Wright in play as Kraken look to upgrade — The Fourth Period
The Seattle Kraken remain a team looking to make a move to upgrade their roster and add a top-six star-calibre player and it appears they are willing to trade a highly touted young player off their roster in order to get it.
Kraken GM Jason Botterill has been exploring the trade market since last season’s NHL Draft for a star level talent up front and had kicked the tires on St. Louis Blues winger Jordan Kyrou before his no-trade clause kicked in on July 1, 2025.
Kyrou appears to be the type of player the Kraken are looking for – a forward in his mid-20s with term on his contract – and Seattle continues to evaluate its options.
During Wednesday’s edition of the “DFO Rundown Insider Edition,” David Pagnotta reported that the Kraken are open to the possibility of trading young forward Shane Wright, potentially in a package, for what they are looking for.
“The Seattle Kraken are open to moving Shane Wright,” Pagnotta stated. “I think with what they’ve been looking for previously – a legitimate top-six offensive threat; ideally somebody capable of playing in the top line – the sense that I’m getting is a willingness to move and package up Shane Wright in order to get that.”
The Kraken sit two points out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference with a 21-18-9 record through 48 games (51 points) and while the club wants to remain competitive and in the playoff hunt this season, they could carry their search back into the off-season if a trade cannot be consummated by the March 6 trade deadline.
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Wright, 22, is in the second year of his three-year, entry-level contract and has seen his ice time fluctuate this season, something that appears to be frustrating for him, as Pagnotta noted – he also played under 10 minutes in Monday’s game against Pittsburgh for just the second time this season.
“I don’t get the sense that Shane Wright is overly thrilled with his usage lately,” Pagnotta said. “You know, I think his last game he played under ten minutes, and he wants to have more responsibility. He wants to have more ice time. He has to earn that, as well – can’t just be handed it to him – but there’s a little bit of disappointment there with respect to his usage from his side of things, which is understandable.”
In 48 games this season, thus far, Wright has scored seven goals and added 10 assists for 17 points.
