The Penguins may be circling a different young center if their Jason Robertson pursuit stalls, and the name now in the mix is Shane Wright.
Josh Yohe of The Athletic reported that Pittsburgh could have interest in the Seattle Kraken forward, and the fit is easy to see on paper. Wright is only 22, carries an affordable contract, and still has room to grow. For a Penguins roster built around veterans, that kind of age profile stands out.
Yohe said, "General manager Kyle Dubas and the front office are intrigued by Wright." Yohe continued, "And really, why wouldn’t they be? He checks every box."
That said, the price tag is the real issue. According to Yohe’s reporting, Seattle’s asking price is high enough that Pittsburgh may not want to meet it. He also noted, "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."
Wright, the former fourth overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, has not fully lived up to expectations in Seattle, and the source material says the player and team have mutually accepted that a change of scenery is coming. Even so, the Kraken are not expected to move him cheaply.
For the Penguins, the appeal is obvious: a young center who could fit into a more structured environment and potentially give the team a long-term answer down the middle. But Kyle Dubas is not expected to overpay for that gamble. If the cost stays steep, Pittsburgh may have to look elsewhere.
For now, Robertson remains the main name to watch. If he stays with Dallas and never becomes available to Pittsburgh, Wright could emerge as the fallback option - but only if Seattle softens its demands enough to make a deal realistic.
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