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

[Fistfullofbeer]

Bylsma got the Pens job mid-season on the back of a very good AHL resume and went on to a Stanley Cup that year. He had a lot of success after but no other cups with contending teams. My impression and I think others were he played favorites with certain veteran players and not giving younger talented players much time to succeed. Eventually wore out his welcome in Pittsburgh and was fired. Went to Buffalo and was run out after two years after players apparently not willing to play for him. He just always struck me the wrong way when he had press conferences and such. Kinda smug and sticking to his favorites. All just my opinion but I know a lot on the Pens HF board felt similarly. Just not a fan at all. He is doing a great job in Coachella Valley!

I think him allowing players like Evans, Kartye, Petman, etc. to play shows that he will give the youngsters a chance if they are performing and contributing. There is no free pass based on pedigree.

 

[The Marquis]

I think him allowing players like Evans, Kartye, Petman, etc. to play shows that he will give the youngsters a chance if they are performing and contributing. There is no free pass based on pedigree.

Yeah, definitely looks that way. I'm definitely liking what I'm seeing so far from him.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

Yeah, definitely looks that way. I'm definitely liking what I'm seeing so far from him.

Yeah. Looks like he has responded well so far. Hopefully he can keep it going.

 

[Fuhrious]

To be fair, one of GMRF's best decisions thus far was snatching up McCormick and Poturalski for CV. I'm sure having those two leading the room down there makes Bylsma's life considerably easier. Hopefully they really ARE the sort of guys that young kids like Wright, Evans, etc. can learn how to be a pro from, Bull Durham style.

 

[Gniwder]

This dudes worst decision was to play in the OHL. That league is just f***ing him at this point. First the full season shut down, second that 24 game rule. Third, the deal with the NHL that prevents him from playing in the AHL. Truly disappointing.

It's a CHL transfer agreement, not just the OHL. 24 game rule or not, he wouldn't have 4 seasons anyways. It's the COVID cancellation that is screwing everything up. Seems natural for a kid from Ontario to want to play in the OHL.... or did you expect him to predict COVID?

If his issue is moving the puck, he's better off in juniors than AHL. Bylsma has nothing to teach him in that regards, he's all dump and chase like his pro career as a 4th liner. Disco Dan was pretty much useless as a Wings assistant. The team had the worst PP in the league during his tenure, between him and Blashill they coached a completely static PP.

 

[Gniwder]

Beniers was second overall. He’s great but the era of guys drafted that high taking a long time to make an impact seems to have mostly passed. It’s a young man’s league now.

I think people would be happy if wright was getting a chance to play in front of them instead of being benched for months and now being in the AHL.

Shane played more NHL games this season than all other picks from last year except Slafkovsky who got 39 games.

2022 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com

A sortable list of players drafted in the 2022 NHL Entry draft, including their career scoring after being drafted

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I had an issue with him being benched though, he should have been playing, even if it meant in the OHL.

 

[GrungeHockey]

Shane played more NHL games this season than all other picks from last year except Slafkovsky who got 39 games.

2022 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com

A sortable list of players drafted in the 2022 NHL Entry draft, including their career scoring after being drafted

www.hockeydb.com

I had an issue with him being benched though, he should have been playing, even if it meant in the OHL.

I don't agree with you here. There are many elements to a young guy's development and one of them that we as fans only guess at (but teams doing it right know in depth) and that relates to their mental make up and personal psychological aspects. Perhaps they felt Wright needed a little lesson in realizing it wasn't going to come easy and automatic like it has for him so far in life. Perhaps he needed to see he needed to have a better work ethic. Perhaps sitting, being knocked down a peg so to speak and watching the effort and work they guys who played put in was very instructive for him, as the coaches were pointing out his flaws and weaknesses.

Sometimes a little humility lesson is necessary.

I'm not worried about Wright at all at this point.

 

[Gniwder]

I don't agree with you here. There are many elements to a young guy's development and one of them that we as fans only guess at (but teams doing it right know in depth) and that relates to their mental make up and personal psychological aspects. Perhaps they felt Wright needed a little lesson in realizing it wasn't going to come easy and automatic like it has for him so far in life. Perhaps he needed to see he needed to have a better work ethic. Perhaps sitting, being knocked down a peg so to speak and watching the effort and work they guys who played put in was very instructive for him, as the coaches were pointing out his flaws and weaknesses.

Sometimes a little humility lesson is necessary.

I'm not worried about Wright at all at this point.

Sending him down would have sent the same message.... which they eventually had to do anyways. Sitting out games does nothing for a developing player, there was a bit too much indecision there by the front office.

I think he'll do well in the NHL, he knows where to go and shoots well. Problem is that he might wind up being a winger, because he doesn't carry the puck. Not the end of the world as long as he scores.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

Sending him down would have sent the same message.... which they eventually had to do anyways. Sitting out games does nothing for a developing player, there was a bit too much indecision there by the front office.

I think he'll do well in the NHL, he knows where to go and shoots well. Problem is that he might wind up being a winger, because he doesn't carry the puck. Not the end of the world as long as he scores.

Unless he starts driving play and possession, yeah. He has a wicked shot that is already NHL-level, but I feel he defers to his teammates too much. That seems strange, given how he dominated the leagues he has played in before and looked good until his draft year.

My concern with Wright is not even that he does not get to be a good top-6 player for us but when. If he cannot play in the AHL next season and is forced to be sent down to juniors, it costs him another year in his development. Being moved up and down last season, not getting play time and just a general lack of confidence could really not have helped in his development.

 

[GrungeHockey]

Sending him down would have sent the same message.... which they eventually had to do anyways. Sitting out games does nothing for a developing player, there was a bit too much indecision there by the front office.

I think he'll do well in the NHL, he knows where to go and shoots well. Problem is that he might wind up being a winger, because he doesn't carry the puck. Not the end of the world as long as he scores.

I don't agree. I think a little time here, a little time there, some more elsewhere, it's all different things, different aspects. He had little to learn at the junior level. Just makes him cocky.

In any event doesn't matter. He comes to camp, he either makes the roster or he doesn't. It should stay all 100% merit based here on in no matter who you are or where you were drafted.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

I don't agree. I think a little time here, a little time there, some more elsewhere, it's all different things, different aspects. He had little to learn at the junior level. Just makes him cocky.

In any event doesn't matter. He comes to camp, he either makes the roster or he doesn't. It should stay all 100% merit based here on in no matter who you are or where you were drafted.

I am genuinely nervous about next season since it sounds like Wright will have to go back to juniors. Even if he puts a lot of work in the off-season, which I expect he will, he has a mountain to climb to break into the top-12 to start the season. And if he doesn't, it is juniors for the whole season. And that is where I am not sure if he benefits or not.

 

[GrungeHockey]

I am genuinely nervous about next season since it sounds like Wright will have to go back to juniors. Even if he puts a lot of work in the off-season, which I expect he will, he has a mountain to climb to break into the top-12 to start the season. And if he doesn't, it is juniors for the whole season. And that is where I am not sure if he benefits or not.

I'm not worried. If he has to go back he goes back. He's young. It'll be fine.

 

[majormajor]

Unless he starts driving play and possession, yeah. He has a wicked shot that is already NHL-level, but I feel he defers to his teammates too much. That seems strange, given how he dominated the leagues he has played in before and looked good until his draft year.

My concern with Wright is not even that he does not get to be a good top-6 player for us but when. If he cannot play in the AHL next season and is forced to be sent down to juniors, it costs him another year in his development. Being moved up and down last season, not getting play time and just a general lack of confidence could really not have helped in his development.

I am genuinely nervous about next season since it sounds like Wright will have to go back to juniors. Even if he puts a lot of work in the off-season, which I expect he will, he has a mountain to climb to break into the top-12 to start the season. And if he doesn't, it is juniors for the whole season. And that is where I am not sure if he benefits or not.

If I've got a 19 year old high skill prospect who needs to work on confidently carrying the puck on the attack, and staying on his feet in board battles, and overall just needs to try things, then normally I want want that kid in junior.

My only concern is that he'll need a good coach down there. Marc Savard just moved up to Calgary.

 

[Kat Predator]

Watching the Calder Cup finals, I'm not so sure he couldn't take the bull by the horns. Go back to the CHL with the intention of dominating the competition and dialing in his game. Unless some sort of switch flips this offseason, I don't see how he makes the Kraken lineup in October. It's not impossible, but there seem to be too many other options in Coachella ahead of him at this point.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

Watching the Calder Cup finals, I'm not so sure he couldn't take the bull by the horns. Go back to the CHL with the intention of dominating the competition and dialing in his game. Unless some sort of switch flips this offseason, I don't see how he makes the Kraken lineup in October. It's not impossible, but there seem to be too many other options in Coachella ahead of him at this point.

i think it is highly unlikely he makes the NHL roster. While he showed improvements through the AHL playoffs, he has a ways to go. I just hope he explodes in the CHL this season and goes there with a point to prove instead of going through the motions.

 

[rsteen]

I don't agree with you here. There are many elements to a young guy's development and one of them that we as fans only guess at (but teams doing it right know in depth) and that relates to their mental make up and personal psychological aspects. Perhaps they felt Wright needed a little lesson in realizing it wasn't going to come easy and automatic like it has for him so far in life. Perhaps he needed to see he needed to have a better work ethic. Perhaps sitting, being knocked down a peg so to speak and watching the effort and work they guys who played put in was very instructive for him, as the coaches were pointing out his flaws and weaknesses.

Sometimes a little humility lesson is necessary.

I'm not worried about Wright at all at this point.

I'm not worried. If he has to go back he goes back. He's young. It'll be fine.

If his issue is work ethic and things coming easy to him, the last thing he needs is yet another year of junior. He'll practically be an overager and can dominate purely by being one of the oldest players in a league for teenagers. He was already at the second-highest points/game in the OHL during his stint this year.

If he can't go to the AHL, I'd guess he stays with the Kraken until the WJC like last season. IMO he should have got his cup of coffee and been sent down last November. Most of an OHL season plus WJC, then move on to the AHL this year. They didn't expect him to get hurt and not make the 25 games I guess.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

If his issue is work ethic and things coming easy to him, the last thing he needs is yet another year of junior. He'll practically be an overager and can dominate purely by being one of the oldest players in a league for teenagers. He was already at the second-highest points/game in the OHL during his stint this year.

If he can't go to the AHL, I'd guess he stays with the Kraken until the WJC like last season. IMO he should have got his cup of coffee and been sent down last November. Most of an OHL season plus WJC, then move on to the AHL this year. They didn't expect him to get hurt and not make the 25 games I guess.

I don't think its work ethic. My feeling is that it is mental. He is trying to play mistake-free hockey to show that he is more NHL-ready. I don't think he is ever going to be an offensive dynamo, but he needs to get more comfortable driving play on his line instead of being a passenger. The skill is there, and the IQ is there, but the coaches just need to get him to change his approach to the game.

 

[The Marquis]

I don't think its work ethic. My feeling is that it is mental. He is trying to play mistake-free hockey to show that he is more NHL-ready. I don't think he is ever going to be an offensive dynamo, but he needs to get more comfortable driving play on his line instead of being a passenger. The skill is there, and the IQ is there, but the coaches just need to get him to change his approach to the game.

Which sort of says his IQ isn’t there.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

Which sort of says his IQ isn’t there.

Not necessarily. I think it's more like playing with blinders. He just needs to take them off. In this case, needs a coach to tell him to not worry about making mistakes and just be creative.

 

[The Marquis]

Not necessarily. I think it's more like playing with blinders. He just needs to take them off. In this case, needs a coach to tell him to not worry about making mistakes and just be creative.

My argument for this would be that a high IQ player wouldn’t need to be coached out of this problem, they’d have it resolved already. I realize I’m in the vast minority in Wright when it comes to his IQ, but it’s the one thing from his game I haven’t seen. Nothing screams High IQ to me. He’s a good hockey player but he’s holding himself back from my perspective.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

My argument for this would be that a high IQ player wouldn’t need to be coached out of this problem, they’d have it resolved already. I realize I’m in the vast minority in Wright when it comes to his IQ, but it’s the one thing from his game I haven’t seen. Nothing screams High IQ to me. He’s a good hockey player but he’s holding himself back from my perspective.

Undoubtedly. I am not disagreeing on the bolded. What I am saying is that he has not been able to figure this out himself, so needs coaching to help out. That does not necessarily make his IQ low, just needs to be pointed in the right direction.

I have seen tons of smart people be so single minded that they don't see other options right in front of them.

 

[majormajor]

If his issue is work ethic and things coming easy to him

It's not really work ethic and things have not come easy for him.

He hasn't fully dominated juniors yet. Certainly not in the playoffs.

I don't think its work ethic. My feeling is that it is mental. He is trying to play mistake-free hockey to show that he is more NHL-ready. I don't think he is ever going to be an offensive dynamo, but he needs to get more comfortable driving play on his line instead of being a passenger. The skill is there, and the IQ is there, but the coaches just need to get him to change his approach to the game.

I agree here, he needs an offensive push. He should be making more mistakes! You don't say that often.

 

[rsteen]

It's not really work ethic and things have not come easy for him.

He hasn't fully dominated juniors yet. Certainly not in the playoffs.



I agree here, he needs an offensive push. He should be making more mistakes! You don't say that often.

If you look at the list of points leaders in major junior, it's often overagers. Wright had the most points of any OHL draft eligible player during his draft year and was second in points/game during his spell there this spring. I'm not sure dominating the OHL does much for him at this point in his career because you would expect an almost 20 year old in the OHL to dominate just by the fact that he's so much more physically mature than the majority of the kids he's playing against.

He had a couple of impressive assists during the Calder Cup finals which was encouraging in terms of trying things offensively. If he was in the AHL next year, knowing he was there for the year unless he performed well enough to get called up, I think he might do all right in terms of trying things.

 

[Sad People]

Impressive interview for someone so young.

 

[sigma six]

Seems like a great kid with his head on straight. It's going to be awesome to have him here when he's ready.