Prospect Info: Shane Wright (Round 1, Pick #4, 2022 draft)

[Irie]

I thought it wasn't until the 2024-25 season. I hope I'm wrong.

Wright would be 20 right after the new year next season, and being 20 he would no longer be bound by the NHL/CHL agreement I believe. (I am not 100% certain on this, but I am not aware of any clause that would prevent the assignment)

The one touch blind pass is the Wright signature. I'm not sure he can adapt it to the pros or not. I expect he'll figure out the spacing but the coaches will probably make him cut out the blind passes.


The low possession time is a bit concerning. It was a big problem last year. He is really not comfortable enough to hold the puck and be patient and wait for something. He'll force weak plays rather than using his body to protect the puck. I can understand he isn't prepared to protect the puck at the pro level but he's not going to get very good at it if he never tries.

That is a bit disconcerting because the defensive sticks and the first step reactions of defenders are just too quick in the NHL for a play that throws the puck into a general area and not on the tape of a teammate. It's a turnover 60% of the time in the AHL, and probably 85-90% in the NHL.

 

[Jeffrey Pedler]

Wright isnt going to bump either wennberg or beniers to the 3rd line... Hes not ready for top 6 mins. Be realistic.

Hes too good for the ohl and would serve better for him to remain with the team.

Then Wright can play on the third line and second powerplay unit. All people want is to not see him get fourth line minutes, to see what he can do.

 

[gstommylee]

Then Wright can play on the third line and second powerplay unit. All people want is to not see him get fourth line minutes, to see what he can do.

So who do you scratch then just for the sake of wright...

 

[Toomany7pins]

So who do you scratch then just for the sake of wright...

Seems to be a nice problem to have. It means Seattle has quality depth and they won’t be forced to rush him back out of need.

He’ll get his time here this year as Injuries happen.

 

[ottsabrefan]

Unless I am mistaken, I think he could play in the AHL on Jan 1st 2024.

I know everyone is raving about the goals he is scoring, but I watched three of his first four AHL games, and he has been somewhat questionable. Almost no possession time in any of the games, a lot of one touch blind pass attempts that become turnovers, and some pretty big issues with spacing reading the play.

His shot is so good, it is sometimes hard to remember that he is only 18.

He can’t play in the AHL next year unless they count the COVID year as a season of hockey (you need four seasons in the OHL to be eligible as a 19 year old). Not sure how the COVID year is classified.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

So who do you scratch then just for the sake of wright...

The main difference between your opinion and many others is just that. You believe that Wright is too good for the OHL and understand that he will not get NHL minutes because he is not good enough to bump people off the Kraken roster.

Most others agree with the latter part of the above statement but disagree that Wright is too good for the OHL and is not better served by sitting on the team and not getting minutes.

I don't know what the 'right' option is but I am not sure just riding the bench and playing 15-20 hockey games in a season will help his development much. We have decent forward depth even before Donskoi returns.

 

[The Marquis]

World Juniors are the answer. Short term, lots of minutes, against better competition than the OHL with better teammates. After that, they can figure it out. The Kraken's luck on the injury front has to run out at some point.

 

[RayMartyniukTotems]

Wright is a great talent. He needs to play and play a ton, unfortunately he's stuck between the NHL and "purgatory"! I'm just spitballing...The NHL should band together and put together a 4-6 team league of players in the 18-22 age category. They would be players competing against each other that aren't quite ready for the NHL but have outgrown their Junior/College teams/Leagues. I could see quite a few players fitting into that category especially with how some players in Canada in the OHL were affected by the cancellation of the 2020-21 season. Its either make a league of 18-22 year olds or a couple of teams that go on barnstorming tours of Europe kind of like how Bobby Hull did in his day. Here is a transcribed piece of that time...

The 1959 tour was organized by Swiss player Othmar Delnon and was sponsored by a Swiss winemaker. Attendance was erratic, with full houses one night and weak support another. But one thing everyone agreed upon, it was then and there that Bobby Hull became "The Golden Jet," emerging from two NHL seasons as a checking center into a freewheeling player with great speed and a great shot.

"That's where I learned how to play," Hull said. "I wanted to see all of Europe that I could and I suppose I played smart hockey. I was just a young guy, 20 years old. When I came back, I was a more complete player and it went on from there."

 

[Irie]

If these were already posted, my apologies.

Watching his play, his on ice spacial awareness is just not where it needs to be, even at the AHL level.

His shot and breakaway skills are world class for a player his age, but there is so much of his game that really needs work. He needs to stop coasting and puck chasing, and become more aware of everything happening around him (i.e. reading the play and work on his hockey sense).

In a perfect world, after the WJC the coaching staff watches the film with him and discusses in length what he has to work on, and he is open to improving those parts of his game with heavy minutes back in the OHL.

If he is not receptive to playing back in Junior, I am not sure you want to force him, and I have no clue what to do with him then.

 

[RayMartyniukTotems]

So who do you scratch then just for the sake of wright...

Not Gourde! Not anyone right now except Kuhlman and he's lucky to play 8 minutes a night when he does play and that's not often. Geekie has been pretty good but like last year he starts strong and then fades badly. He's the only RC in the lineup, was in the line up.And if Wright bumps Geekie he'd be the only RC

 

[majormajor]

If these were already posted, my apologies.

Watching his play, his on ice spacial awareness is just not where it needs to be, even at the AHL level.

His shot and breakaway skills are world class for a player his age, but there is so much of his game that really needs work. He needs to stop coasting and puck chasing, and become more aware of everything happening around him (i.e. reading the play and work on his hockey sense).

In a perfect world, after the WJC the coaching staff watches the film with him and discusses in length what he has to work on, and he is open to improving those parts of his game with heavy minutes back in the OHL.

If he is not receptive to playing back in Junior, I am not sure you want to force him, and I have no clue what to do with him then.

Without watching it yet, I don't doubt that there are some spatial problems, but it is so absurdly early for Wright. I'll give him half a season in the pros before I start raising expectations on that sort of thing.

I like this article from Justin Bourne reviewing his NHL shifts. The physical development is I think going to be a bigger issue than anything else.

 

[Irie]

Without watching it yet, I don't doubt that there are some spatial problems, but it is so absurdly early for Wright. I'll give him half a season in the pros before I start raising expectations on that sort of thing.

I like this article from Justin Bourne reviewing his NHL shifts. The physical development is I think going to be a bigger issue than anything else.

My post wasn't meant to raise red flags on Wright as a prospect, it was just my take on his stage of development within the context of him being too good for junior or it being best for him to currently remain in the NHL.

I believe he will faster develop hisb sense and awareness at lower levels with a lot of ice time.

But I also do not want him to get too discouraged if he is set on never playing in the OHL again. I think this is a fine line. Hopefully he sees the wisdom in a trade from Kingston and the opportunity for a long memorial cup run with a contender.

 

[Irie]

He can’t play in the AHL next year unless they count the COVID year as a season of hockey (you need four seasons in the OHL to be eligible as a 19 year old). Not sure how the COVID year is classified.

We were talking about January 2024 when he will be 20. I believe once he turns 20, he is clear of the agreement.

Would be interesting if the count the cancelled season as a year, which I personally believe they should. Would be great for Seattle and the Wright situation if they did

 

[Scomerica]

Realistically when should we expect him to be an NHL regular (if all goes well). A couple of years? What is typical of drafted players?

 

[majormajor]

My post wasn't meant to raise red flags on Wright as a prospect, it was just my take on his stage of development within the context of him being too good for junior or it being best for him to currently remain in the NHL.

I believe he will faster develop hisb sense and awareness at lower levels with a lot of ice time.

But I also do not want him to get too discouraged if he is set on never playing in the OHL again. I think this is a fine line. Hopefully he sees the wisdom in a trade from Kingston and the opportunity for a long memorial cup run with a contender.

I personally give very little consideration to whether a prospect wants to play in junior or not. If you're not NHL caliber and you're a Canadian kid then you go to junior. If they want special treatment then that's where you tell the agent to f*** off.

Realistically when should we expect him to be an NHL regular (if all goes well). A couple of years? What is typical of drafted players?

I would guess 2024-25, but a lot of it depends on the franchise.

If this was my other team, the Jackets, they would be rushing Wright to the NHL no later than next year. They tend to rush prospects and they have weaker centers.

Meanwhile the Kraken have greatly raised expectations with strong play this Fall and they're unlikely to need Wright much even next year. It's a veteran win-now team with a very high standard. And since Wright's long term development needs are probably better served with more patience anyways, we might as well wait.

 

[majormajor]

We were talking about January 2024 when he will be 20. I believe once he turns 20, he is clear of the agreement.

Would be interesting if the count the cancelled season as a year, which I personally believe they should. Would be great for Seattle and the Wright situation if they did

It's surprising that we don't have firm reporting on whether he's AHL eligible next year.

If you're correct that he becomes eligible in January 2024 then does he play part time / practice with the Kraken in Fall 2023? I don't think you can promote a player from junior to the AHL mid season. I think Wright playing part time with the Kraken can be good for his development (leaves a lot more time for training) but for both his sake and the teams he has to be prepared to play a regular shift when he does come in to the lineup. Think 11 mins not 5.

 

[Scomerica]

I personally give very little consideration to whether a prospect wants to play in junior or not. If you're not NHL caliber and you're a Canadian kid then you go to junior. If they want special treatment then that's where you tell the agent to f*** off.



I would guess 2024-25, but a lot of it depends on the franchise.

If this was my other team, the Jackets, they would be rushing Wright to the NHL no later than next year. They tend to rush prospects and they have weaker centers.

Meanwhile the Kraken have greatly raised expectations with strong play this Fall and they're unlikely to need Wright much even next year. It's a veteran win-now team with a very high standard. And since Wright's long term development needs are probably better served with more patience anyways, we might as well wait.

What is his likely floor/ceiling? Guessing Ceiling is 1/2C but with regards to floor is he likely a boom or bust pick e.g. not an NHLer rather than an average NHLer?

To make a cup run in the next few years, do we realistically need Wright to pan out or do we have enough offensively (assuming we strengthen the defense and the prospects there pan out).

Sorry if these questions are dumb. Still learning a lot about the sport like many in Seattle.

 

[majormajor]

What is his likely floor/ceiling? Guessing Ceiling is 1/2C but with regards to floor is he likely a boom or bust pick e.g. not an NHLer rather than an average NHLer?

You'll find varying opinions on that.

Personally I think he has a decently high floor. He could be a Wennberg type center (a compliment coming from me) who doesn't score much at 5v5 but helps drive play, and at minimum he should be a good powerplay goal scorer. 30 goal 2C.

I suppose it's possible that he's going to be a 3C that mostly just helps on the powerplay. That's where I'd put his floor.

 

[RayMartyniukTotems]

Do Shane Wright and the Coachella FireBirds play tonight?

 

[ottsabrefan]

We were talking about January 2024 when he will be 20. I believe once he turns 20, he is clear of the agreement.

Would be interesting if the count the cancelled season as a year, which I personally believe they should. Would be great for Seattle and the Wright situation if they did

It is not January 2024. It is birth year. His birth year can not play in the AHL next year, unless you have played four seasons in the OHL.

At this point he has only played two (soon to be three if the Kraken have any sense), so it will really depend on if they give him credit for a season that was canceled, which I doubt they would but who knows how it is written up.

 

[Irie]

Realistically when should we expect him to be an NHL regular (if all goes well). A couple of years? What is typical of drafted players?

There really isn't a "typical". Prospects all develop at different rates, so the timetable is all over the map.

From my perspective, a player at Wright's current abilities would usually have one more year of major junior after the draft, with maybe a cup of coffee in the NHL at seasons end to get a taste of the speed of the pro game.

Then at least a half of season in the AHL, but prefereable a full year, depending on his progress (Personally i like to see kids get a full year in the AHL and then start the following season in the minors unless they show they really are ready at camp - it is stupid, but the Dec 31/Jan 1 birthday decides where they can start the season in their 19-20 year old season.)

Every kid is different, but giving them a taste of the NHL then sending them down usually lights a fire under them and makes them work extra hard, which ultimately is what all players have to do to excel in the league. Too often prospects that coasted on talent alone in Major Junior that are gifted a spot on an NHL roster don't really understand the amount of extra work everyone in the league puts in, and they aren't prepared.

 

[The Marquis]

Do Shane Wright and the Coachella FireBirds play tonight?

Indeed. They play Henderson. Same tomorrow as well.

 

[RayMartyniukTotems]

You'll find varying opinions on that.

Personally I think he has a decently high floor. He could be a Wennberg type center (a compliment coming from me) who doesn't score much at 5v5 but helps drive play, and at minimum he should be a good powerplay goal scorer. 30 goal 2C.

I suppose it's possible that he's going to be a 3C that mostly just helps on the powerplay. That's where I'd put his floor.

I like Wright I think he's going to be great but to have him on the PP when there are so many more deserving players is a slap in the face. Bura,Beniers,Schwartz,Eberle,Sprong,Wennberg,McCann, Bjorkstarnd and Gourde are the top 9 F for PP1 and PP2 in my books even Donato can get consideration when he's on,so...

 

[Irie]

I personally give very little consideration to whether a prospect wants to play in junior or not. If you're not NHL caliber and you're a Canadian kid then you go to junior. If they want special treatment then that's where you tell the agent to f*** off.

Normally I of the same mindset,but with Wirght who has been treated different his entire Junior career, I feel it is wise to play it a little cautious.

He was a Exemption rule phenom, and he seems to be a really good kid with his head on right, but you can't ignore the fact that he had different expectations put on him (and he probably put different expectations on himself), so I don't think we should ignore that he has been treated differently than 99% of prospects, and therefore I think Communication is the key. His agent wants him in the NHL for the commission and is likely talking in one ear. I think it is important that you want a hungry Shane Wright, and not an angry Shane Wright.

 

[Irie]

It is not January 2024. It is birth year. His birth year can not play in the AHL next year, unless you have played four seasons in the OHL.

At this point he has only played two (soon to be three if the Kraken have any sense), so it will really depend on if they give him credit for a season that was canceled, which I doubt they would but who knows how it is written up.

That is good to know.

I thought that if he was in the NHL and not coming from Junior that the transfer agreement would not be an issue, as he is not transferring from Juniors to the AHL if he has been in the NHL, and the wording of the transfer agreement is quite ambiguous.

I can't imagine that the leagues won't modify the agreement for the cancelled OHL season. If they didn't, it would only take one lawsuit to likely upend the tradition. 18 year old athletes being prevented from working and earning a living in a third league feels like an easy win for a legal firm. Arguments based on Hockey rules and Canadian tradition likely aren't enough to win in today's legal environment outside of Canada.