Jackets need Wennberg to keep trending upward

Looks aren’t everything. Take Alexander Wennberg, for example. The blue-eyed Blue Jackets center looks the part of the dashing Swede — females in my family describe him as “steamy” — whose skating and puck-handling abilities storyboard him as a can’tmiss points machine who should secure the top line for years to come.

It might happen, but it hasn’t yet, which puts Wennberg in the uncomfortable position of living up to his billing — the 23-year-old was selected 14th overall in the 2013 NHL draft — and proving he is worth the sixyear, $29.4 million contract he signed before the season.

Wennberg prefers to see it slightly differently. Yes, there is added pressure to produce, but “this is what I

want to be, a guy they can rely on,” he said Wednesday.

That might happen. It hasn’t yet. What gives? Wennberg should be the Blue Jackets’ No. 1 center, by a mile, not bumped to the second line by 19-year-old Pierre-Luc Dubois.

Back up a minute. Wennberg was never going to be Connor McDavid or Auston Matthews. But Mark Scheifele or Sean Monahan? Perhaps. Also, it is not like we’re talking Wenny the Poo here.

Wennberg posted NHL career highs last season with 13 goals and 46 assists for 59 points and a plus-9 rating in 80 regularseason games. He led the team in assists and multipoint games (14) and finished second in

points. His 46 assists were 15th-most in the NHL and the fourthmost in a single season in Blue Jackets history.

Not too shabby. But to whom much is given, much is expected. And Wennberg has been given a lot, not even counting a face that annually ranks among the hottest in the NHL; or so I am told by the previously referenced females.

The question is whether Wennberg is getting the most out of his talent. He produced just one goal and eight assists in his first 18 games this season. Granted, he played hurt during some of that stretch, but overcoming nicks and bruises comes with the territory.

“He certainly has not reached the level we expect out of him,” coach John Tortorella said. “But I think he’s on the upward trend.”

Could be. Wennberg

has collected six of his 16 points in the past seven games, including 2-3-4 on a current four-game point streak. He capped Wednesday’s 4-2 win against Toronto with a topshelf rocket past former Jackets teammate Curtis McElhinney, his fourth goal of the season.

“The last couple games I have played a little differently than I have before,” he said, declining to provide specifics. “I had some talks with people, came out and this could be a new way.”

The Jackets all needed a new way after coming off three losses in four games, including Monday’s 7-2 embarrassment against Boston. They were mysteriously morphing into muck, their power play continuing to be absolutely putrid.

That changed against the Leafs. The Blue Jackets were 1 of 2 on the power play.

“The key for Wenny is we run our power play through him, and he needs to accept responsibility with that,” Tortorella said, adding the responsibility extends to Wennberg’s overall game.

“It’s about accepting the responsibility of being the No. 1 center, which I think he wants to be,” Torts said.

But can he be? Wennberg was strong in all areas against Toronto, but particularly when skating with the puck.

“At the end of the day, maybe not overthink things,” Wennberg said. “No one can affect my game but me.”

If he continues looking this good, the Jackets will be one tough out down the stretch.