National Hockey League draft day represents “must-see” TV for hockey fans all over the globe. Although, there were plenty of smiles to go around the Bell Center during the 2022 NHL Entry Draft in Montreal, Quebec. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more “giddy” General Manager than Ron Francis of the Seattle Kraken.
After being granted the right to draft fourth overall at the NHL Draft Lottery back in April, Francis and the Kraken reeled in one of the biggest fish (no pun intended) of the day. His name is Shane Wright, and he’s poised to change the fortunes of the NHL’s newest franchise.
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King of the Kingston Frontenacs
Born and raised in Burlington, Ontario, Wright is one of those players who eats, drinks, and breathes hockey. This is fully embodied both in his play and in the way he conducts himself off the ice. His all-important path to the NHL went through the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) as a member of the Kingston Frontenacs. It was in Kingston where he quickly established himself as one of the very best players in Canadian junior hockey.
From a statistical standpoint, Wright put up some monster numbers this past season. As team captain, he skated in 63 games scoring 32 goals, 62 assists, and 94 points. In addition, he tallied 22 penalty minutes to go along with an impressive plus-23 rating. His strong play also saw him named to Team Canada’s roster at the 2022 World Junior Hockey Championships back in December. Unfortunately, this tournament was paused due to COVID-19 but is set to reconvene next month. COVID-19 also had a tremendous impact on the 2020-21 OHL campaign resulting in a full cancellation. But in 2019-20, Wright scored at a 1.13 point-per-game pace, including 39 goals and 66 points in just 58 games. He will be remembered as one of the finest players in the history of the Frontenacs franchise. A star was born.
Wright & Beniers: Seattle’s 1-2 Punch
Envision this, Kraken fans – a dynamic two-headed monster of Wright and stud prospect Matty Beniers for the next decade. At the end of last season, the Kraken front office and coaching staff made the decision to “call up” Beniers for the final ten games of the regular season. He did not disappoint, scoring three goals and nine points in a very minute sample size. We can only imagine what the future has in store for Beniers and his new teammate, Wright.
As a player, Wright is a strong, silent leader whose on-ice performances do most of the talking. He’s intelligent, self-driven, and a real student of the game. He’s good in his own end, a good penalty-killer, and one of those players that you just love to have on your team. When you look at Wright, a few glaring attributes scream out at you that stem beyond his ability between the boards. He’s reliable, coachable, works hard at his craft, and is a born leader who is more than capable of piggybacking a franchise like the Kraken. The NHL and all its affiliates have been put on notice.
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Main Image Credit: Embed from Getty Images
