C Shane Wright (2022, 4th, SEA) Part 4

[MS]

And I am telling you based on his playoff run. I am not making him out to be the next savior over here; I am saying that his defense was not a negative for the team. But then again, I generally don't dwell too much on expectations before the draft. As long as I am seeing steady improvement in a player his age, I am good.

We'll see next year.

And for the record, I'm completely neutral on this player and my viewpoint has nothing to do with pre-draft anything. He's just a player I happened to see quite a bit of this year.

 

[Ryan Van Horne]

I mean, it's obviously going to improve and will improve. But it's coming from a place of 'really, really bad'.

Saw him live during the gold-medal game of the world junior tournament in Halifax. His defensive game (in terms of both reads and effort) was excellent.

I'm sure he had some adjustments to make as a first-year pro, but I expect he'll be a centre in the NHL.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

I have no clue what to expect from him. Just mildly disappointing considering he looked like MacKinnon to me in his 15 year old season, and on his worst nights, looked at least like Scheifele.

Interested to see how patient the Kraken will be over the next season.

 

[SnapVirus]

The guy saying Wright is bad defensively, and then said he watched him 12 games this season is saying lies or he cant evaluate a prospect. Its one of his force. Hes really good on both side and at the end of the season and playoff it was even more clearer.

 

[MichaelFarrell]

I have no clue what to expect from him. Just mildly disappointing considering he looked like MacKinnon to me in his 15 year old season, and on his worst nights, looked at least like Scheifele.

Interested to see how patient the Kraken will be over the next season.

One thing seems pretty certain: he’s going to have to earn every bit of ice time he gets. Hes not going to be put in a position to look good and succeed.

With the addition of Chandler Stephenson, the Kraken’s top 9 is pretty much set with one-way contracts. Beniers, Gourde and Stephenson are the 3 guys down the middle. Wright slots in to that 4th line and maybe the 2nd PP.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

One thing seems pretty certain: he’s going to have to earn every bit of ice time he gets. Hes not going to be put in a position to look good and succeed.

With the addition of Chandler Stephenson, the Kraken’s top 9 is pretty much set with one-way contracts. Beniers, Gourde and Stephenson are the 3 guys down the middle. Wright slots in to that 4th line and maybe the 2nd PP.

i would be surprised if Bylsma starts him on the 4th line. I would think either he starts as 3C with Gourde at wing or the reverse. I think training cap will sort a lot of this out.

 

[MichaelFarrell]

i would be surprised if Bylsma starts him on the 4th line. I would think either he starts as 3C with Gourde at wing or the reverse. I think training cap will sort a lot of this out.

You would think, but I just don’t see that happening due to contract obligations at this point. Not to mention the fact that Seattle is trying to make the playoffs. They have too many NHL vets at forward.

McCann(5m)-Beniers(RFA)-Burakovsky(5.5m)
Schwartz(5.5m)-Stephenson(6.25m)-Bjorkstrand(5.4m)
Tolvanen(3.45m)-Gourde(5.1m)-Eberle(4.7m)

Not that money is everything when making a lineup, but out of this group, I’m just not sure where Wright fits into this top 9. Who slots down for Wright?

 

[rsteen]

You would think, but I just don’t see that happening due to contract obligations at this point. Not to mention the fact that Seattle is trying to make the playoffs. They have too many NHL vets at forward.

McCann(5m)-Beniers(RFA)-Burakovsky(5.5m)
Schwartz(5.5m)-Stephenson(6.25m)-Bjorkstrand(5.4m)
Tolvanen(3.45m)-Gourde(5.1m)-Eberle(4.7m)

Not that money is everything when making a lineup, but out of this group, I’m just not sure where Wright fits into this top 9. Who slots down for Wright?

At least one of Schwartz or Burakovsky will be injured by Thanksgiving.

 

[majormajor]

You would think, but I just don’t see that happening due to contract obligations at this point. Not to mention the fact that Seattle is trying to make the playoffs. They have too many NHL vets at forward.

McCann(5m)-Beniers(RFA)-Burakovsky(5.5m)
Schwartz(5.5m)-Stephenson(6.25m)-Bjorkstrand(5.4m)
Tolvanen(3.45m)-Gourde(5.1m)-Eberle(4.7m)

Not that money is everything when making a lineup, but out of this group, I’m just not sure where Wright fits into this top 9. Who slots down for Wright?

There's no obligation to play someone like Schwartz higher in the lineup than Wright. Wright will be in the top 9. Gourde is also likely gone at the deadline.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

At least one of Schwartz or Burakovsky will be injured by Thanksgiving.

Yep. That, death and taxes.

 

[Marc the Habs Fan]

2 goals tonight, one on a great shot, albeit against the Oilers AHL goalie. I think his roster spot is officially confirmed.

 

[Sombastate]

That shot tonight was an absolutely beautiful shot

 

[ORRFForever]

Time to step up, Shane !!!!

 

[majormajor]

2 goals tonight, one on a great shot, albeit against the Oilers AHL goalie. I think his roster spot is officially confirmed.

Even with a middling pre-season performance he would have made the team. But it's great to see he's looking very assertive out there.

 

[MrCreamm]

Thought he looked pretty good in the game against STL. Set up some chances, like a quick pass to Bjorkstrand for a near goal if not for a great save. I think he finally gets it, he's playing with a lot more pace, carrying the puck for just a few seconds longer which helps create other teammates space, but can also get the puck off his stick with speed and precision. He made quite a few good plays and was the best player on his line by far. Also encouraging he's avoiding dumping it in for entries and has become more confident in his play carrying and connecting.

He's much more engaged in the forecheck and physical side, he looks like a real NHL player. I'm glad he's carrying the puck more, honestly I thought he was one of SEA's better forwards which is probably why he was out there for the last minute. Kraken needs to hope Beniers can stop being so timid though, he doesn't play like he's 6'2.

Think he can have a decent/good season on the 3rd line as the center, I also think he could play on the 2nd line if a spot opened up.

 

[Ryan Van Horne]

Thought he looked pretty good in the game against STL. Set up some chances, like a quick pass to Bjorkstrand for a near goal if not for a great save. I think he finally gets it, he's playing with a lot more pace, carrying the puck for just a few seconds longer which helps create other teammates space, but can also get the puck off his stick with speed and precision. He made quite a few good plays and was the best player on his line by far. Also encouraging he's avoiding dumping it in for entries and has become more confident in his play carrying and connecting.

He's much more engaged in the forecheck and physical side, he looks like a real NHL player. I'm glad he's carrying the puck more, honestly I thought he was one of SEA's better forwards which is probably why he was out there for the last minute. Kraken needs to hope Beniers can stop being so timid though, he doesn't play like he's 6'2.

Think he can have a decent/good season on the 3rd line as the center, I also think he could play on the 2nd line if a spot opened up.

Kraken take an interesting approach to line formation.

1st? Beniers, Eberle, McCann
2nd? Stephenson, Burakovsky, Schwartz.
3rd? Wright, Bjorkstrand, Tolvanen
4th Gourde, Tanev, Kartye.

Pretty evenly balanced. I wouldn't say Wright is a No. 1 or 2 centre, but he's playing with good wingers, both of whom have top-six skills.

 

[majormajor]

Thought he looked pretty good in the game against STL. Set up some chances, like a quick pass to Bjorkstrand for a near goal if not for a great save. I think he finally gets it, he's playing with a lot more pace, carrying the puck for just a few seconds longer which helps create other teammates space, but can also get the puck off his stick with speed and precision. He made quite a few good plays and was the best player on his line by far. Also encouraging he's avoiding dumping it in for entries and has become more confident in his play carrying and connecting.

He's much more engaged in the forecheck and physical side, he looks like a real NHL player. I'm glad he's carrying the puck more, honestly I thought he was one of SEA's better forwards which is probably why he was out there for the last minute.

I definitely had times in his draft year and draft+1 where I wondered if he would ever have the mindset, the instinct, to properly attack and be a hard player to play against. The passivity seemed really deeply ingrained in him. But you wouldn't know it watching him now.

He's still a little light on his feet and needs to get stronger, like most young players, but mentally it feels like a different player.

Kraken needs to hope Beniers can stop being so timid though, he doesn't play like he's 6'2.

Beniers is naturally very thin, don't expect him to throw the body. I wouldn't say he's timid.

Think he can have a decent/good season on the 3rd line as the center, I also think he could play on the 2nd line if a spot opened up.

Bjorkstrand is at times Seattle's best forward. The line numbers are by convention. Gourde, Tolvanen, and Bjorkstrand were often the most played line in the last couple years despite being the "third line". I suspect it will work that way with Wright too.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

I definitely had times in his draft year and draft+1 where I wondered if he would ever have the mindset, the instinct, to properly attack and be a hard player to play against. The passivity seemed really deeply ingrained in him. But you wouldn't know it watching him now.

He's still a little light on his feet and needs to get stronger, like most young players, but mentally it feels like a different player.

Agreed with all this, he's really come a long way with his engagement. Definitely a sign of maturity.

I had him 5th in my final 2022 list, expecting him to eventually become a slightly limited goal scoring center capable of 30 goals. But his all around game has gotten significantly better since hilariously being compared to Bergeron in his draft year.

 

[thebestnic]

He's Sam Reinhart to me. He will look underwhelming when asked to be a line driver but in the right situation...

 

[WhatTheDuck]

Kraken take an interesting approach to line formation.

1st? Beniers, Eberle, McCann
2nd? Stephenson, Burakovsky, Schwartz.
3rd? Wright, Bjorkstrand, Tolvanen
4th Kartye, Gourde, Tanev.

Pretty evenly balanced. I wouldn't say Wright is a No. 1 or 2 centre, but he's playing with good wingers, both of whom have top-six skills.

Referring to the bolded, I would say the same of you

 

[Ryan Van Horne]

Referring to the bolded, I would say the same of you

Elaborate.

 

[WhatTheDuck]

Elaborate.

Writing the center first is just weird

 

[Ryan Van Horne]

Agreed with all this, he's really come a long way with his engagement. Definitely a sign of maturity.

I had him 5th in my final 2022 list, expecting him to eventually become a slightly limited goal scoring center capable of 30 goals. But his all around game has gotten significantly better since hilariously being compared to Bergeron in his draft year.

Hilariously? Dude, it was Kyle Woodlief of Red Line Report. I mean, you can disagree with him all you want, but the guy has pretty good track record for evaluating talent. Every scout makes mistakes, of course, but this guy makes a living at this. People pay him for his scouting reports.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Hilariously? Dude, it was Kyle Woodlief of Red Line Report. I mean, you can disagree with him all you want, but the guy has pretty good track record for evaluating talent. Every scout makes mistakes, of course, but this guy makes a living at this. People pay him for his scouting reports.

I don't care too much to appeal to authority. Sure, he's a paid scout, that doesn't make his opinions immune from criticism. Wright was one of the least engaged draft eligible players I can recall watching in the OHL.

He's no Bergeron, and that comparison never, ever made a lick of sense. But he's shown he can be engaged enough to be trusted as an NHL center, which marks a massive improvement vs the player we saw in 2021-22. The only people making that comparison seemed to be folks who overrated him by an outrageous amount, and started using the Bergeron comp as justification for his lack of production. "He's just focusing on his all around play". Anybody who watched Wright that year knows how false that was.

Case in point, this is what Kyle Woodlief said about Wright in October of 2021:

"Comparing him to other recent high end forwards, I’d have him behind (Connor) McDavid (of course), but ahead of (Jack) Eichel and (Auston) Matthews," said Kyle Woodlief, publisher and chief scout for Red Line Report, an independent scouting review.

"Though Matthews is the better pure goal scorer," Woodlief said, "Wright is much more well-rounded than either him or Eichel, and his playmaking ability and leadership qualities are much better than either of them."

This guy had Wright ahead of Eichel and Matthews, are you seriously gonna tell me that wasn't a laughable opinion? He even argued that Wright was a much better playmaker than Eichel. LOL.

 

[Ryan Van Horne]

I don't care too much to appeal to authority. Sure, he's a paid scout, that doesn't make his opinions immune from criticism. Wright was one of the least engaged draft eligible players I can recall watching in the OHL.

He's no Bergeron, and that comparison never, ever made a lick of sense. But he's shown he can be engaged enough to be trusted as an NHL center, which marks a massive improvement vs the player we saw in 2021-22. The only people making that comparison seemed to be folks who overrated him by an outrageous amount, and started using the Bergeron comp as justification for his lack of production. "He's just focusing on his all around play". Anybody who watched Wright that year knows how false that was.

Case in point, this is what Kyle Woodlief said about Wright in October of 2021:

"Comparing him to other recent high end forwards, I’d have him behind (Connor) McDavid (of course), but ahead of (Jack) Eichel and (Auston) Matthews," said Kyle Woodlief, publisher and chief scout for Red Line Report, an independent scouting review.

"Though Matthews is the better pure goal scorer," Woodlief said, "Wright is much more well-rounded than either him or Eichel, and his playmaking ability and leadership qualities are much better than either of them."

This guy had Wright ahead of Eichel and Matthews, are you seriously gonna tell me that wasn't a laughable opinion? He even argued that Wright was a much better playmaker than Eichel. LOL.

Bergeron comparison is a comparison of playing style and if you watch Wright's defensive zone play, combined with his offensive skill, it's reasonable.

As for the other bit, it's not the worst thing I've seen him write. In 2017, he said Cale Makar and Erik Brannstrom were "the same player"

Anyhow, I'll repeat what I wrote earlier, as you appear to have missed it. He is not always right (no scout is) but him saying Wright's playing style compared to Bergeron's was a hell of a lot more accurate than some of the ones I've seen on this board.