Shane Wright is expected to return to the Seattle Kraken's lineup tonight against the Anaheim Ducks after missing the previous three games as a healthy scratch.
Shane Wright is expected to return to the Seattle Kraken's lineup tonight against the Anaheim Ducks after missing the previous three games as a healthy scratch.
Shane Wright is expected to return to the Seattle Kraken's lineup tonight against the Anaheim Ducks after missing the previous three games as a healthy scratch.
With just a goal and an assist through 18 games, something needed to be done to help the 20-year-old centre snap out of his funk. Sitting in the press box as a healthy scratch isn't necessarily a confidence booster but does allow a player some time to reset. A clearer mind can help a player play more freely and trust himself instead of overthinking every movement they make.
Ben Meyers was called up when Jordan Eberle suffered his injury and immediately replaced Wright. Meyers wasn't able to record any points playing in limited minutes but allowed the Kraken to give Wright some time to watch from a different angle.
Wright is still very young and each player's development is different but the Kraken were hoping for him to take a big step. The Kraken can trust Wright to play a solid defensive game but are asking for more offence from the 2022 fourth-overall pick.
Too often, Wright lets his linemates carry the puck and drive the play instead of doing it himself. In every level outside of the NHL, Wright has shown a full offensive toolset. He has a release capable of beating goaltenders, foot speed to create separation from defenders and the playmaking ability to create offence. His hands are quick and his passing is crisp but is too frequently afraid of making a mistake instead of trusting himself to make plays that others can't.
Wright will have limited time to make an impact with the Kraken and he's still eligible to be sent down to the AHL with the Coachella Valley Firebirds. If he can't find his game in the NHL, regaining his confidence in the AHL has worked in the past for him and could do so again this year.
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