Yahoo Sports What Does A Realistic First Full Season Look Like For Kraken's Shane Wright
Shane Wright looks to be heading into the 2024-25 season as a full-time Seattle Kraken and with lots of pressure to perform, what are realistic expectations for him?
Wright was famously granted exceptional status to play in the OHL as a 15-year-old and was the consensus number-one pick in the 2022 NHL draft until a few months before the draft. Not only did Wright not end up as the number-one pick, but he slid past the New Jersey Devils and Utah HC, formerly known as the Arizona Coyotes. The Kraken then picked him with the fourth overall pick.
View the original article to see embedded media.
Some factors that hurt Wright's draft stock were due to him missing the entire 2020 season due to COVID-19. When the OHL returned in the 2021 season, Wright needed some time to get back into things but by that point, some scouts and analysts had made up their minds about him. He finished his draft year with 32 goals and 94 points in 63 games.
His D+1 year wasn't handled all too well by the Kraken organization as Wright played eight NHL games, averaging just 8:29 of time on ice. He then spent eight games with the Coachella Valley Firebirds in the AHL but due to the CHL and AHL agreement, he could only be sent down on a conditioning stint that occurred because he has scratched for 10 consecutive games.
Wright then returned to the OHL after the Kingston Frontenacs traded him to the Kitchener Rangers. He dominated scoring 15 goals and 37 points in 20 games but the Rangers flamed out in the first round. The next part of Wright's year meant he was rejoining the Firebirds in the Calder Cup playoffs where he got another 24 games of experience.
In his second professional season, Wright was finally granted the balance he was looking for. The CHL permitted him to play in the AHL and he spent the entire season with the Firebirds scoring 22 goals and 47 points earning AHL Top Prospect Team honours.
Related: Kraken's Shane Wright Named To AHL Top Prospects Team
Going into the 2024-25 season, all signs point to the 20-year-old becoming a full-time Seattle Kraken. Dan Bylsma, who coached Wright with the Firebirds, was announced as the head coach of the Kraken. He has worked closely with him and understands how to deploy him to get the best out of Wright. The 6'0, 198 lbs right-handed centreman doesn't have blazing speed but understands and reads the game like very few players in the NHL do.
He works the give-and-go to perfection, finds open space on the rush and has a lightning-quick and accurate release. In his 16 games of NHL experience he's shown glimpses of it scoring five goals and seven points but this year he'll have the opportunity to show it every night.
Finding time on the power play may be tough for Wright but his improvements at 5-on-5 should mean he can still put up exciting numbers.
A realistic offensive output for the Burlington, Ontario native is around 20 goals and 50 points. Wright could produce these numbers while still being a defensively responsible centre playing in the Kraken's middle-six.
Make sure you bookmark THN’s Seattle Kraken site for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.
Related: Jagger Firkus Skates at KCI, Sporting a New Kraken Practice Jersey
