Ah, how refreshing to converse with someone who actually wants to debate points not hurl insults. Thanks for that.
Well, I understand your points, and I agree, to a degree. Maybe more had to do with Shane himself not playing well on the Kraken and then also not playing well on the Firebirds when sent down. As I mentioned earlier, I watched almost that entire Firebirds playoff run. It's not like Wright was buried deep in the lineup. He had his chances to make in impact. However, he simply did not play well. 2 goals in 24 games, that speaks for itself. I watched him a LOT in his draft year when with Kingston. Same issues. He played like someone who thought he could get away with not playing hard due to his reputation. So yes, invisible is the right word. I've read accounts that this was not how he played his first CHL season. And it reflected in what position he was drafted. For a perennial 1OA guy to drop to 4th, means maybe more scouts/teams agreed with my view of him than others. I was trying hard to see the good things that would justify the Habs picking him, which I totally thought they would. But I was very unimpressed. To put it lightly.
And judging just from the shift-by-shift video of his first game with Coachella this year, I'm even more convinced the issue is character/personality related. Maybe he grew self-entitled with all the praise leading up to his draft year. The player I watched in that video was much better. Engaged, skating hard both on offense and on defense, and going to the dirty areas to make plays. So credit where is it's due. If that is the real Shane Wright, then he's going to have a much better chance at eventually being an NHL'er of some note. But it's early, guess we'll see how things play out.
