The Philadelphia Flyers are starting to show real signs of progress in their rebuild - not just flashes, but a foundation that’s beginning to take shape. Veterans are still contributing, role players are stepping into bigger shoes, and the younger core is starting to find its stride. It’s not a finished product, but it’s a roster that’s starting to look like a team with a plan.
General manager Danny Briere and president of hockey ops Keith Jones have already made some savvy moves, but the biggest decisions are still ahead. The Flyers are building something, but they’re still missing one key ingredient: a true top-line center.
And without that, the depth behind them becomes even more important. Right now, they don’t have either - not in the way a contending team needs.
There’s a fine line here. The Flyers can’t afford to sit still if the right opportunity comes along, but they also can’t afford to make a move just for the sake of making one. The wrong fit, the wrong timing - it could undo a lot of the progress they’ve made.
That said, Briere has already shown a knack for finding value where others might not be looking. Trevor Zegras is a great example.
He came in as a possible solution at center but has found a groove on the wing, nearly producing at a point-per-game pace. It’s not what was originally envisioned, but it’s working - and that’s what matters.
Still, the need down the middle remains. Whether it’s a true No. 1 or a reliable middle-six option, the Flyers need more help at center. And that brings us to a name that’s starting to generate buzz: Shane Wright.
Could Shane Wright Be the Flyers’ Next Reclamation Project?
It’s not a one-to-one comparison to Zegras, but the situation with Shane Wright in Seattle is starting to feel familiar. According to Elliotte Friedman, the Kraken are open to moving the 22-year-old center - and that’s not just smoke.
Seattle’s season has been a rollercoaster. They looked like sellers in December, put together a few strong stretches, and now seem to be sliding again. Through it all, Wright’s name has stayed on the trade radar.
Wright, of course, was once the consensus No. 1 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft - until he wasn’t. He slipped to fourth overall and landed with the Kraken, where things haven’t exactly gone according to plan. The talent is still there, and the competitive edge is obvious (Flyers fans will remember that draft-day glare), but the development path has been anything but smooth.
His first two seasons were a shuffle between the NHL, AHL, and OHL. Last year was his first full NHL campaign, and he showed some promise: 19 goals, 25 assists, 44 points in 79 games. That’s solid production for a young center, especially one playing with a rotating cast of wingers like Oliver Bjorkstrand, Eeli Tolvanen, Andre Burakovsky, and Jared McCann.
This season, Wright has 18 points (7 goals, 11 assists) through 52 games. He’s been skating mostly on the third line, recently alongside Jaden Schwartz and Kaapo Kakko. It’s not an ideal setup for a young center still trying to find his game.
And it’s not just about linemates - Seattle hasn’t exactly been a model of consistency when it comes to player development. Three head coaches in three seasons will do that.
Dave Hakstol was in charge through 2024, followed by Dan Bylsma, and now Lane Lambert. That’s three different systems, three different voices, and a lot of stop-and-start for a young player still finding his way.
Wright might not become the franchise-changing player he was once projected to be - not every top pick does. But he still has the tools to be a productive middle-six center, and at just 22, there’s time for him to grow into that role.
He’s in year two of his entry-level deal, which carries a manageable $886,667 cap hit through next season. After that, he’ll be a restricted free agent.
What Would It Take to Get Wright to Philly?
That’s the big question. Top-five picks rarely get moved this early in their careers, but it’s not unheard of.
Just look at Kirby Dach - drafted third overall in 2019, traded to Montreal for a first and a third-rounder at the 2022 Draft. The Flyers could be looking at a similar price tag if they want to bring Wright into the fold.
Friedman mentioned that Seattle has long been searching for a dynamic offensive player - someone with top-line scoring ability. They have Matty Beniers, but they’ve never had that pure, game-breaking forward. There’s hope Wright could help them get that, either by developing into it himself or by being used to acquire it.
That’s where things get tricky for the Flyers. They don’t exactly have a young, dynamic scorer to dangle. Owen Tippett’s name might come up in trade chatter, but unless it’s for a bona fide No. 1 center like Robert Thomas - who Friedman also mentioned as potentially available - Tippett shouldn’t be going anywhere.
Maybe Bobby Brink could be part of a package. He’s shown he can be a valuable depth winger, but it would likely take more than just Brink to get a deal done.
Another name to watch could be Jett Luchanko. He’s a younger center prospect who hasn’t lit up the scoresheet since being drafted last year, but he might be the type of player Seattle could see as a comparable - or at least a fresh start.
If the Kraken are truly motivated to move Wright and the market isn’t flooded with suitors, the asking price could come down. That’s the kind of window a smart front office looks for.
Bottom Line: Wright Is Worth a Look
No, this isn’t a slam dunk. Wright isn’t a guaranteed top-line center, and the Flyers can’t afford to overpay. But he’s the kind of player worth asking about - a young center with pedigree, upside, and a manageable contract.
Centers are hard to find in today’s NHL. Centers with Wright’s draft pedigree and age rarely become available. And for a team like the Flyers, still building toward something bigger, this could be the kind of calculated swing that helps push the rebuild forward.
If Briere and his staff see something in Wright - something they think they can unlock - it’s a conversation worth having.