As the NHL trade deadline inches closer and the Philadelphia Flyers continue to teeter through a grueling, compressed schedule, the front office might be approaching a crossroads. With the team’s recent form raising eyebrows and the playoff picture still cloudy, the time for a bold move may be fast approaching - and one name being floated around could make things very interesting: Shane Wright.
The Seattle Kraken, meanwhile, are in a very different position. They’re clinging to a Wild Card spot, but with a couple of timely wins, they could leap into the divisional playoff mix.
That’s where the urgency comes in. According to recent reports, the Kraken are willing to part ways with Wright - their 2022 first-round pick and once-projected No. 1 overall selection - if it helps them bolster their top-six forward group for a playoff push.
That’s a big swing. Wright was a draft night surprise when he slipped to fourth overall, and Seattle was more than happy to scoop him up.
But since then, the fit has been rocky. Developmental growing pains, limited NHL minutes, and a sense that the organization and player haven’t quite clicked have led to this moment.
Now, the Kraken seem open to moving him - not for just anything, but for the right return.
Enter the Flyers.
Philadelphia has the kind of assets that could make Seattle listen - particularly if the Kraken are serious about upgrading their top line. The Flyers have a couple of intriguing forwards who could fit that bill, and they’ve got a stockpile of draft picks that could sweeten any potential deal.
Let’s start with Owen Tippett. Tippett’s game has matured into exactly the kind of player many teams covet: a power forward with scoring touch, physicality, and the ability to hang in a top-six role.
He’s already producing at the level teams hope Wright will eventually reach. Tippett hasn’t had the benefit of a consistent elite playmaker feeding him the puck, which makes his goal totals even more impressive.
Pair him with the right setup man, and you could be looking at a 30-goal scorer on a regular basis.
But if the Flyers are hesitant to part with Tippett - and given his age and upside, that would be understandable - Bobby Brink could be the next name on the table. Brink doesn’t have the same pedigree as Tippett or Wright, but he’s shown he can contribute across the top nine.
He’s a smart, creative forward who could grow alongside Seattle’s young core. And while he might not be the centerpiece of a one-for-one swap, the Flyers could package him with some of their 2027 draft capital to make a compelling offer.
That 2027 draft class is where things get interesting. Philadelphia holds eight picks in that draft, including two first-rounders and two third-rounders. That kind of flexibility gives them the ability to construct a deal that’s both aggressive and measured - a way to acquire a player with star potential without gutting the current roster.
Of course, there’s risk here. Wright’s development has stalled in Seattle, and while the talent is undeniable - remember, he was granted exceptional status to play in the OHL at age 15 - there are no guarantees.
Trading for him now means betting on a bounce-back in a new environment. It also means potentially giving up players who are already contributing, like Brink, or even Tippett, who looks ready to lock in as a 25-30 goal scorer.
There’s also the chemistry factor. Brink, along with Noah Cates and Tyson Foerster, has helped form one of the Flyers’ most effective lines when healthy. Breaking that up for a player who still needs seasoning is a gamble, no matter how high the ceiling.
But that’s the nature of this kind of trade: high risk, high reward. Shane Wright still has the tools to become a top-line center in the NHL. If the Flyers believe they can be the team to unlock that potential, now might be the time to make their move - before someone else does.