What could be the ‘Wright’ destination for Shane Wright?
The former fourth-overall pick in the 2022 NHL draft hasn’t had everything go to plan in his short career with the Seattle Kraken so far. So much so that his agent Kurt Overhardt told Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman that the team has agreed to attempt to move him to a team in need of a young center. That attracts many teams’ eyes, including the Penguins, who, as Josh Yohe of The Athletic reports, are a club that is in the mix.
The 22-year-old, who enters the final year of his entry-level contract that pays him $886K annually, tallied a career high of 44 points in 79 games in his first full NHL season. Shooting at 20.9%, this production wasn’t far behind 2022 No. 1 overall pick Juraj Slafkovsky (51 points in 2024-25). Wright followed up with scoring 27 points in 2025-26, a drop off that was a head scratcher for the player who was expected as a consensus No. 1 overall pick before that draft night in 2022.
Pittsburgh needs a young center, and outside of Benjamin Kindel, who proved himself in his age-18 season, the Penguins aren’t exactly deep in that position department from an age standpoint. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, while continuously aging like fine wine, won’t be around forever. Thomas Novak can provide a steady 40-point season, but where does the upside come in?
Wright is exactly the top-tier prospect that they could take a chance on for a change of scenery.
Even if Wright isn’t the No. 1 center that he was projected to be in 2022, it’s a sure bet that a former top-five NHL draft pick will produce a long career as a middle-six player. Centers in the NHL are difficult to come by, and if the Pens can strike gold on Wright, it’d be a worthwhile bet if it hits.
As Yohe points out, Pittsburgh’s front office is knowledgeable of Wright. Former Kraken GM Ron Francis is back in the Steel City. Along with that, there are members of their brass who have worked with Kingston, Wright’s OHL team, where he dominated with 94 points in 63 games in 2021-22, eighth in the league, naming him the CHL’s top draft prospect.
Pittsburgh’s only stall is the pricetag that Seattle is putting on Wright. It wouldn’t be light, and the Kraken ideally would be looking for a big return. In the next two drafts, the Penguins have seven picks within the top-64, two of which are their own first-rounders, and the rest reside in the second round.
Considering what they have in the prospect department to add on, are they willing to trade away a Harrison Brunicke, Bill Zonnon, and/or Will Horcoff?
The idea of what Seattle wants is vague for now, but could they maybe ask for a Sergei Murashov to back Joey Daccord in net? If the Penguins want to consider the possibility of getting Wright into black and gold colors like his junior days, they may have to consider parting ways with some young talent they favor dearly to supplement the post-Crosby era. It appears they have the resources to do so, but it’s up to Pittsburgh to evaluate what is best for their overall trajectory to remain competitive now as they are and continue to have future intrigue that will develop into the lineup for years to come.