First thought

Complete and utter chaos. But Corey Pronman called it. And I doubted it. It is easy to imagine both Matty Beniers and Shane Wright donning the Deep Sea Blue in Seattle’s top-six forward group for many years to come. He was not on our radar in the mock draft, as we assumed he would be long gone. This is a fantastic break for the Kraken.

Player profile

Center | Kingston Frontenacs | Age: 18 | Height: 6’0.5″ | Weight: 199 lbs | Right shot

SeasonTeamLeagueReg Season
GP
GAPtsPIMPlayoffs
GP
GAPtsPIM
2019-20Kingston FrontenacsOHL5839276610
2021-22Kingston FrontenacsOHL633262942211311140
Source: HockeyDB

What does the Big Board say?

Wright was No. 1 on the Big Board and No. 1 in my analytics rankings. There were no players higher on either list available at the time of Seattle’s selection, obviously.

What does he look like on the ice?

What are scouts saying?

“[Wright] is such a well-rounded player because of how well he thinks the game. His success is built around micro play driving and terrific reads, with and without the puck. He anticipates the actions of his teammates and those of the opposition so well, and this puts him a step ahead of the competition on many nights. When you combine this with his high-end skill, elite shooting mechanics, and strong skating ability, you have a player who should become a more than reliable top-six forward at the NHL level.” – McKeen’s

Where can I find more information?

Mike Morreale and Adam Kimelman interviewed Shane Wright

Elite Prospects (full Wright profile is free) on Shane Wright

Chris Peters on Shane Wright

Tony Ferrari on Shane Wright

Sam Cosentino on Shane Wright

Corey Pronman of The Athletic ($$) on Shane Wright

Scott Wheler of The Athletic ($$) on Shane Wright

Adam Portzline of The Athletic ($$) on Shane Wright

Instant Reaction

Closely scrutinized as the likely No. 1 pick all year, he was mostly commonly criticized for simply being “very good” but not great. Scouts also seemed hung up on a calm demeanor on the ice that at times gives the impression of disengagement. (Think the opposite of Yanni Gourde’s demeanor.) But the production was there. He led the OHL in points per game among draft eligible players and ended up No. 1 overall on my analytics board. The Kingston offense ran through him; he made everything work. Scouts put elite grades on his passing and hockey sense. His defense, physicality, skating, and shot all check in solidly above average too. This provides a solid floor for Wright as a top-six forward, with upside to be an All-Star. This is a tremendous outcome for the Kraken.

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