While the vast majority of Montreal fans hoped to see the Canadiens draft Shane Wright in 2022, Kent Hughes chose to select Juraj Slafkovsky instead. Following a challenging rookie season in the NHL, in which he only garnered 10 points in 39 games, the Slovak forward has shown very promising signs in this year's preseason games.
Moreover, all signs point to the first overall pick starting the year in one of the team's top two lines, having been paired with Kirby Dach throughout the training camp. There's no doubt that such a setup could enable him to break out offensively and play a much more significant role in the Tricolore's success in 2023-2024.
But what about Shane Wright? The 19-year-old center will begin the year in the American League, having failed to impress the Seattle Kraken's management enough to secure a spot with the main team this season. It's worth noting that he had a rather unremarkable playoff run last season, with a modest tally of two goals and seven assists (nine points) in 24 games with the Coachella Valley Firebirds.
Some fans even wonder if the season canceled due to COVID-19 might have significantly affected his development. Remember that, unlike many prospects, Shane Wright chose not to head to Europe to continue his progression. This full season without genuinely playing hockey seems to be catching up to him, being the only player from the top-4 not to start in the NHL this year.
For sure, it will be fascinating to see how the Burlington native performs in the AHL. While endowed with tremendous potential, Shane Wright will need to produce offensively if he hopes to play some games with the Kraken this season.
