Canadian team reportedly heavily pursuing Seattle's Shane Wright
Photo credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images
The Winnipeg Jets are circling the Seattle Kraken like sharks as they try to pry Shane Wright away from the West Coast.
Top insider David Pagnotta dropped the update on 'Hello Hockey' saying Kevin Cheveldayoff is making calls about the young center.
Shane Wright was the 4th overall pick in 2022 by the Kraken. He's been at the center of attention in hockey since he was 15 years old and he's finally finding his rhythm. He's currently sitting on 9 goals and 20 points through 54 games this season.
He's a 6'0'' possible star on a bargain contract. His cap hit of $886,667 makes him a massive steal for a team tight on space. He's smart with the puck and plays a heavy game for a kid his age.
Winnipeg wants a change and they're dangling Cole Perfetti as the bait. Perfetti went 10th overall in 2020 and he's had a rough go of it lately. He only has 5 goals and 16 points in 40 games this year.
But Seattle isn't biting yet. They aren't sure Perfetti is the right return for a guy with Wright's ceiling. Perfetti is making $3.25 million and he's a minus-8 on the year.
The Jets need a spark to fix their middle six. They've been inconsistent and the fans are getting restless at the Canada Life Centre.
Kraken demand king's ransom for their top prospect
Ron Francis isn't a GM who makes panic moves. He knows Wright is a premium asset who could lead a franchise for a decade. He won't move him for a lateral piece.
He wants a package that makes the Kraken better today and tomorrow. Perfetti has skill but he hasn't shown he can carry a line yet. He's small and sometimes gets pushed off the puck in dirty areas.
Wright is different because he plays a 200-foot game. He's exactly what the Jets are missing in their lineup.
Cheveldayoff is in a tough spot. He wants to win now while his window is open. But he's also trying to work around the cap which is always a headache.
The price tag is going to be high. We're talking a first-round pick and a top-tier prospect on top of Perfetti. That's a lot of futures to give up for a 22-year-old.
But flags fly forever. If Wright is the missing piece, you make that deal every day of the week.
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| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 2|263 ANSWERS Canadian team reportedly heavily pursuing Seattle's Shane Wright Should the Jets trade Cole Perfetti and a 1st round pick for Shane Wright? | ||
| Yes | 78 | 29.7 % |
| No | 185 | 70.3 % |
| List of polls | ||