Montreal Canadiens fans are well aware of the name Shane Wright, as he was passed over by Kent Hughes in favor of Juraj Slafkovsky in the 2022 draft.

Wright was having an outstanding stretch, his best moments (by far) since joining the National Hockey League, before facing the Canadiens in his much-anticipated “revenge game.”

Before facing the Habs, Wright was the center of the Kraken’s first line, was on a streak of 16 points in 18 games, and was one of the most productive players in the NHL.

So, we expected a big game from him against the Montreal Canadiens, but that’s not what happened at all.

A few seconds before the game against the Habs, for a strange and undisclosed reason, Wright was suddenly demoted to the fourth line.

“Shane Wright oddly bumped down to the fourth line.”

 

Shane Wright is unrecognizable and stuck on the Seattle Kraken’s fourth line since his matchup against the Montreal Canadiens

He played only 10 minutes and 40 seconds against the Canadiens in what should have been a special game for him, considering he had been playing 15 to 17 minutes per game for weeks.

Since his game against Montreal, Wright has been stuck on the fourth line, has a negative plus-minus of -2, and has not recorded a single point.

I’m not sure what happened, but it’s unusual, and as I browsed the web this morning, I noticed that it’s generating quite a buzz in Seattle.

Over there, people are really wondering what happened just minutes before the game against the Canadiens because Shane Wright hasn’t been the same since.

It’s likely he’ll bounce back, but this is noteworthy.

Overall, the Kraken’s 4th overall pick in the 2022 draft in Montreal is having a solid season.

He has 38 points in 65 games, with a +1 rating, but it’s strange to see his head coach limiting his ice time like this in recent days.

A situation to monitor!

Shane Wright, the Seattle Kraken’s young center, has experienced a notable shift in his role since the game against the Montreal Canadiens. Initially averaging between 15 to 17 minutes of ice time per game, his playing time was reduced to 10 minutes and 40 seconds during the Canadiens matchup. Subsequently, Wright has been positioned on the fourth line, recording a minus-2 rating and no points in recent games.

 

This adjustment is part of a strategic move by the Kraken to provide rookie Jani Nyman with experienced linemates, leading to shifts in line assignments. Despite the reduced even-strength minutes, Wright continues to receive power-play opportunities and has been trusted in overtime situations. This period allows him to focus on enhancing his two-way game, a crucial aspect of his development.

 

As of March 13, 2025, Wright has accumulated 15 goals and 23 assists, totaling 38 points, ranking fourth on the team. This performance is comparable to Montreal Canadiens winger Juraj Slafkovsky, who has one fewer goal and only two more points, despite playing a position considered less challenging than center.

 

While the recent changes in Wright’s deployment may seem unusual, they are part of the Kraken’s broader strategy to develop their young talent and optimize team performance.