Vince Dunn was injured on a check from behind into the boards by Calgary forward Martin Pospisil.
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