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# Analysis: Shane Wright, Seattle Kraken Need One Another After Rumor-Filled Offseason
- URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/seattle-kraken-shane-wright-need-one-another/
- Published: 2026-09-02T21:05:10.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-02T21:05:10.000Z
- Author: Josh Frojelin
- Tags: Analysis, Kraken, Shane Wright

Former top-five NHL draft pick Shane Wright and his camp reportedly were working on a trade from the [Seattle Kraken](https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/seattle-kraken-shane-wright-trade-replacement-options/) early this offseason, and his time with the organization appeared to be coming to an end.

But with no movement yet on the trade front and training camp beginning later this month, it’s possible - if not probable - Wright at least starts next season in Seattle. And that could be best situation for his development and career.

Last season, the 2022 fourth overall pick played 74 games and finished with 24 points, good for ninth on the team. Wright averaged 13:48 of ice time, which was 10th among Seattle forwards. His ice time peaked in February, where he missed most of the month with injury, but averaged 15:40 of ice time through five games. Wright’s scoring and ice time dwindled alongside the Kraken’s playoff chances in the closing stretch.

While these numbers are underwhelming considering Wright’s promise and draft position, it’s in the player and organization’s best interest to play out this season. Wright has one year remaining on his entry level contract and will be a restricted free agent next summer, and quite frankly, there’s two big reasons why staying put would serve him and the organization well in 2026-27:

### **1\. There are few better opportunities**

Wright, 22, would remain a middle-six center with the Kraken. Matty Beniers and Chandler Stephenson will continue as the team’s top two centers, and earn a lot of the minutes against opposing team’s top lines. Both will also continue to have significant penalty killing roles.

Wright’s the clear third-line option. The Kraken have a stable of talented wingers, and Wright could play with any of Kaapo Kakko, Berkly Catton, Bobby McMann, or Mackie Samoskevich next season in a myriad of lineup combinations.

Also, if Wright is to develop into a solid two-way center, then he needs to keep playing. He missed his entire Division I season because of COVID’s impact, played 36 regular season games with three different teams the following year, and has never averaged more than 14:04 in ice time per-game in the NHL.

The 22-year-old Wright is still a promising young player. According to [The Athletic’s Corey Pronman](https://youtu.be/TbOxE1Q7Uao?si=O4h7733jTkMPjvTN&ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com), he is a “good NHL player” who can be a “long-term third-line center.” Pronman ranked him 57th among all under-23 players.

At this stage in the offseason, most NHL teams have their center depth solidified. The contending teams that have openings at third line center will want a more proven player in that role. Rebuilding teams needing a second or third-line center would not have a player with Catton’s promise or McMann’s scoring touch in their middle-six.

If Wright performs well this season, scores a career high, or holds his own in an elevated role: there will be more suitors for a trade next offseason. Wright’s best opportunity to play meaningful minutes alongside solid wingers is with the Kraken.

### **2\. There aren’t better available centers for Seattle**

If general manager Jason Botterill trades Wright, and doesn’t receive a center in return as part of the package, the Kraken would have a massive gap at third line center. The team would need to convert a forward such as Jared McCann or Catton to the position, or continue to play Frederick Gaudreau significant minutes.

In free agency, there are a couple centers who could join the Kraken if needed. Tyson Jost and Phillipp Kurashev showed promise early in their careers but haven’t earned significant NHL roles the past couple seasons. 36-year-old Adam Henrique has played both center and wing in his NHL career and remains unsigned. But none of those options would be better than simply keeping Wright.

In their farm system, besides top prospect [Jake O’Brien](https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/seattle-kraken-jake-obrien-rookie-ahl-season-nhl-future/), the Kraken also lack high-upside centers for the future. If Wright only becomes a third-line center, that’s still a role that Seattle will need to fill in the future, and there isn’t an immediate fix on that front in the organization’s current pipeline.

Assuming another team isn’t going to part ways with a quality center plus a high draft pick to acquire him, especially at this point in the offseason, retaining Wright makes the most sense for Seattle. The Kraken would struggle finding a center who plays as well as Wright does now, and the 22-year-old still has upside as a solid middle-six player for the future, with the outside chance that things could truly click for him this season and potentially make the inability to trade him previously a blessing in disguise.