Report: Oilers Have Checked In On Shane Wright
Elliotte Friedman revealed on Monday's 32 Thoughts podcast that Edmonton has looked into Seattle Kraken center Shane Wright, in addition to the previously reported interest in Montreal's Kirby Dach.
"I wondered about Shane Wright for Edmonton, and I think they poked around, but I don't believe that's going to happen," Friedman said.
Edmonton Needs The Help Right Now
Head coach Mike Babcock said Friday that Jason Dickinson is unlikely to start the season after re-aggravating a foot injury, forcing Trent Frederic into the third-line center role and pushing prospect Colton Dach into minutes down the middle as well.
"I think Edmonton is looking for a right-shot center," Friedman said. "They've been combing what's available. And you know, Mike Babcock, he is so minute in his coaching of hockey that he would look at this and say, we need this."
Elliotte Friedman on the 32 Thoughts Podcast about the Oilers: "I wondered about Shane Wright for Edmonton and I think they poked around but I don't know but I don't believe that's going to happen" #LetsGoOilers #SeaKraken #NHL pic.twitter.com/VCdRO6wgqP
— R i N K Y (@RinkyReport) September 28, 2026
Seattle took Wright fourth overall in 2022, and he posted 44 points, including 19 goals, in 79 games during his first full NHL season in 2024-25, though he's struggled since to match the pace of other players from his draft class.
He's shown signs of life in Seattle's own preseason lately, logging an assist and four shots in a loss to Vancouver on Saturday, then 16:42 of ice time with three shots in a shootout win over Calgary two nights earlier.
Cost is the biggest obstacle. Wright's upside makes him expensive, and Edmonton's cap situation isn't in great shape right now given the injury concerns already eating into its flexibility.
Friedman's "I don't believe that's going to happen" leaves little ambiguity about where he thinks this ends up, and Seattle has shown no obvious urgency to move a former top-five pick it drafted and developed itself.
