Seattle Kraken Bios: Shane Wright

Shane Wright Fast Facts

Number: 51 Position: Center
DOB: 1/5/04 Hometown: Burlington, Ontario Height: 6-0 Weight: 192
How Acquired By Kraken: 1st Round, 2022 Draft
NHL Seasons as of 2025: 3 (8 NHL games in each of ’22-’23 and ’23-24)
Previous NHL Teams: None
Career Bests: Goals-19 (2024-25), Assists-25 (2024-25), Points-44 (2024-25)
Notable: Wright was named an alternate captain of the OHL Kingston Frontenacs at age 15.

Although Shane Wright is just 21 years old, and the Kraken are entering just their fifth season, it feels like people have been talking and writing and debating the merits of the young center – and how the franchise has nurtured his development – non-stop since the late 1990s.

It’s been that way at least since the 2022 NHL Draft in Montreal, when the hometown Canadiens were predicted to draft Wright first overall but didn’t, and Wright was accused of shooting a dirty look at the Montreal draft table (but didn’t). And scoring his first NHL goal – against the Canadiens.

“Not at all, no,” Wright said of his non-stare. “I was just kind of looking at the cameras in front of me. To be honest, I don’t really remember too much about going up on stage. Just a whirlwind for me. I wasn’t intentionally trying to stare anyone down. Maybe it looked like that from the video, or whatever it was, but there was no intent to stare anyone down.”

Since the Kraken drafted Wright 4th overall in ’22, not exposing Wright to NHL opposition too soon has tested the patience of some observers, who have prematurely labeled him a bust. Because of complicated rules regarding North American teenage players, Shane has bounced from two different junior teams, to a conditioning stint and playoff appearances with AHL Coachella Valley, to captaining Team Canada to gold at the IIHF World Junior Championship, to cups of NHL coffee his first couple of seasons with the Kraken.

“There’s outside expectations and pressures,” Wright acknowledged in a Toronto radio interview. “But at the end of the day, I have expectations on myself. That’s what I focus on, and just go about my business day-to-day. There’s a few exceptions, but you’re not going to be able to step in and make a difference at that young an age. It’s a process, to be ready for the opportunity when it comes.”

Finally, last year, Wright gave his luggage a rest, spending his first full season in Seattle. He proved he belonged with 19 goals. DailyFaceoff.com’s scouting report: “Wright isn’t a flashy forward that’s going to blow you away with mind-blowing passes. Instead, he keeps things simple, always looking for the right tape-to-tape pass. Evaluators are mostly drawn to his off-puck game, and that’s vital for a young player. What you do to take space away or out-think your opponents is important. That’s where Wright shines.”

A deep sea octopus mom – a real one, not the kind that hold hockey sticks – has been know to tend to her developing eggs for 4 1/2 years. So see, waiting 27 months for Shane Wright to hatch into a full-time Seattle Kraken wasn’t really so long.