3 point night for Wright, probably coulda had another point or two, 5 goals, 8 points in his last 10 games. 2 primary assists, 1 pretty sweet stretch pass off the boards from the d-zone to Hughes for a 2 on 1 who elects to shoot it, and 1 pass directly to Winterton in the slot through two defenders sticks after winning the puck battle. And 1 goal in the slot after navigating space between defenders to tuck in a pass. Up to 24 points, 14 goals, in 32 games and is currently on pace for 30 goals and 52 points in 69 games as a rookie in the AHL. Currently 2nd in goals on the Firebirds.
Obviously went through a bit of a drought and his point production had slowed down a little bit but we might see him score at a slightly higher rate later on, don't think he'll go PPG as a fresh 20 year old, but I think he's played well. I must admit I don't watch every game cause I don't pay for the AHL pass. But from what I've seen he's quite good at finding space between defenders to get a goal in close and throughout this AHL season he's beaten goalies clean quite a fair bit, reads play well and playmaking/vision is still there.
Some probably hoped for a more explosive rookie AHL season, but I think he's had a good season, he's just turned 20 too and most of his CHL peers are obviously still stuck there due to the agreement. Is the potential still there to become an elite player? Idk for sure yet, but I'm not gonna write him off, might be a guy who takes longer to develop after missing a season of development or maybe he isn't what some chalked him up to be. I hope it isn't the latter, I wish he was a bit more dynamic, but he's a smart player who can rip passes tape to tape, and wire shots clean through a goalie, so I think he can still at the least become a good top 6 player.
Worth noting his linemate Winterton has 15 points in 30 games, and AHL regular Hughes has 32 points in 35 games. Kinda surprised Winterton isn't currently putting up slightly better numbers, as I remember some Kraken fans wanted him in the NHL line up early in the season.
No forward from the 2022 class is tearing it up yet, which isn't surprising. I mean even Cooley, some who projected to be a Calder finalist, who had a Hobby baker finalist year at U Minn, hasn't had as explosive of a rookie year in the NHL as some predicted. And although Cooley is on pace for 40 points, from what I've gathered and from discussion he seems to get favorable deployment, and 10 of his 20 points are on the PP.
Even guys like Mintyukov and Nemec who are having very good seasons for rookie defenders may be prone to the sophomore season slump like many defenseman in the past, and even Calder winner Beniers. Obviously Bedard, Fantilli, Carlsson and got everyone really excited for the rookie race, and this season has by far one of the deepest pools of young talent in the league, but it's still ridiculously early to cast off some of these guys, or profess they are the next big talent.
