The San Jose Sharks are officially turning the corner. By locking up veteran center Alex Wennberg to a three-year contract extension on Sunday, General Manager Mike Grier sent a clear message to the locker room and the rest of the Pacific Division: The teardown is over, and the window to compete is cracking open.

The deal, which carries an average annual value (AAV) of $6 million, keeps the 31-year-old Swedish pivot in teal through the 2028-29 season. While the sticker price might raise eyebrows among salary cap purists, the context of where San Jose sits in its competitive cycle makes this a calculated, necessary move to support a roster teeming with high-end but inexperienced talent.

Inside the numbers of the Alex Wennberg contract

At $6 million per season, Alex Wennberg is being paid like a high-end second-line center, a valuation that reflects his bounce this season. Through 41 games, Wennberg has posted seven goals and 26 points. He is currently on pace for one of the most productive campaigns of his 13-year NHL career, finding a rhythm in San Jose that proved elusive during stints with the New York Rangers and Seattle Kraken.

With significant contracts like Logan Couture’s coming off the books following the 2026-27 season, and other veteran deals like Jeff Skinner expiring sooner, Grier had the flexibility to pay a premium for stability. The Sharks aren’t in a position where they need to pinch pennies to fit under the ceiling; they are in a position where they need to spend to ensure the floor doesn’t fall out from under their young stars.

How Alex Wennberg unlocks the Sharks’ offense

The true value of Alex Wennberg isn’t always found on the scoresheet, but rather in the deployment chart. For a team anchored by sophomore sensation Macklin Celebrini, having a dependable veteran down the middle is a luxury that quickly becomes a necessity.

Wennberg acts as the team’s defensive conscience. By taking the heavy lifting—defensive zone draws, penalty kill minutes, and matchups against opposing top lines—he insulates Celebrini and the rest of the young core from being overwhelmed. This deployment strategy enables younger players to start more shifts in the offensive zone, focusing on creativity rather than survival.

When Wennberg is on the ice, the Sharks are controlling play better than they have in years. His ability to transport the puck through the neutral zone remains elite, a skill that fits perfectly with Head Coach Ryan Warsofsky’s transition-heavy system.

The veteran presence San Jose needed

We have seen this story play out poorly in other markets: a team loads up on draft picks, throws them into the fire without veteran support, and watches as losing habits become ingrained. San Jose is actively avoiding that trap.

Alex Wennberg brings a resume that commands respect. He has logged over 830 NHL games and has significant playoff experience, including a run to the Eastern Conference Final with the Rangers. He knows what winning hockey looks like in May, something that very few players on the current Sharks roster can claim.

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