The New York Rangers have already made a real effort to reshape their forward group, but they may still be hunting for another middle-six piece. That need has only grown with Vincent Trohceck no longer on the roster, and one name that has surfaced in that conversation is Shane Wright.
Wright, the former 2022 third-overall pick, has been linked to the Rangers dating back to the lead-up to the trade deadline. He is still with Seattle for now, and he would give New York a swing at a player with upside, even if his NHL production has not matched the expectations that followed him into the league.
But the Rangers might not be alone. A division rival appears to be very interested in Wright, and that could take him off the board before New York gets a real chance.
The Athletic’s Josh Yohe reported that Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas is "intrigued" by Wright and likes him. There is also a familiar connection in the organization: Ron Francis, who drafted Wright in Seattle when he was the general manager, is now with the Penguins. On top of that, Pittsburgh has added front-office employees who recently worked for the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League, where Wright played his junior hockey.
"... I have heard that Dubas likes him.
And remember, former Seattle Kraken GM Ron Francis just returned to the Penguins organization, and few people know Wright better on a personal or professional level than Francis," writes Yohe. "The Penguins have also hired several front-office employees who recently worked for the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League, where Wright played his junior hockey.
"Wright makes all kinds of sense for the Penguins, but it’s the same old story. From what I’ve heard, the asking price for Wright is, to put it lightly, substantial, and possibly more than Pittsburgh is willing to pay."
That web of connections makes Pittsburgh a serious threat here. Francis knows Wright well.
The front office has more familiarity through the Kingston link. And if Dubas is as interested as Yohe reported, the Penguins have plenty of reason to explore a deal.
Wright’s numbers help explain why this remains a tricky market. In his first full season with the Kraken in 2024-25, he scored 19 goals and added 25 assists in 79 games. The follow-up was less encouraging, with Wright finishing this past season with 27 points in 74 games.
Even with that dip, Seattle is not treating him like a bargain-bin pickup. Since the trade deadline, the Kraken have mostly been shopping Wright for a scorer, and the asking price has stayed high. That could be too rich for both the Rangers and the Penguins, though the price could still change as the months go on.
For now, Wright sits in that interesting space between underachiever and possible buy-low gamble. If a team believes a new setting can unlock more, he fits the low-risk, high-reward mold. Whether that team is the Rangers or the Penguins is the part still waiting to be answered.
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