Could Shane Wright Be a Fit for the Flames? Here’s Why It’s Complicated
The Olympic trade freeze is officially in place, and while some teams are using the pause to regroup, the Calgary Flames have already made one of their bigger moves with the Rasmus Andersson deal. That trade signaled something larger: Calgary is leaning into a rebuild. And with that comes a familiar formula-stockpile picks, add high-upside prospects, and target NHL-ready young players who fit your timeline.
Enter Shane Wright.
The 20-year-old Seattle Kraken center has been circulating in trade conversations around the league. And while nothing is imminent, there’s enough smoke to suggest Seattle is at least listening. Which raises the question: Should the Flames make a push for Wright?
Wright on the Market?
Let’s start with what we know. Wright was the 4th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, a player once projected to go first overall.
His transition to the NHL hasn’t been smooth, but he’s carving out a role in Seattle’s lineup. Through 56 games this season, he’s posted 11 goals and 22 points-decent for a young center, but short of the lofty expectations that followed him out of junior.
Still, the tools are there. Wright has top-six potential, and teams around the league know it. But if Seattle is serious about upgrading their forward group, especially with a proven scorer, Wright might be the piece they’re willing to move to make that happen.
Flames’ Fit: A Need Down the Middle
From Calgary’s perspective, this is the kind of opportunity that doesn’t come around often. Young, skilled centers with upside rarely hit the market. And for a team that’s clearly resetting, Wright could be a foundational piece.
The Flames’ depth down the middle has been a concern for a while. They’ve got some intriguing prospects in the pipeline, but no clear-cut answer at the top of the lineup. Wright wouldn’t solve everything overnight, but he fits the mold of a player you build around-young, skilled, and under team control for years to come.
So yes, the interest would be real. But that’s only half the equation.
What Would It Take?
Here’s where things get tricky. Seattle isn’t in teardown mode.
They’re not looking to flip Wright for draft picks and long-term projects. The Kraken are sitting third in the Pacific Division, and while they’re not considered a serious Cup threat just yet, they’re trying to get there.
That means they’re shopping for immediate impact, not future potential.
Reports suggest Seattle has been aggressive in trying to land a top-tier forward-there was even chatter about a push for Artemi Panarin, with Wright potentially part of the return. That tells you everything you need to know about the Kraken’s mindset.
They’re not giving Wright away. If they move him, it’ll be in a “hockey trade”-player for player, talent for talent.
Which brings us back to the Flames.
Calgary doesn’t have a surplus of big-name, NHL-ready forwards who would interest Seattle in that kind of deal. And they’re not likely to part with their top young assets-players like Matt Coronato, who’s viewed as a key piece of the rebuild.
Could a package of picks and prospects get it done? Maybe, but that’s not what Seattle’s looking for right now. Unless the Kraken pivot their strategy, it’s hard to see a realistic path for the Flames to land Wright without giving up something they’d rather keep.
Worth Keeping an Eye On
This is the kind of trade that makes sense on paper for Calgary. Wright fits the rebuild timeline, fills a critical need, and still has the ceiling to be a top-six center in the league. But the asking price-and Seattle’s current trajectory-makes it a long shot.
Unless the Kraken shift gears and become more open to future-focused assets, the Flames probably don’t have the right pieces to get a deal done. That doesn’t mean it’s impossible, but for now, it feels more like a dream scenario than a developing reality.
Still, if Wright remains on the block, expect Calgary to stay in the conversation. Because players like this don’t become available often-and for a team building for the future, it’s the kind of swing that could pay off in a big way.