NHL experts: What landing Shane Wright means for Seattle Kraken

The Seattle Kraken made an enormous splash Thursday with their No. 4 total number of middle Shane Wright, who has been on the NHL radar for years and was a longtime favourite to go No. 1 total within the 2022 NHL Draft.

Seattle Kraken Draft: Why Shane Wright at 4 might be steal of all steals

As a substitute of going first total to the Montreal Canadiens – or second to the New Jersey Devils or third to the Arizona Coyotes – the proficient middle fell to fourth total, the place the NHL’s latest franchise scooped him up.

So what precisely are the Seattle Kraken getting with Wright? How quickly may we see him enjoying on the NHL stage? And the way good may a duo of Wright and Matty Beniers be?

We had loads of nice NHL Draft protection on Seattle Sports activities 710 AM Friday to assist reply these questions, with senior ESPN NHL author Greg Wyshynski becoming a member of The Mike Salk Present and ESPN commentator John Buccigross, who calls NHL video games for the community, becoming a member of Bump and Stacy.

Right here’s what these two needed to say concerning the latest member of the Seattle Kraken.

Greg Wyshynski

First, how quickly may Wright go well with up in an everyday season sport? Wyshynski stated Wright feels he can play from Day 1.

“He thinks he’s NHL-ready. I imply, he clearly believes that there are some sides to this sport that also want refinement however he totally expects to play within the league subsequent yr,” Wyshynski stated. “And it’s going to be completely as much as the Kraken as as to if or not they really feel the identical means.”

Wyshynski stated that the Kraken could resolve the 18-year-old Wright wants “a bit extra seasoning” and will select to not “burn a yr” of his rookie contract. That being stated, he doesn’t suppose Seattle drafted Wright with the thought that he gained’t contribute in 2022-23.

“I are likely to consider if you happen to’re taking Shane Wright, you’re taking a participant that you simply consider goes to be in your roster subsequent season, however that’s actually type of climbing into the thoughts of (basic supervisor) Ron Francis and attempting to determine what their projection is for subsequent season,” Wyshynski stated.

Whereas Wright for a few years was regarded as the following huge factor within the NHL, Wyshynski stated the middle gained’t “blow you away along with his skillset” however must be an excellent NHL participant.

“I feel he’s very adaptable to what’s taking place within the league now. Defensive competence is his forte and his offense comes from his protection. It’s type of the place the league is true now,” he stated. ” … This man isn’t (Oilers star) Connor McDavid, he’s not (Maple Leafs star) Auston Matthews. It’s the rationale why folks approached this draft with some hesitation pondering it was going to be type of a weak class. I disagree, I feel it’s type of deep, nevertheless it definitely didn’t have that, like, transformative participant on the prime. So Wright goes to come back in and he’s going to be assured. He’s not going to gentle the world on fireplace. He’s going to play actually, very well and be stable in all sides of the sport. He has a really excessive hockey IQ.”

The Kraken drafted a proficient middle second total a yr in the past in Beniers, who wound up enjoying within the closing 10 video games of the season after ending his school profession at Michigan, scoring 9 factors for Seattle. How good may a pairing of Beniers and Wright be for the Kraken?

“What the Kraken have now could be they’ve bought two items of priceless DNA,” Wyshynski stated. “Matty Beniers goes to be nice. I feel he’s a top-line participant on this league. If Shane Wright isn’t a top-line participant on this league – and I’ve talked to a variety of scouts that say (Wright reminds them) of a poor man’s Patrice Bergeron (the Boston Bruins captain), and I had one inform me the opposite day (Wright reminds them) of David Krejci, who was an important second line middle for the Bruins – he doesn’t must be ‘the’ man in Seattle you probably have Beniers there. I feel Beniers goes to pan out to be the higher participant. However on the finish of the day, a 1-2 punch up the center like that? That could be a robust foundational pair to construct round if you happen to’re the Kraken.”

Take heed to Wyshynski’s full dialog with Salk at this hyperlink or within the participant beneath.

John Buccigross

Wright was all the time going to go early on this draft, however was it actually a shock that he slid to fourth total? Buccigross doesn’t suppose so.

“If he didn’t go (first total), I did suppose he’d begin to slip as a result of the Devils didn’t want a middle. And there was some speak perhaps he’d find yourself at six and perhaps the Kraken would go together with an enormous, right-handed defenseman,” Buccigross stated.

However Wright being accessible at fourth total was too good of a possibility for Ron Francis and Co.

“I feel particularly after you are taking Matty Beniers final yr and now this yr to go back-to-back facilities and begin to actually construct your staff from there, man, you’ll be able to’t go that up,” Buccigross stated. “These guys might be a few 10-year veterans or 12-year veterans you’ll be able to actually construct your staff round, in order that was clearly an important day for the Kraken when that occurred.”

Having two younger, proficient facilities like Beniers and Wright units the Kraken up very effectively for the long run, Buccigross burdened.

“These are 18-year-old youngsters, 19-year-old youngsters, and also you don’t know the way it’s going to finish up ultimately, however man, to get two facilities – facilities are so priceless, they’re arduous to search out and so they’re a very powerful place on the staff after goaltender – and to get two back-to-back like this might actually set the Kraken up,” he stated.

How good will Matty Beniers be in his first full season?

So what sort of participant can Wright change into?

“When he was a 15 or 16 yr previous, (scouts) thought he is perhaps the following Sidney Crosby or Connor McDavid. Then as he didn’t fairly attain that trajectory, you marvel, did he peak early? Is he going to get higher? Is that this the most effective he’s?” Buccigross stated. “And he’s not going to be that generational Artwork Ross Trophy, 60-goal man, however may he find yourself being in all probability an excellent 10- or 12- or 15-year professional? Yeah. And if he’s an excellent, superior No. 2 middle on a very good staff, then that’s fairly good.”

Take heed to Buccigross’ full interview with Bump and Stacy at this hyperlink or within the participant beneath.

Seattle Kraken draft tracker: A more in-depth have a look at the staff’s 11 picks

Follow @TheBGustafson