NHL: Major player trade – Nashville grabbed a former super prospect
The Seattle Kraken has decided to part ways with one of the top draft picks in its history, trading Canadian forward Shane Wright, 22, to the Nashville Predators.
In return, Seattle receives 21-year-old forward Matthew Wood. Both players are first-round picks in the NHL.
Trading Wright is a significant decision for the Kraken. The team selected the center as the fourth player in the summer 2022 NHL Draft, and he faced enormous expectations from the start.
Wright was long considered a potential top name in the draft. However, his development in the NHL has not progressed as expected.
In the 2024–25 season, Wright scored 19 goals and collected 44 points. Last season, his production dropped to 12+15=27 in 74 games.
In 14 games this season, the Canadian has recorded 3+1=4 points.
Wright’s role in Seattle has also diminished. Originally projected as a center, the top prospect has since been shifted more into a winger role as younger centers have stepped into larger roles.
In Nashville, Wright now has a new opportunity to fulfill the expectations from years ago.
– We believe he will bring strong two-way play and added speed to our team. We also believe he will continue to develop as a player, commented the Predators’ new GM Chris MacFarland.
In the trade, Seattle receives Wood, who was selected 15th overall in the 2023 NHL Draft.
The tall winger played 71 games in Nashville last season, recording 17+13=30 points. This season, he has collected three points (1+2) in 14 games.
– Matthew is a young forward who brings size and an excellent shot to our team. He is a skilled player with good hockey sense who showed his offensive potential last season as an NHL rookie, commented Seattle’s GM Jason Botterill.
Both forwards’ current entry-level contracts will expire this coming summer.
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