The Boston Bruins are walking a fine line this season - one eye on a playoff push, the other on building a sustainable future. It’s a balancing act that’s become increasingly familiar around the NHL: compete now, but don’t compromise the long-term vision.
For Boston, that means being cautious at the trade deadline, especially when it comes to dealing away young talent or draft capital for short-term fixes. But if there’s one area where a long-term investment could pay off, it’s down the middle.
Let’s be honest - the Bruins have been getting by without a true No. 1 center this season. Pavel Zacha, Elias Lindholm, and even Marat Khusnutdinov have taken turns filling the role, each with flashes of promise but none quite locking it down as a long-term answer. That’s where Shane Wright comes into the conversation.
Wright, the fourth overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, is reportedly available. Seattle is said to be shopping the 20-year-old center in hopes of landing a legitimate top-six scorer.
The Kraken are deep at center but light on elite offensive firepower - a profile that doesn’t exactly scream “playoff threat” in today’s NHL. So, they’re looking to make a move.
And Wright, despite his high pedigree, might be the odd man out.
Now, let’s get this out of the way: the Bruins aren’t trading David Pastrnak. That’s not even a conversation.
But Boston does have other pieces that could pique Seattle’s interest. Matthew Poitras is one name that’s been floated - a young player with upside, though not yet fully established.
If the Kraken are looking for more of a sure thing, that could complicate things for Boston.
Still, there’s a path here. The Bruins have assets that could help Seattle in other areas.
Defenseman Mason Lohrei, for example, might benefit from a change of scenery and could be part of a broader package. A veteran like Viktor Arvidsson could sweeten the pot, though he wouldn’t be the centerpiece.
The point is, if both sides are motivated, there are ways to make this deal work.
So why Wright? Because he checks a lot of boxes for Boston.
He’s young, skilled, and still has untapped potential. And more importantly, he fits a long-term need at center that the Bruins haven’t been able to fully address since Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci stepped away.
Wright wouldn’t just be a rental - he’d be a building block.
If the Bruins were to land him, Wright would likely get an immediate look in the top six. It’s easy to envision a scenario where he centers the second line, allowing head coach Marco Sturm to shift Zacha to the wing, where his skill set might be better utilized. Casey Mittelstadt was once pegged for that second-line center role, but that experiment hasn’t quite panned out.
Sure, the pressure in Boston would be heavier than it is in Seattle. But the environment might also be more conducive to Wright’s growth.
Playing alongside elite talent like Pastrnak, Zacha, Lindholm, and Morgan Geekie could accelerate his development. The Bruins have a strong locker room culture and a coaching staff that’s shown they can bring the best out of young players - just look at the resurgence of Geekie this season.
What wouldn’t make sense is acquiring Wright and then burying him in the bottom six. Slotting him on the third line or pushing someone like Fraser Minten to the fourth line would do more harm than good. If Boston’s going to make this move, they need to commit to giving Wright a real opportunity to thrive.
Of course, everything comes down to cost. If Seattle’s asking price is sky-high, Boston may have to walk away.
But if the Bruins can put together a package that makes sense - one that doesn’t gut their future or current roster - it’s a deal worth exploring. Wright’s ceiling is still high, and Boston has the infrastructure to help him reach it.
Don Sweeney doesn’t need to swing for the fences. But he should absolutely be making the call. Because if Shane Wright is available, and the price is right, this could be the kind of move that helps the Bruins stay competitive now - and builds something even better for the future.