Shane Wright is poised to demonstrate his ability to play full-time for the Seattle Kraken this season after showcasing his skills during a brief call-up in April.
“Taking that experience of having some success (in the NHL), and obviously being able to contribute offensively, too, is always a good feeling for me,” the 20-year-old center told NHL.com’s Darren Brown. “I’ll be able to bring that to camp, that confidence and that feeling (of), ‘Hey, you know? I can belong here. I can really make a difference here in this league and have a prominent role as well.'”
Wright participated in eight NHL games last season: a three-game stint in November where he went scoreless, followed by a five-game stretch near the end of the regular season in which he scored four goals and registered one assist. This latter stretch included a standout performance against the Anaheim Ducks, where he recorded three points.
The 2022 fourth overall pick spent the majority of the 2023-24 season with the AHL’s Coachella Valley Firebirds, tallying 22 goals and 47 points in 59 regular-season games, along with 13 points in 12 playoff matches during the team’s run to the Calder Cup Finals.
This experience marked a significant change for Wright, who had a busy 2022-23 season. He played eight games in the NHL, another eight in the AHL, 20 games with the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires, and represented Canada at the 2023 World Junior Championship.
Dan Bylsma, the newly appointed head coach of the Kraken and former bench boss for the Firebirds, acknowledged the challenges Wright faced over the past two years. “I think this year served as a great opportunity for him to establish himself as a player,” Bylsma said. “Just put his head down, play 72 games, play playoff games, and work on his game and develop as a person and as a player. I think that’s clearly evident. It was great to see his progression throughout the year.”
Wright expressed enthusiasm about working with Bylsma at the NHL level. “I love Dan as a coach,” he stated. “I think overall, just the way he kind of gets his message across and how he motivates, how he kind of connects with the players, to me, I really like that. … He’s so passionate, and he’s very detailed.”
The three players selected ahead of Wright in the 2022 NHL Draft—Juraj Slafkovsky, Simon Nemec, and Logan Cooley—each played full-time roles for their respective NHL teams last season. In July, Wright acknowledged that he has “had to learn what it’s like to be a pro.”
The Kraken were unable to reach the postseason in the 2023-24 season after qualifying the previous year.
