The Seattle Kraken find themselves in a fascinating spot as the NHL season turns toward its stretch run. Despite an up-and-down campaign, they’re firmly in the playoff mix thanks in part to a Western Conference that’s struggled to separate the contenders from the pretenders. Heading into the All-Star break, the Kraken had won six of eight, climbing into third place in the Pacific Division and holding a tie for the second wild-card spot-though their three extra regulation wins give them the edge over Anaheim.
But what’s really turning heads isn’t just where Seattle stands-it’s how they’re approaching the trade deadline. General manager Jason Botterill appears to be leaning into an aggressive stance, and the name at the center of it all is a big one: Shane Wright.
Wright, the fourth overall pick in 2022, is reportedly available as a potential trade chip in Seattle’s pursuit of a top-six forward. That’s not a move you typically see from a team still figuring out its identity.
But the Kraken are in a rare position: they’ve built out a deep and balanced prospect pool over the past few years, especially down the middle. Even if they part ways with Wright, they’ve still got Berkly Catton (10th overall in 2024) and Jake O’Brien (another top-10 pick from last year) waiting in the wings.
The writing may have been on the wall for Wright’s eventual exit. Under first-year head coach Lane Lambert, his role has diminished.
After putting up a respectable 19 goals and 44 points in 79 games last season, his production has dipped to 11 goals and 22 points through 56 games this year. His ice time has dropped by about 10 seconds per game, and it’s not just the scoring that’s taken a hit.
Wright’s faceoff numbers have fallen to 37.9% (down from 44.4%), and he’s controlling just 46.3% of shot attempts at even strength-despite being deployed in favorable situations, starting more than two-thirds of his shifts in the offensive zone. For a young center trying to cement his place in a lineup, those are concerning trends.
Still, Wright’s pedigree and upside will make him a coveted piece for any team looking to retool or rebuild. Here’s a look at four teams who could be in the mix-and what a deal might look like.
Calgary Flames
If there’s a team with the assets to make a deal and the incentive to do it, it’s Calgary.
The Flames have two top-six forwards with term-Blake Coleman and Nazem Kadri-who could immediately boost Seattle’s attack. In any deal for Kadri especially, Calgary would likely demand Wright as the centerpiece.
The Flames have done a solid job stockpiling defensive and wing prospects, but they’re still lacking a clear long-term solution at center. With Samuel Honzek appearing to settle in on the wing and Cole Reschny’s smaller frame raising questions about his NHL role, Calgary doesn’t currently have a young center under 25 on the roster-especially with John Beecher sidelined.
Adding Wright would give the Flames a potential top-six center with offensive upside, something their pipeline currently lacks.
New York Rangers
Seattle reportedly made a serious run at Artemi Panarin before he chose to sign elsewhere, but their interest in the Rangers’ roster might not stop there. If the Kraken are still eyeing a top-six addition, Vincent Trocheck could be a fit-and Wright would be a tempting return for New York.
For the Rangers, this is about more than just moving a veteran. Their forward pipeline is rich with promising wingers-Gabriel Perreault, Liam Greentree, and Malcolm Spence-but they’re thin at center. Noah Laba has held down a third-line role this season, but he’s not projected to be more than a bottom-six piece long-term.
Wright would give New York a much-needed injection of high-end talent down the middle and slot in nicely with their core of young forwards. If they’re serious about reshaping their roster by the deadline, this could be a win-win.
St. Louis Blues
The Blues aren’t actively shopping Robert Thomas, but they’re listening-and the price is steep. Reportedly, it would take the equivalent of four first-round picks to pry him loose.
That’s a tall order, but Seattle could be one of the few teams with the assets to make it happen. Wright would be a logical part of that package, and the Kraken also hold four first-rounders over the next two years.
For St. Louis, adding Wright wouldn’t be about jumpstarting a rebuild-it would be about rounding out a promising young core.
Dalibor Dvorsky has emerged as a strong second-line option, and Otto Stenberg has held his own in NHL action. Wright wouldn’t immediately replace Thomas as a top-line force, but he’d give the Blues another high-upside piece in their top nine.
Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver is in the thick of a tough season, with the league’s worst record and a glaring hole at center. Their middle-six centers-David Kämpf and Aatu Räty-have combined for just five goals all year, and while Marco Rossi was brought in from Minnesota, he’s been limited by injury and hasn’t made a major impact yet.
Then there’s Elias Pettersson. After a 102-point breakout season three years ago, he’s regressed significantly, on pace for just 57 points-a career low. If the Canucks are looking to move on from Pettersson and reset the position, Wright could be the ideal centerpiece in a deal.
For Seattle, this would be a high-risk, high-reward swing. Buying low on a former star like Pettersson could pay massive dividends-especially if he rediscovers his form in a new environment. For Wright, Vancouver might offer the clearest path to top-line minutes and a chance to reestablish himself.
The Kraken are at a crossroads. They’ve built a competitive team and a deep prospect pool, but now they’re being tested: do they cash in a blue-chip piece like Shane Wright to accelerate their playoff push? And if they do, which team stands to gain the most from landing a 22-year-old center with top-five pedigree?
There’s no shortage of suitors. The question is-who’s ready to pay the price?