The Seattle Kraken are looking for a premier package for Shane Wright despite only scoring 12 goals last season, and it gives Toronto an idea of what he'll cost.
Shane Wright was the Kraken's 4th overall pick in 2022 and was selected ahead of names such as Cutter Gauthier, Pavel Mintyukov, and Frank Nazar; all of whom have carved out decent NHLcareers so far in their brief time. Wright was looking like he was joining them but after a solid 2024-25 campaign, he regressed heavily in 2025-26.
A 12-goal campaign is not exactly what you want from a fourth overall pick and for a guy who doesn't offer a great face-off percentage of defensive metrics that's a pretty big black mark on his young career. Seattle reportedly wants to part ways with him, but they could have a big problem with their demands.
Vancouver asked about Shane Wright and the package demands were sky-high
According to Rick Dhaliwal, the Kraken were reportedly looking for a package from the Vancouver Canucks that involved a premium blue-chip defenceman, and they were targeting the likes of either Zeev Buium or Tom Willander to make it happen:
Canucks like Shane Wright. They approached Seattle about him but the ask was very high. You know Seattle wants either Buium or Willander.
First off, that's a crazy ask right off the rip and you have to remember that Buium was a key return in the Quinn Hughes deal, so you're asking for a quite a lot. But it's almost as if Seattle is banking on a team's hope that Wright turns into something and is willing to risk some pieces for a grand reward.
Sure, Wright can turn out to be a very good player but you're asking for a premier potential #1/2 defender for guy who looks like he may only be a 2C at his ceiling. Granted, Seattle has not given him a ton of time to prove himself as he only averages 13:40 TOI in his career; but they may have just seen enough.
Toronto already showed what they are willing to pay for a top player
We did mention that Wright makes sense as an option for the Maple Leafs but at the price the Kraken want to deal him away for - it may be unfeasible.
Toronto doesn't want to part with Matthew Knies as much as possible and he's a better player overall than Wright and has proven so. They're willing to dangle Easton Cowan and Ben Danford in deals but those weren't for a 2C but a Norris Trophy winner who transforms their offence.
Adding Wright should cost you a fair bit considering he's a former top-five pick and has a ton of untapped potential while still only being in his early 20s. But Seattle should tone down their demands if they are hoping to get him dealt away.
We also could be very much looking at a Knies-esque situation too with Wright where he's being dangled around in talks just in the hopes a team will bite and when the ask is too high they reel it in.
If the Maple Leafs can convince the Kraken to give them Wright (and maybe take Morgan Rielly off their hands) then it might work out in the end. Otherwise for Seattle?
The price isn't Wright.
Should the Maple Leafs overpay for the chance to add Shane Wright as a 2C?
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