Canucks: Why Shane Wright is intriguing as a potential reclamation project - Global Trends, Breaking News & Viral Updates

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They believe that in the right place, at the right time, and with the right systems and deployments, they can get the most out of reclamation projects.

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That’s why the Vancouver Canucks have been interested in forward Alexis Lafreniere in the past when the New York Rangers’ No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 draft struggled in the 2022-23 season, posting just 16 goals and 39 points. JT Miller trade discussions have heated up again, and Artemi Panarin’s departure in a deal with the Los Angeles Kings last February allowed Lafreniere to once again surpass the 20-goal mark.

This brings us to the intriguing and somewhat mercurial Shane Wright, who has approached the Seattle Kraken about a trade.

The center is often remembered for what appeared to be a death-defying look at the Montreal Canadiens’ 2022 draft table after the consensus top-rated prospect fell to fourth overall and was selected by the Kraken. It overshadowed what he accomplished on the ice, especially on the international stage.

The Canadiens stunned pundits by turning to Slovakian right winger Juraj Slafkovski, who has proven to be a smart choice and has scored 30 goals this season. Wright rejected the death stare analogy but admitted the draft snub took a toll on him.

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It’s still here. And this is important because he is an alpha male, assertive and confident.

Kraken center Shane Wright chases JT Miller during an NHL preseason game on Sept. 29, 2022, at Rogers Arena. Photo by Bob Fried /USA TODAY Sports

The Canucks are trying to solve their “puzzle in the middle” and a motivated player with the right deal price could be the key.

Elias Pettersson trade rumors continue despite his no-move clause. Concussion-prone Filip Chytil should probably play on the wing to reduce the likelihood of colossal collisions. Gifted face-off hitter Aatu Rathi can rise to the top with seven points (4-3) in 10 games and help his native Finland capture the 2026 world title in May.

And potential medalist Braden Coots could be drafted into the NHL or take advantage of the new rule to play in the AHL at age 19 and rack up mega minutes. When you add it all up, you can see why the Canucks were interested in Wright.

The 6-foot, 192-pound wrestler is Burlington, Ontario. Native has scored just 12 goals this season in just 13:48 of average ice time, six minutes less than centers Chandler Stephenson and Matty Beniers. Wright did score 19 goals in the 2024-25 season in an average playing time of 14:04 minutes and is considered a reliable second-line pivot.

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Seattle has already rushed to trade barriers in hopes of snatching up defenseman Ze’ev Buyum or Tom Willander, but that’s not happening. And you shouldn’t part with a high draft pick, which is necessary to restore capital. The Canucks will be in the market for veterans with market value and could acquire forward Jake DeBrusk and a second- or third-round pick to land Wright.

DeBrusk, 29, is at the point in his career where winning is everything and the Kraken is an afterthought in the Pacific Division. The vastly improved Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks have changed the power rankings, and the Kraken often looked like they were trying not to lose rather than pushing the envelope to win this season.

They need help everywhere.

Wright was not a starter on the team’s 20th-ranked power play team this season and was not involved in the shootout, where his reading, reactions and smart stick work would have supported the league’s second-worst rating. He was also stuck in a conservative even-strength system that led to low-event games that didn’t take advantage of Wright’s high-end skill.

Strikers were trained to think defensively first, and this limited their ability to switch tempo quickly. And Wright rarely had consistent linemates to develop chemistry with, which obviously impacted his productivity.

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Postmedia has learned that Vancouver is Wright’s preferred destination because of what the club could become in a few years. Those who know him believe he may be the most misunderstood player in the NHL.

Wright has one year remaining on his entry-level contract worth $886,666 before becoming a restricted free agent. He has an incentive to work and contribute to the rebuild, and if he does, the Canucks could lock him up.

The book about Wright’s work on his way to the NHL is also a good read because it contains history.

He was granted exceptional player status as a 15-year-old for the 2019-20 OHL season – just the sixth to earn the award in a list that includes John Tavares, Aaron Ekblad and Connor McDavid – and responded with 66 points (39-27) in 58 games.

He also captained Team Canada at the 2021 Under-18 World Championships, finishing second in the competition in scoring with 14 points (9–5) in five games and scoring twice in the final against Russia to win gold.

Wright also captained Canada’s gold medal-winning team at the 2023 World Junior Championships and recorded seven points (4-3) in seven games.

Does Wright have the right stuff for the NHL? He is young and hungry. Is this enough to make a deal here?

bkuzma@postmedia.com

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