The trade chatter around Seattle Kraken center Shane Wright has picked up serious steam in recent days-and it’s not just idle speculation anymore. With insiders weighing in and potential destinations being tossed around, things escalated when Elliotte Friedman floated a bold idea on the latest episode of the 32 Thoughts Podcast: a straight-up swap between the Kraken and the New York Rangers, sending Wright to the Big Apple in exchange for Alexis Lafrenière.
Now, on paper, it’s the kind of deal that grabs attention. Two former top picks.
Two players in need of a spark. Lafrenière, the No. 1 overall pick in 2020, has yet to fully deliver on the offensive promise that made him a can’t-miss prospect.
Wright, drafted fourth overall in 2022 after once being projected to go No. 1, has had a rocky start to his NHL journey. A change of scenery for both?
It’s not the wildest idea out there.
But when you dig a little deeper, the cracks in this potential deal start to show.
Let’s start with Wright. The Kraken were thrilled to land him at No. 4, believing they’d snagged a franchise-altering center.
And while Wright has shown flashes-19 goals and 44 points in his first full season is nothing to sneeze at-he hasn’t quite locked down that top-six center role Seattle envisioned. He’s still developing, still finding his place in the NHL, and a move to New York might not offer the ideal conditions to accelerate that growth.
Think about it: in New York, Wright would be slotted behind Vincent Trocheck and Mika Zibanejad down the middle. That depth chart could ease some pressure, sure, but it also limits his ice time and opportunities to take on bigger responsibilities. For a young player still trying to carve out his identity, that’s a tough spot to be in.
Then there’s Lafrenière. While he hasn’t become the offensive force Rangers fans hoped for when he was taken first overall, he’s far from a bust.
He’s carved out a role, shown signs of growth, and with the salary cap expected to rise, his contract is only going to look better with time. Trading him now-especially in a 1-for-1 for a player who hasn’t fully found his footing-feels like selling low.
And that’s not the kind of move that tends to sit well with fans or front offices.
There’s also the risk that Lafrenière could blossom elsewhere. If he were to hit his stride in Seattle, the Rangers would be left wondering what might’ve been.
That’s why, if this trade were ever to gain real traction, it would likely need more than just Wright going to New York. A high draft pick, a solid prospect-something to sweeten the pot and balance the risk.
As it stands, a straight swap doesn’t quite add up. Timing, context, and development curves all play a role here.
The Rangers might be better served revisiting Lafrenière trade options in the offseason, when the market opens up and more teams are in play. Wright could still be part of those conversations down the line, but under different circumstances and with a different framework.
For now, it’s a fun thought experiment. Two young players, both looking to take the next step. But in the real world of NHL roster-building, this one needs more than just a 1-for-1 headline to make sense.