5 Landing Spots For Kraken Trade Candidate Shane Wright
Sure, Dylan Larkin is still out there, supposedly, but his three- or four-team trade list doesn't help the other 28 teams around the league.
So, how about Shane Wright? The Seattle Kraken's 4th overall pick (2022 Draft) has another year left on his entry-level deal, and he's out there for the taking. The team is working with his camp to try to find a deal.
Great draft pedigree, and strong two-way player. But he hasn't produced as expected. Wright posted just 12 goals and 27 points this past year in 74 games with Seattle, with his average time on ice dropping to just 13:48 per game. Clearly, a change of scenery seems to be what's best for everybody involved.
With that, Mike Gould of Daily Faceoff lists five potential landing spots for Wright, in alphabetical order.
5 destinations that make sense for trade candidate Shane Wright
Calgary Flames
A young team that's building, the 22-year-old makes a ton of sense for the Flames. They already pulled off a big trade for another disappointing top-5 pick from Wright's draft class, Simon Nemec. Wright would fit in with what GM Craig Conroy is trying to do in Calgary.
"The Flames are still actively searching for more help up the middle, and while they’ll still probably try to land their future cornerstone at that position through the draft, it’s also not every day that a recent No. 4 overall pick becomes available."
Gould suggests that the Flames could dangle Connor Zary or Morgan Frost in a potential return for the Kraken. Both of those players have been all over the rumor mill this summer.
Chicago Blackhawks
"(GM Kyle) Davidson is willing to be aggressive in his bid to bring the Blackhawks back to relevance, and a player like Wright could be a nice fit behind (or alongside) Connor Bedard — assuming he’s none the worse for wear after his shoulder surgery."
And as Gould adds, Wright would be given much more rope to go out and prove himself in Chicago, than he's gotten in Seattle.
New Jersey Devils
Wright would be a Plan B for the Devils after their offer sheet for Barrett Hayton was matched by the Utah Mammoth. Wright's and Hayton's numbers were eerily similar last season, as are their draft pedigrees (Hayton was the 5th overall pick in 2018).
Pittsburgh Penguins
If there was ever a player that fits the mold of what GM Kyle Dubas is trying to acquire for the Penguins, it's Wright. Young, high-upside, underperforming to this point in their career.
Toronto Maple Leafs
After a flurry of moves already this offseason, new GM John Chayka isn't done yet. And while he has brought in a slew of bottom-six centers, none of them has the upside that Wright possesses.
Gould notes that with Auston Matthews only signed for two more years and John Tavares now age 35, they need "a succession plan" down the middle.
"It seems natural to bring in an Ontario boy with more than enough versatility to slide cleanly into Toronto’s forward group."
No, Gould does not include the Philadelphia Flyers on his list, even though they were left holding the bag when the Anaheim Ducks matched their offer sheet for Leo Carlsson. Sure, Wright is a center, like Carlsson. But obviously, nowhere near of the same impactful variety. And reports are that the Flyers aren't necessarily looking to go right back out looking for another center.
