Canucks are Shane Wright’s preferred destination: report

Seattle Kraken forward Shane Wright has voiced his displeasure with his situation on his current team. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that Wright’s camp and the Kraken have agreed that a fresh start is in the best interest of both parties.

Donnie & Dhali’s Rick Dhaliwal shared that the Vancouver Canucks called the Kraken about Wright last week, but the asking price was ‘very high’. And on Monday, we learned that Wright’s preferred destination is Vancouver, according to Postmedia’s Ben Kuzma.

“Postmedia has learned Vancouver is Wright’s preferred destination because of what the club could become in a few years,” Kuzma wrote. “Those who know him are convinced he might be the most misunderstood player in the NHL.”

You can read Kuzma’s full story here!

Wright, 22, was selected by the Kraken fourth overall in the 2022 NHL Draft. The right-shot centreman was given exceptional status and viewed as the top prospect in the class for most of his draft season. Wright scored 32 goals and 62 assists for 94 points in 63 games with the Kingston Frontenacs, adding three goals and 11 assists for 14 points in 11 playoff games in his draft year.

The Montreal Canadiens shocked the draft when they passed on him and selected winger Juraj Slafkovsky first overall, even though their team best suited a centre. The Canadiens weren’t the only team to pass on Wright, as the New Jersey Devils selected right-shot defenceman Simon Nemec at second overall, and the Arizona Coyotes – now the Utah Mammoth – took a different centre, Logan Cooley, instead.

The Burlington, Ontario native did not become a full-time NHLer until the 2024-25 season. Wright had two eight-game stints with the Kraken in his draft-plus-one and plus-two seasons, but made the jump after a 22-goal, 47-point season in the AHL with the Coachella Valley Firebirds.

In that 2024-25 season, Wright showed signs of why he was a high first-round pick. He scored 19 goals and 44 points in his rookie year, but his production dropped in his sophomore campaign, scoring just 12 goals and 27 points in 74 games. Throughout his two full years in Seattle, Wright has played bottom-six minutes. He is now looking for an opportunity to further develop in a higher role.

Wright is in the final year of his entry-level contract that carries a cap hit of $886,666.