IMO Wright has been invisible since the first handful of games, and I don't think it's a complete coincidence that Eberle's hot start ended about the same time.
I was wondering about putting Wright on wing for awhile, preferably Beniers line, maybe take the pressure off for a time. I spent a fair amount of time comparing Wright with Beniers last night.
Often Wright seems just a little behind the play, just enough to not have a significant influence on what happens. He does a lot of head swivelling trying to determine his defensive position. When he finishes his checks, which is not always, he does so without a great deal of force. He will stand in front of the net but his linemates seldom get the puck to him. He can be a tad less than diligent getting back on defense.Then he will do something dazzling and you realize this guy has a ton of latent skill.
Meanwhile Beniers is all engagement all the time. He rushes people and causes bad plays. He hustles back on defense, not infrequently helping his teammates out of tight situations. Every shift he is trying to make an impact. His passing skills can be breathtaking but they often go unrewarded. Along with Goude and to a certain extent Tanev lately, he is the most proactive player on the team. You think, this guys got smarts as well as skill. He makes things happen in a manner that makes Wright look passive and uncertain in comparison.
Both players deserve better linemates. Why not give them one another and see what happens.
Conclusion: Wright has a ways to go before he can help us and it is a likelihood but not a certainty that he will get there.
