Last year was a career-high goal scoring year for Wennberg (17 goals). You can expect about five shots on goal from him per 60 minutes of even-strength play according to Evoloving-Hockey.com.
But he's also a strong passer. That can be a good thing because his passes generate results. Last season, according to hockey analytics expert Corey Sznajder, Wennberg set up teammates to be able to take a shot directly off his passes 13 times per 60 minutes of play.
What's more, there were usually a couple passes to dangerous areas per game included in that number-meaning the resulting shot had a better chance of getting in the net.
Those kinds of passes are ones that go across the slot area or come from behind the net. Last season, Wennberg averaged 1.5 passes per of them per 60 minutes of play. That ranked third on a potent Florida that was 6th in the league in team scoring last season.
Defensively, Wennberg's understanding of how to make plays work, or "see the ice" as Kraken GM Ron Francis says often, makes the center dangerous when he's challenging opponents. It's not unusual to see Wennberg anticipate - and break up - a pass, particularly in the neutral zone.
The 6-foot-2, 197-pound forward equally understands how to challenge an opponent who is trying to move up the ice. Wennberg isn't one to create obstacles through physical play - it's again his ability to know where to position himself.
He makes it more difficult for other teams to advance and create chances of their own. That certain fits into the Kraken hockey operations credo to be a team that is hard to play against.
That combination of offense and defensive skill translates to special teams - specifically the penalty kill. Wennberg has been part of some of the most offensively-aggressive penalty kills in the league over the past five years (Columbus, 2019) and last season with the Panthers, according to Evolving-Hockey.com.
Relative to his Florida teammates when playing a man down, Wennberg was preventing 1.4 fewer goals against than any other skater - the best differential on his team. It's no wonder why Panthers coach trusted the Swedish centerman so much when shorthanded.
Wennberg's style of play certainly creates opportunities for powerplays. Last season, he was plus-8 in penalties drawn versus taken, and he is plus-51 in the same measure across his entire career.
Ultimately, Wennberg is a player who will bolster the Kraken on both ends of the ice and provide the kind of play that fosters offensive opportunity both individually and at the team level.
Alison Lukan writes about hockey analytics for the Kraken. If you have questions for Alison, send her a note at
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