The Seattle Kraken sat forward Alex Wennberg for a second consecutive night Tuesday, as they took on the Winnipeg Jets four days before the NHL trade deadline.
Wennberg missed Monday night's 4-2 victory over the Calgary Flames, and after the veteran wasn't on the ice for the morning skate, coach Dave Hakstol cited "trade-related issues" as the primary reason for the club's decision.
Wennberg, 29, is in the final season of a three-year, $13.5 million contract and is due to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the league year. The veteran has nine goals and 25 points in 60 games this season.
The 14th overall draft pick by the Blue Jackets in 2013, he has played for Columbus, the Florida Panthers and Seattle. He has tallied 330 points (90 goals, 240 assists) in 693 games and was a member of the original Kraken expansion roster in the 2021-22 season.
On a contender, he would be in a terrific position to help his free agent résumé. A top-tier passer who has strong underlying offensive numbers, he has a high hockey IQ and is a penalty killer who can create short-handed chances for his new club.
The problem with Wennberg this season has been the problem with Wennberg throughout his career: an inexplicable divide between his analytics and his actual production. But on the right team, he could excel.
The Kraken entered Tuesday's action seven points out of the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference.
The NHL trade deadline is Friday at 3 p.m. ET.
Information from Field Level Media was used in this report.