The Seattle Kraken are reportedly open to trading 2022 No. 4 overall pick Shane Wright, a move that would’ve seemed unthinkable just a few months ago. But as the team looks to add a high-impact top-six scorer, Wright’s name has surfaced as a potential trade chip - signaling a shift in how the organization views both his trajectory and their immediate needs.
Let’s take a step back. Coming into the 2025-26 season, Wright looked like a foundational piece for Seattle.
After a few developmental detours early in his pro career, he broke through in 2024-25 with a strong rookie campaign: 19 goals, 44 points, and the second-most points among Kraken centers. That kind of production, especially in limited minutes, had fans and analysts alike penciling him in as a long-term fixture down the middle.
He wasn’t just promising - he was productive.
Wright’s performance last season put him in elite company. He finished just behind 2022 No. 1 overall pick Juraj Slafkovsky in scoring and earned a spot on Corey Pronman’s list of the top 25 NHL players under 23.
Pronman praised Wright’s complete toolkit and projected him as either a strong second-line center on a contender or a fringe 1C on a team still building. In a league where quality centers are gold, that kind of profile usually makes a player close to untouchable.
And that was the vision: Wright and 2023 Calder Trophy winner Matty Beniers anchoring the Kraken’s lineup for years to come. Two young, two-way pivots who could grow together and lead the charge. But here’s the thing about development - it’s rarely linear.
Fast forward to the present, and Wright’s sophomore season has been a different story. Under new head coach Lane Lambert, his role has shrunk instead of expanded.
After averaging just over 14 minutes per game last year, he’s now down to 13:43. He’s stuck on the second power-play unit and isn’t seeing any time on the penalty kill.
The result? A steep drop in production - 17 points in 49 games, which translates to a 28-point pace over a full season.
Dig into the numbers, and his shooting percentage jumps out. Last year, he was converting at nearly 21%.
This season? Just 9.3%.
For a player whose shot is considered his top offensive weapon, that’s a major red flag. Whether it’s confidence, usage, or just bad puck luck, Wright hasn’t looked like the same player.
So now the Kraken are at a crossroads. Do they stay patient with a 22-year-old center who still has the tools to be a high-end contributor? Or do they use his remaining value to address a more pressing need - a dynamic offensive winger who can shake up their top six?
There’s logic on both sides. On one hand, moving Wright now would be selling low.
He’s still a recent top-five pick with a strong rookie season under his belt. Centers like him don’t exactly grow on trees, and if he figures it out elsewhere, Seattle could end up regretting it for a long time.
On the other hand, the Kraken need offense. They’ve been searching for a playmaker who can tilt the ice and finish chances, and Wright, even at his ceiling, may not project as that kind of player. Despite his pedigree, he’s not a pure creator - and that’s the type of piece Seattle is reportedly after.
If the Kraken do decide to shop Wright, they’ll have options. They could aim high and package him in a deal for a more established scorer. Or they could look for a one-for-one swap involving another young player in a similar situation - someone with top-tier talent whose development has also hit a snag.
One name that fits that mold? Kent Johnson of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Drafted one spot ahead of Wright in 2021, Johnson flashed serious offensive upside last season with 57 points in 68 games. He looked like the dynamic playmaker Columbus hoped for when they took him fifth overall.
But like Wright, his 2025-26 campaign has been a step back, and a change of scenery could benefit both players.
Now, to be clear - there’s no indication a Wright-for-Johnson deal is on the table. But when you scan the league for potential fits, Johnson is the type of player who makes sense.
He checks the boxes Seattle is looking for: youth, skill, and offensive upside. And he, like Wright, might benefit from a fresh start.
Whether or not Seattle pulls the trigger on a trade, one thing is clear: Shane Wright’s future is a major storyline to watch. He’s either going to re-establish himself as a key part of the Kraken’s core, or he’s going to be the centerpiece in a deal that brings in the kind of offensive firepower this team needs to take the next step.
Either way, the Kraken’s decision on Wright could shape the trajectory of the franchise - not just this season, but for years to come.