Analysis: 3 Trade Scenarios for Seattle Kraken Involving Shane Wright
In a playoff spot as of the Olympic break, the Seattle Kraken sit third in the Pacific Division with a record that keeps them competitive in the Western Conference Wild Card race as well. However, their offense ranks towards the bottom in most offensive statistics and to make a real push to be a playoff contender, they need some serious scoring juice.
Trading Shane Wright, the 2022 fourth-overall pick now 22 years old, could be a strategic move to address immediate needs and accelerate the team's contention window with an instant upgrade, though making such a deal with a talented young player carries significant risk.
With the NHL trade deadline looming on March 6, let’s explore three possible trade scenarios that involve Seattle packaging Wright for an upgrade.
Baseball’s Back: Five Notes from Mariners’ First Spring Training Action of 2026
With blue skies above and many excited fans all around in that picturesque Cactus League ballpark, the Seattle Mariners played their first game of 2026 Spring Training on Friday, Feb. 20. The first day of spring is perhaps the most hopeful time for all 30 teams in any given year, with a nearly clean slate injury-wise and the first harsh reality checks of the regular season still a month and change away.
A quite packed house of 9,956 spectators dotted the Peoria Sports Complex to see the Mariners and Padres both take to their home Spring ball yard. They saw prospects go up against powerhouses in exciting duels and yet also witnessed players trip over each other, lose cans of corn in the sun, and make Little League errors in base coverage. No one got hurt and the game doesn’t count, so both sides came away with a smile in a 7-4 win for Seattle. But what does the first preseason action of 2026 tell us about how things might go when real chips are down for the Mariners?
Michael Arroyo put on a good display at the dish, with a homer and double to power early Seattle production.
Seattle’s system has a fair amount of top-end hitting prospects, and although Colt Emerson and Lazaro Montes headline the system, the crown in Peoria bore witness to another of Seattle’s guys in the farm system. Michael Arroyo, who struggled a bit with his power after his promotion to Double-A in 2025 with a .255/.376/.341 slash line (though this was still a 121 OPS+ where 100 is league average) - and yet decreased his strikeout rate against better pitchers - went into Spring with the chance to show what exactly the Mariners have with him.
Super Bowl Champion Seahawks Bolster Secondary, Pass Rush in Pre-Combine Mock Draft
On the heels of a historic Super Bowl run that brought the Lombardi Trophy back to the Pacific Northwest, the Seattle Seahawks won’t have too much time left to celebrate with the heat of the offseason now underway, including the upcoming 2026 NFL combine in Indianapolis.
Looking to fortify the roster for a title defense, Seahawks general manager John Schneider won’t have near as much capital to work with as he has over the past four drafts, as the team currently has only four selections. This includes three picks in the first three rounds at the very tail end of the round due to winning the Super Bowl and only one pick in the final four rounds, in large part due to trading a fourth and fifth-round pick to the Saints at the trade deadline in October to acquire receiver Rashid Shaheed.
Kicking off our annual draft coverage on Emerald City Spectrum, if the 2026 NFL Draft happened over the next three days without any trades, who would the Seahawks add to the mix with their four selections?
Gonzaga WBB Smashes Washington State 75-50 to Remain Atop WCC Standings
Needing to keep pace with the other handful of teams bunched at the peak of the WCC, Gonzaga women’s basketball (20-8, 12-3) took care of business at home Thursday night, dismantling Washington State (5-22, 4-10) by a score of 75-50 to holds its first-place spot with three games remaining in the regular season.
Considering the Bulldogs beat the Cougs by six points the last time these teams squared off three weeks ago, GU certainly brought the correct adjustments and mindset for such a lopsided victory this time around, especially coming off the team’s tough loss on Saturday to LMU that had significant implications on conference seeding. The Zags played a brand of basketball that they intend to continue to build on with the postseason on the horizon — physicality on defense and limiting turnovers.
Offensive Explosion Guides Washington State to Blowout 87-70 Win vs. Pacific
After what may have been their worst performance of the 2025–2026 season, the Washington State Cougars responded in emphatic fashion Wednesday night. The Cougars delivered arguably their most complete game of the year, knocking off the fourth-place Pacific Tigers 87–70 in a performance that showcased their ability to shoot the ball.
With the victory, Washington State now finds itself tied with Oregon State for fifth place in the West Coast Conference standings and sits just a half-game behind Pacific for the fourth spot. Considering how tightly packed the middle of the conference table is, Wednesday’s win could prove pivotal as the regular season winds down.
What stood out from the Cougs’ unexpected offensive onslaught?
Kraken the Ice: Would Trading Shane Wright Be Right Deadline Move for Seattle?
Closing in on their return to action as the Winter Olympic break nears a conclusion, the Kraken could have a massive decision on their hands regarding the future of Shane Wright.
Emerald City Spectrum writer Nick Lee breaks down why Seattle may have interest in moving Wright for the right price, shares his thoughts on what that right price would have to look like in terms of compensation to finalize a deal before the deadline, and recaps the latest exploits by Kraken players on the Olympic ice in Milan.
‘It’s an Honor’: Brian Fleury Ready to Tackle First Play Calling Role as Seahawks’ New Coordinator
Selecting his third offensive coordinator in as many offseasons since taking over as head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, Mike Macdonald has learned a thing or two about trusting the process, sticking to his core principles and philosophies in the search for a new play caller as much as Xs and Os.
While some skeptics may question hiring a coordinator who has never called plays at any level, Macdonald isn’t in that camp, seeing far more to the job than simply turning plays into the quarterback. Looking at the entire picture while seeking a candidate with a diverse coaching background and a shared vision offensively post-Klint Kubiak, Brian Fleury checked off every other box on the checklist, landing himself the opportunity to be a coordinator for the first time in Seattle.
Now, Fleury plans to pay it forward rewarding by Macdonald for his faith in him, taking his career path to the next level as one of the few non-head coach play callers in the NFL with the defending Super Bowl champions.
Mitch Garver Returns to Mariners on Minor League Contract; Will Big League Team See Him in 2026?
When the 2024 season took flight, Mitch Garver was fresh off one of the best seasons of his career. In 87 games as a catcher and DH for the Texas Rangers, he slashed .270/.370/.500 for a 138 OPS+ (where 100 is league average) with 19 homers, 11 doubles, and 50 RBIs. But the real crown jewel of that season came on Nov. 1, when his Rangers sealed their first World Series victory.
The Mariners wanted a piece of that action. Ever short a bat and needing a reliable backstop to complement burgeoning star Cal Raleigh, president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto dished out the then-largest free agent hitter contract of his tenure, a two-year, $24 million deal with a $12 million mutual option for a third year that had a $1 million team buyout.
Things didn’t quite go according to plan. Over 201 games in 2024 and 2025, Garver slashed .187/.290/.341 for an 85 OPS+. A decline in batting average on balls in play from .313 in 2023 - an unheeded warning that he was due for regression - to .236 over the next pair of summers took a lot of the wind from his sails, concurrent with a decline in line drives and an increase in grounders. The M’s took the buyout and Garver took heed of his options, but in the end, he returned to Seattle on a minor league contract. Will he find his way back to the big league club, or will any value from Garver in 2026 be more organizational?
What to Know About Storm’s Newest Assistant Coaches
More than three months after being hired, Seattle Storm head coach Sonia Raman has assembled her coaching staff for the 2026 season.
The Storm announced that they hired Natalie Achonwa, Jarell Christian and Michael Joiner, completing what will be an entirely new staff under Raman after the franchise parted ways with former head coach Noelle Quinn.
In an offseason that still holds an incredible amount of uncertainty, the Storm nearly have all their ducks in a row before the WNBA Draft in April. Now, they just have to wait and see what happens with the CBA, the expansion drafts and free agency before finalizing a draft plan.
Here’s what you should know about all three of the Storm’s newest coaches.
Late Game Mishaps Derail Redhawks’ Spirited Comeback vs. Gaels in 72-70 Loss
With the question of who fill the void of Brayden Maldonado after his ankle injury on Sunday against Oregon State, multiple Redhawks did their best to pick up the slack for Seattle U in a critical home game on Wednesday night.
But in a matchup against a 23-4 Saint Mary’s squad, an already shorthanded Redhawk squad made too many mistakes down the stretch to finish off a torrid comeback attempt, falling short in 72-70 loss to the Gaels at Climate Pledge Arena.
Despite trailing by as much as 14 points in the first quarter, Seattle stormed back in the second half and both teams were tied at 67 with about 1:30 left to play. On offense, the Redhawks had the ball in the hands of Jojo Murphy, who made his first start of the season in place of Maldonado. With a chance to take the lead, the senior guard drove into the lane but lost the ball for a costly turnover. On the other end, Saint Mary’s capitalized, turning to Mikey Lewis in isolation as the sophomore guard finished high off the glass for the go-ahead bucket.
Gonzaga Bulldozes San Francisco 80-59 at Chase Center
Mark Few’s message to his team all season long has been that ‘every dog will have its day’. When Braden Huff, Gonzaga’s star forward, was sidelined in the middle of January with a left knee injury, the significance of that motto increased substantially. Huff’s running mate in the frontcourt, Graham Ike, was expected to and has held things down from a production standpoint.
But for a period, the Bulldogs struggled to find consistent offense from those alongside Ike with Huff on the bench, lacking the balance needed to truly threaten teams in the half-court.
Now continuing to build off strong performances, the Zags (26-2, 14-1) are getting welcome contributions from several members on the roster game-over-game, most recently disposing of San Francisco (15-14, 7-9) 80-59 to extend their winning streak to four. Even with Ike scoring 22, his eighth straight game of eclipsing 20 points, punishing the Dons who dared him to knock down open mid-range jumpers – and he obliged – the story was about those around him, who provided enough to leave the Chase Center with a blowout victory.
Mike Macdonald, Seahawks Build Strong Contingency Plans With Fortified Coaching Staff
Paying the heavy toll that comes as a mandatory cost of winning in the NFL, the Seattle Seahawks expectedly have suffered significant coaching departures after defeating the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX, headlined by the immediate exit of offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak to accept the head coaching job for the Las Vegas Raiders.
Losing Kubiak, who helped steer a top-three scoring offense quarterbacked by Sam Darnold in his lone season calling plays for the Seahawks, won’t be an easy task for the organization. In addition, former quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko followed him to Vegas, taking over as the Raiders new offensive coordinator, leaving two major vacancies for coach Mike Macdonald to fill in quick order. Such staff turnover plays a big role in the struggle to repeat in the league, as only two teams have won back-to-back Super Bowls since 2001.
Fortunately for Seattle, however, Macdonald has grown leaps and bounds when it comes to evaluating coaching talent and building/maintaining a staff since the franchise first hired him as a first-time head coach in 2024. Already having experience hiring two offensive coordinators, he had a clear objective in mind seeking Kubiak’s replacement, emphasizing the desire for continuity while still keeping all options on the table with both internal and external candidates in the mix.
Analysis: How Can Redhawks Overcome Lengthy Absence for Brayden Maldonado?
In the midst of a WCC battle against the Oregon State Beavers, the Seattle U Redhawks lost the engine for their offense when Brayden Maldonado left the game and did not return with an injury. In his absence, Seattle stepped up when its primary shot creator left the the game with 36 of its 60 points coming off the bench, securing a 60-50 win.
But assuming Maldonado will miss extended time moving forward, a much taller task awaits the shorthanded Redhawks at their doorstep on Wednesday with a rematch against the 23-4 Saint Mary’s Gaels.
Every time Maldonado brings the ball up the court, it’s clear he is at the top of the opposing scouting report. All eyes defensively are zeroed in on him, making sure they can affect the 10th leading scorer in the WCC anyway they can. Guards chase the senior guard around the perimeter all game, two defenders attack him as the ball handler on every screen, and he’s the undivided center of attention.
Three X-Factors in Mariners’ Success For 2026
For the Seattle Mariners to return to the playoffs in 2026, it’s obvious which usual suspects have to have strong seasons. Cal Raleigh, while unfair to be expected to mash 60 homers again, needs to be among the league leaders in home runs with a slugging percentage at least near .500. Julio Rodriguez needs to be a 30-30 threat again (30 home runs/30 stolen bases). The top three of the rotation need to be reliable and healthy. Andres Muñoz needs to keep throwing gas and stay healthy as well. That’s all a given.
But to get further than the Divisional Round this time around, Seattle will need contributions from other sources to get over the top. Which X-Factors, if they perform perhaps better than expected, could drive the Mariners finally to their first World Series berth?
Washington State Aims to Right Ship vs. Upstart Pacific Squad
The Washington State Cougars return home this week looking to bounce back in a big way as they prepare to face one of the biggest surprises in the WCC in the Pacific Tigers. Pacific currently sits alone in fourth place in the conference standings, a position few would have predicted before the season began.
At 17–11 overall, the Tigers have already secured their highest win total since the 2019–2020 season. Even more impressively, their eight wins in WCC play mark their best conference performance since the 2019-2020 season as well. After finishing near the bottom of the league in recent seasons, Pacific has made a dramatic leap forward and has become one of the most improved teams in the conference.
According to KenPom, Pacific ranks No. 104 in the country — its highest rating since 2010. To fully understand how significant that jump is, consider where the Tigers have been recently: they ranked 358th nationally just two seasons ago and 284th last year. That type of improvement in such a short span speaks to how good of a job coach Dave Smart has done.
The Montlake Report: Why Did Huskies Part Ways With Jimmie Dougherty So Late in Offseason?
In a rare mid-February coaching change, the Washington Huskies announced they had reached a mutual split with offensive coordinator Jimmie Dougherty.
Emerald City Spectrum reporter Aaron Coe discusses the surprising move, examining why Washington may have made such an abrupt decision this late in the offseason and where Jedd Fisch may turn to now fill a big hole on his coaching staff.
Seahawks Entering Great Unknown With Sale Now Imminent
Back in February 1996, the Seattle Seahawks already had one foot out the door with sights on moving to Anaheim, California, as then-owner Ken Behring cited the inability to secure a new stadium to replace an aging Kingdome as the primary reason for relocation.
Only 20 years into their existence as an NFL franchise, Behring’s efforts to move the team went as far as equipment being shipped to a facility in Anaheim that previously belonged to the Los Angeles Rams. In the middle of a 10-year drought without a playoff appearance, which still stands as the longest stretch in franchise history to this day, it was a tumultuous stretch for Seahawks fans on and off the field without certainty that the team would still be in town in the near future.
Thankfully for the 12s, after King County and the state of Washington sued Behring for a lease violation, the NFL stepped in with threats of massive fines, ultimately forcing Behring to halt his ambitious relocation plan and put the team up for sale. Paul Allen jumped in as the savior for the franchise, purchasing the Seahawks in 1997 and quickly securing a new stadium, ensuring the team would stay in the Pacific Northwest permanently.
Analysis: Ranking Riq Woolen, Seahawks Projected 2026 Free Agents
Now officially in offseason mode after capturing a Super Bowl title for the second time in franchise history, the Seattle Seahawks have several big questions to answer on the free agency front with a new league year set to begin on March 11.
Compared to prior offseasons, the Seahawks have a quite healthy financial situation, as OverTheCap.com has them currently with $62 million in effective cap space, the sixth-most in the NFL. But at the same time, in addition to 16 unrestricted and restricted free agents, general manager John Schneider has several young stars now eligible for extensions, including All-Pro receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and cornerback Devon Witherspoon, inevitably meaning that the franchise won’t be able to keep everyone set to hit the market next month.
Looking at Seattle’s projected unrestricted and restricted free agents, who stands out as the players Schneider and company should prioritize re-signing?
Washington Huskies to Make Abrupt Change at Offensive Coordinator
The Washington Huskies will have a new offensive coordinator for the 2026 season.
The UW football team and Jimmie Dougherty have parted ways, according to reports early on Tuesday, while NFL veteran offensive coordinator Matt Cavanaugh emerged as a potential replacement. Dougherty confirmed his departure from the Washington football program with a social media post later on Tuesday.
Multiple Redhawks Step Up Off Bench in 60-50 Win Over Beavers
Midway through the first half, the Seattle U Redhawks leading scorer, Brayden Maldonado, exited to the locker room with a lower body injury. Typically, this would spell doom for a mid-major college basketball program, especially one that has struggled as much as Chris Victor’s team has on the offensive side of the court all season long.
But despite the devastating loss for Seattle with Maldonado unable to return to play, it was all hands-on deck for John Christofilis and the Redhawks as they managed to fill that void with 37 points off the bench and come away with the 60-50 win over Oregon State on Sunday night at the Redhawk Center.
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