SUNRISE, Fla. --Alex Wennberg is ready for a fresh start.
After having the last three years of his contract bought out by the Columbus Blue Jackets, the 26-year-old forward didn't have to wait long before beginning the next chapter of his career as he signed a one-year deal with the Florida Panthers just a day later as a free agent on Oct. 9.
Wennberg Sees a 'Perfect Fit' with Panthers
"It happens pretty quick," Wennberg said. "To take the whole thing in -- you're getting bought out, new team, new situation in free agency -- it's a rollercoaster, for sure. I'm also really excited for it. For me, I feel like I needed a new place, someone who wants to believe in me, wants me to play that type of way. Looking at Florida, I couldn't find a better option right there. It's crazy, but right now with everything that happened, I'm so psyched about it and ready to get started."
Originally selected by Columbus with the 14th overall pick in the 2013 NHL Draft, Wennberg spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Blue Jackets, racking up 201 points (40 goals, 161 assists) in 415 regular-season games as well as four goals and four assists in 22 playoff games.
During this time, Wennberg clearly managed to leave a strong impression on Panthers general manager Bill Zito, who spent seven seasons (2013-2020) monitoring his development closely as an assistant general manager with the Blue Jackets before being hired by Florida in September.
Now reunited with the Panthers, Zito believes Wennberg will make the most of the opportunity. "He's a guy I'm obviously familiar with," Zito said.
"He's a guy that can play center or wing. He can play in a couple of different roles… He's a very smart and cerebral player.. He's a guy who's excited about trying to, I wouldn't say reinvent himself, but jumpstart himself."
When free agency opened, Wennberg said Zito "was one of the first people to reach out."
"I know him pretty well," Wennberg said of his longtime relationship with Zito. "He talked about the team, the organization, everything. I'm just super excited for the opportunity right here."
Only a few years removed from a breakout 2016-17 campaign in which he reached career-highs in goals (13) assists (46) and points (59), Wennberg, who believes he is only just entering his prime, is confident that a change of scenery could help him get back to playing at that high level.
"For me, I feel like I have a lot more to bring," Wennberg said. "The last couple years have kind of been down years for me. Obviously right now coming in you want a jump start, but I feel like I have the potential to be better and also help the organization and team that wants me.
"If they believe in me, I can really play to my strength. That's pretty much Florida right there. I feel like this is a great opportunity for me and a great opportunity for them as well. I feel like it could be a really good fit… For me, personally and hockey-wise, this is where I want to be."
During his final tour with the Blue Jackets in 2019-20, Wennberg recorded 22 points (five goals, 17 assists) in 57 games. It was during the postseason, however, that he truly started to look like his old self, finishing fourth on the team with five points (three goals, two assists) in 10 contests.
In five games against the eventual Stanley Cup-champion Tampa Bay Lighting in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, Wennberg had four points, including a goal and an assist in Game 5.
"I will say in that the series against Tampa I was finding that level I want to play at," Wennberg said. "I was more comfortable with the puck. I was skating better. I was being more of a threat. The offensive game is one of my strengths. Coming back, I feel like that was really good for me."
Ending last season on a high note, Wennberg will now look to pick up right where he left off with the Panthers. A versatile forward - a description that fits a lot of Florida's recent signings during free agency - he appears to be a player that will help the team in a variety of different situations.
As for getting comfortable, Wennberg will benefit from having more than a few familiar faces in South Florida. In addition to Zito, he also spent a lot of time in Columbus with goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky and defenseman Markus Nutivaara, who came to the Cats in a trade early last week.
A native of Stockholm, Sweden, he's also played with forward Patric Hornqvist during international tournaments.
"It's really nice to have those guys from before," Wennberg said. "Obviously, that's comforting. But for me, just looking at the team and looking where it's heading in that direction and what they want to be, I feel like this was the place I want to be. Florida is obviously a great place."
Filled with excitement and anticipation, the hardest thing for Wennberg will now be the waiting.
With a firm start date for the 2020-21 season still up in the air, he plans to spend the next few months packing up his life in Columbus, starting to look for places to live in Florida and training in Sweden, where he is already back in the gym and on the ice preparing rigorously for 2020-21.
"For me to get a fresh start - new organization, new coach, new team - I feel like it could be something that could be really good for me," Wennberg said.
