The NHL offseason is underway and the league has already seen notable moves with more fireworks expected to fly in the coming weeks. Trade speculation is beginning to ramp up across the league and teams are starting to take their stands ahead of the draft and free agency.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the New York Rangers have remained quiet so far. Following another disappointing season and a reset under Chris Drury, the expectation is that the Blueshirts will be active this summer, but are unlikely to make a blockbuster move.
The Rangers are better off targeting younger players with high upside. One name worth monitoring ahead of Friday's NHL Draft is Seattle Kraken center Shane Wright.
Shane Wright’s future in Seattle remains up in the air. The Kraken continue to shop him and GM Jason Botterill is evaluating all scenarios.
— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) June 22, 2026
According to David Pagnotta, Seattle continues to evaluate Wright's future after acquiring Mackie Samoskevich. Whether the Kraken are actively shopping the 22 year old remains unclear, but his name has surfaced enough over the course of the year to raise some eyebrows.
Shane Wright’s decreasing value
Wright was viewed as the consensus No. 1 overall prospect in the 2022 NHL Draft class. However, questions about his ceiling came up repeatedly leading to draft day, ultimately resulting in a surprising slide. The Montreal Canadiens selected Juraj Slafkovský first overall, while the New Jersey Devils and Arizona Coyotes, now Utah Mammoth, also passed on Wright before Seattle selected him fourth overall.
At the time, this fall was a steal for the Kraken.
Wright entered the NHL with a reputation as one of the smartest players in his draft class. While he wasn't known for possessing elite offensive tools, his hockey IQ, motor, two-way game and ability to impact all areas of the ice made him a blue-chip prospect. His shot was also considered a strength during his junior career.
Unfortunately, Wright's career trajectory has been similar to his draft stock.
After appearing in 16 NHL games early on over two seasons, Wright finally earned a full-time role during the 2024-25 campaign. In 79 games, he posted a respectable 44 points (19 goals, 25 assists) and appeared to be trending in the right direction.
However, he failed to build on that momentum this season, recording 27 points (12 goals, 15 assists) in 74 games. While the offensive production took a step back, Wright remains a reliable two-way player capable of contributing in multiple situations.
Could a change of scenery benefit all parties?
That raises questions for Seattle.
The Kraken find themselves in a position somewhat similar to the Rangers. They have several quality NHL players throughout the lineup but lack the elite game-breaking talent needed to consistently compete. If Seattle believes Wright may benefit from a change of scenery, New York should absolutely be interested.
From the Rangers' perspective, this is the type of move Drury should be exploring.
Low risk, high reward
Wright has just one season remaining on his entry-level contract, making any sort of investment a minimal risk. More importantly, the upside is there. In a best-case scenario, Wright develops into a legitimate second-line center capable of producing 55-60 points while handling difficult defensive assignments against top competition.
Check out the hands on Shane Wright 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/Gfag4F4EF8
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 15, 2025
If he falls short of that ceiling, the Rangers would still be acquiring a responsible middle-six center who could strengthen their depth down the middle.
Framework for a trade
Drury shouldn't approach negotiations recklessly.
Earlier this season, there was buzz surrounding a potential change-of-scenery swap involving Alexis Lafrenière and Wright. That idea can be put to rest following Lafrenière's strong finish to the season. Lafreniere’s career trajectory is also a crucial piece of the future - though it is not a certainty.
A framework for a deal could include Brett Berard and a couple of third-round picks. Does this make sense for Seattle, though?
Determining Wright's value is difficult due to his undetermined ceiling. For Drury, this is the type of low-risk, high-reward move that could pay significant dividends and jumpstart the franchise into a better direction.
The Rangers found success betting on a Seattle castoff once before with Tye Kartye. Maybe Drury can strike twice and see if another buried Kraken simply needs a fresh opportunity.
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