Alex Wennberg Is Quietly Powering the Sharks - And Now, Team Sweden
In a season where the San Jose Sharks have exceeded expectations, one of the biggest reasons why might also be one of the most overlooked. Alex Wennberg, the 31-year-old center, is finally getting the recognition his game has quietly demanded for years. He just inked a three-year, $18 million contract extension with the Sharks and earned a spot on Sweden’s Olympic roster - a nod to a skill set that’s flown under the radar for far too long.
Wennberg doesn’t light up the highlight reels, but ask anyone in the Sharks’ locker room - or look at the micro-stats - and it becomes clear: he’s doing elite-level work, especially on the defensive side of the puck.
Defensive Masterclass
“He’s like an eraser out there,” Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky said. That’s not just coach speak - the numbers back it up.
Through Jan. 12, Wennberg led all NHL forwards with 123 turnovers created in all situations.
That includes both steals and pass interceptions, which speaks to his anticipation and positioning more than brute force.
Younger teammates like Macklin Celebrini and Ty Dellandrea are already taking notes. “He has an unbelievable stick,” Celebrini said.
“He’s so smart… always on top of guys and that leads to steals.” Dellandrea echoed the sentiment: “Long stick, good stick, always in the right position, above the puck, just waiting for the right opportunity.”
It’s not just the stick work either. Wennberg is fourth among all NHL forwards with 57 blocked shots - again, in all situations.
That willingness to sacrifice the body, combined with his defensive IQ, is why he’s consistently matched up against the opposition’s top centers. Whether it’s Nathan MacKinnon or Jack Eichel, Wennberg is the guy the Sharks trust to neutralize elite talent.
Zack Ostapchuk, just 22, says he’s learning a lot just from watching Wennberg operate in the defensive zone. “His positioning, certain situations, when to close on guys, when to hold back - he reads the game in the D-zone better than anyone.”
Warsofsky put it plainly: “He’s probably one of the smartest individuals that I’ve coached. Knows what to do without the puck, knows the dangerous ice.”
Puck Possession and Offensive Zone Time
Wennberg’s game isn’t all defense, though. He’s also making things happen in the offensive zone - particularly when it comes to puck protection.
At 6-foot-2, he uses his frame and awareness to great effect. He ranks 10th among all NHL forwards in sustained offensive zone carries at 5-on-5 - defined as maintaining possession for more than four seconds in the offensive zone.
That’s not an easy list to crack. The names ahead of him?
Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Mikko Rantanen, Mathew Barzal - the league’s puck control royalty.
Wennberg’s inclusion in that group speaks volumes about his ability to extend offensive possessions and create space for his teammates. It’s not flashy, but it’s effective - and it’s winning hockey.
Net-Front Presence - A New Dimension
One of the most surprising - and impressive - elements of Wennberg’s game this season has been his work around the net. Once known more as a perimeter playmaker, he’s now become a fixture in front of the crease on the Sharks’ top power-play unit.
Look no further than the Sharks’ wild comeback against the Penguins on Dec. 13.
Down 5-1, San Jose stormed back with five unanswered goals. Wennberg didn’t score any of them, but his presence in front of the net was instrumental on three of the five tallies.
“If he’s not in front of the net, the goalie makes a save,” Warsofsky said. It’s that simple.
Even noted hockey tactics analyst Jack Han was impressed: “The net front and down-low stuff, I didn’t expect to see from him.”
Wennberg himself acknowledged the evolution in his game: “I played my first couple years [on the power play] on the half wall, more of a passer. Then I became a net front guy. I try to give [my teammates] an opening to shoot at.”
Playmaking Still a Core Strength
While his defensive play and net-front work have taken center stage this season, Wennberg hasn’t abandoned his roots as a distributor. With 10 goals and 22 assists through 45 games, he’s on pace to hit the 25-assist mark for the seventh time in his career. That’s consistency - and it’s coming in a season where his role has expanded, not shrunk.
In that same Pittsburgh game, his passing helped set the stage for another key goal in the comeback. He’s still the guy who can thread a pass through traffic, but now he’s also the guy who can grind in the corners, block shots, and battle at the net front.
Olympic Nod Caps a Resurgent Season
Wennberg wasn’t a lock for Team Sweden when the season started. But his all-around play - especially his defensive reliability and ability to operate in tight areas - made him an appealing option for a Swedish squad that doesn’t have a surplus of net-front specialists.
It’s a testament to the evolution of his game. For years, Wennberg’s reputation has been that of a player with tantalizing skill who left you wanting more. But maybe the issue wasn’t what he wasn’t doing - maybe it was that we weren’t fully appreciating what he was.
Accept Wennberg for what he is - a cerebral, defensively elite center who chips in offensively at a half-point-per-game pace - and you’ve got a player who helps you win hockey games. A lot of them. That’s exactly what the Sharks have discovered this season.
Now, the rest of the league - and the international stage - is starting to catch on.