The Pittsburgh Penguins are currently second place in the Metropolitan Division. As of today Moneypuck has them at 72.4% to make the playoffs. This raises an interesting question for Kyle Dubas, will the Penguins be buyers?
In what was considered a season in which the team would be sellers, the Penguins rise in the standings has hit pause on that proposition, for now. However, it doesn’t mean they are going to go out and be buyers in the way they previously operated. They aren’t going to be spending draft capital or prospects for rentals, that much is for sure.
What might happen is Kyle Dubas finding another trade along the Egor Chinakhov vein. If there are players in their early or mid-twenties who might be looking for a change that would be something Dubas would consider.
One such player might be made available, Seattle’s Shane Wright.
Wright’s career path
Shane Wright was the 4th overall pick in the 2022 draft. Unfortunately, for both Wright and the Kraken things haven’t progressed the way both parties would have liked.
Wright was originally pegged as the #1 overall pick in 2022, but fell in the rankings during the runup to the draft. He then had a rocky first season in Seattle when they kept him with the big club for eight games, but also used conditioning stints in the AHL and the World Junior Championship to get him ice time.
On the surface this looks like what the Penguins did with Harrison Brunicke, but with Brunicke the Penguins were deliberate and planned to not rush the player. Seattle’s intentions were reactionary because they were trying to force the issue and then were stuck.
A year later Wright spent the majority of his second professional season in the AHL, playing 59 games and putting up 47 points for the Coachella Valley Firebirds.
Last year and this year he has become a full-time NHL player. Currently, he is the third line center playing behind both Matty Beniers and Chandler Stephenson. Wright’s offensive impact hasn’t been at the level you would expect from a 4th overall pick. In 145 career games he only has 31 goals and 69 points.
Wright player for Pittsburgh?
With Wright only being 22 years of age it definitely checks one of the important boxes for Dubas. He is not an older player and would not be a rental due to his RFA contract status. He still has this season and next under his current deal and would be an RFA at the conclusion of those two seasons.
On ice there just isn’t a ton of evidence of a difference making player, so far. It would be up to any GM to figure out if that is a product of playing for a really mediocre and poorly built Kraken team or if Wright owns the slow start to his career.
Now, we do have a very recent example of Kyle Dubas trading for a player on a team stuck in the mud. Egor Chinakhov has been great after escaping Columbus’ mediocrity. The logic for any Wright trade would be that Seattle is not a good situation and that the player could find improvement elsewhere. At the moment, Wright is stuck playing behind Chandler Stephenson if you’re wondering how well run the Kraken are.
Only five more years on that Stephenson contract…
Shane Wrong?
Dubas would be banking on the results improving upon leaving Seattle. The current production wouldn’t be good enough to make a deal. Wright’s AHL production isn’t quite at the level you want to see from a fourth overall pick. He only has 26 goals and 53 points in 67 career AHL games. So while the Kraken might not be an ideal NHL situation for a young player, he should still be making more of a difference at the AHL level.
Another issue with any Shane Wright trade is the fact he is a former fourth overall pick. You are going to get the top of the draft tax with any potential deal. Seattle is going to lean into his draft status and more than likely overreach for what they are asking for despite the actual on-ice results.
Additionally, there may not be a spot for Wright in the Penguins lineup at center. Even with Evgeni Malkin moving to wing you still have Sidney Crosby, Ben Kindel, and Tommy Novak as your top three centers. There’s nothing to suggest in the current moment that WRight would be an upgrade on Tommy Novak. Certainly not after you factor in that assets would have to be spent to acquire Wright.
For me, I think Wright is the kind of player you do your homework on if he becomes available. You wouldn’t be doing the job properly if you didn’t. However, given his on-ice results so far, and the likely overpriced trade value, I don’t see him as an attractive option at this time.
He is Shane Wrong for the Penguins, if you will.
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