Fantasy Take: Seattle Ships Wennberg to the Rangers
Alexander MacLean
2024-03-06
The Rangers joined in the trade party today by sending a few picks to Seattle for Alex Wennberg, who fills in as a much-needed third-line centre for them. This may not be all they get done, as forward depth is a big need for the Rangers, but it's a good first step.
Here are the details:
What the Rangers Get:
Wennberg is a third-line player who produces like one even though he has been seeing top-six minutes all season. The trade to the Rangers hurts his value solely because the move will come with a big drop in ice time. He has started primarily in the defensive zone this year though, and the big thing for the Rangers is that this will free up Mika Zibanejad and Vincent Trocheck as well as their linemates for more offensive zone draws. Wennberg also gives Kaapo Kakko a better linemate in the bottom-six.
What the Kraken Get:
The most recent expansion team gets a couple of extra picks to help stock up a prospect cupboard that hasn't had as many years to add to it and mature as other teams. Shane Wright and Ryker Evans will be two of the first real graduates, and this trade may free up a full-time spot for the latter.
With Pierre-Edouard Bellemare returning from a broken leg, there isn't an immediate need to fill the hole though, so it could just be status quo moving forward for the Kraken.
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Who benefits the most:
Slight bump to the Rangers' top-six
Whose value takes a hit: