The Montreal Canadiens passed on Shane Wright with the first-overall selection in the 2022 NHL Draft, choosing Juraj Slafkovsky instead. Four years later, Montreal could have an opportunity to add Wright without reversing or questioning that original decision.
NHL insider Elliotte Friedman recently reported that the Canadiens remain interested in acquiring another top-six forward. Montreal has reportedly contacted the Columbus Blue Jackets several times about Kirill Marchenko, but Columbus is not currently prepared to trade him. Meanwhile, the Seattle Kraken have made Wright available, although they have emphasized that they expect to receive fair value for the 22-year-old center.
There is no confirmed report that Montreal and Seattle are actively negotiating a Wright trade. However, the connection makes sense. Wright is young, affordable and capable of playing a premium position. He would give the Canadiens another potential solution behind Nick Suzuki while fitting the development timeline of Ivan Demidov, Slafkovsky, Lane Hutson and Montreal’s emerging core.
The question is not whether Wright has talent. It is whether the Canadiens can acquire him at a price that reflects both his upside and the uncertainty surrounding his NHL development.
Why Shane Wright Makes Sense for the Montreal Canadiens
Wright has yet to become the high-end offensive center many expected when he entered the 2022 draft as a potential first-overall selection. However, writing him off at 22 years old would be premature.
He recorded 19 goals and 44 points in 79 games during the 2024-25 season, providing Seattle with encouraging signs during his first complete NHL campaign. His production dropped to 12 goals and 27 points in 74 games in 2025-26. That represents a decline from 0.56 points per game to 0.36, or approximately 34 percent.
Those numbers explain why the Seattle Kraken may be willing to move him, but they also create a potential buy-low opportunity for Montreal.
Wright would not have to arrive as a finished first-line center. The Canadiens could place him in a middle-six role, give him offensive-zone opportunities and determine whether his scoring touch can be unlocked alongside a creative winger such as Demidov. Wright has shown an ability to find open space around the net, finish scoring opportunities and contribute on the power play.
The fit would be especially intriguing because Montreal would not be betting exclusively on Wright becoming its permanent second-line center. Michael Hage remains one of the organization’s most promising prospects. If Hage eventually claims that role, Wright could still become a strong third-line center capable of contributing 15 to 20 goals.
That type of center depth becomes extremely valuable for a team with Stanley Cup ambitions.
Wright is also entering the final season of his entry-level contract with a cap hit of $886,666. Against the NHL’s $104-million salary-cap ceiling for 2026-27, he would occupy only approximately 0.85 percent of Montreal’s available cap structure.
That is the definition of a manageable financial gamble.
Shane Wright Career NHL Stats
| Type | GP | G | A | P | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Season | 169 | 36 | 42 | 78 | 15 |
| Playoffs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
What Should the Canadiens Trade for Shane Wright?
Seattle’s position is important. The Kraken may be willing to trade Wright, but Friedman reported that the organization expects a “fair price” and will not be pressured into accepting an underwhelming return.
My trade-value assessment gives Wright a 74-out-of-100 score based on five factors: age and remaining upside, contract affordability, positional value, NHL production and certainty of future performance.
His age, cap hit and ability to play center increase his value. His declining production and lack of a proven top-six track record reduce it.
That valuation suggests Montreal should be prepared to offer a meaningful asset, but not an elite prospect or an unprotected first-round pick. A package built around a second-round selection, a secondary prospect or a young roster player would represent a reasonable starting point. Seattle could demand more because young centers are difficult to acquire, but Kent Hughes must avoid paying for Wright’s draft-day reputation rather than his current NHL value.
The Canadiens should also ignore the emotional storyline surrounding the 2022 draft. Acquiring Wright would not mean Montreal made a mistake by selecting Slafkovsky. The two players fill different needs, and Slafkovsky remains an important part of the Canadiens’ core.
This decision should be based entirely on what Wright can become from this point forward.
From my perspective, Wright would be a smart calculated gamble for Montreal. He is not the established top-six scorer the Canadiens initially appear to be pursuing, but he offers something arguably more difficult to find: a cost-controlled young center with untapped upside.
If the acquisition price remains reasonable, Montreal should be willing to explore it. Wright’s production could rebound in a different offensive environment, and the downside is limited by his age and affordable contract. However, if Seattle demands one of Montreal’s premium prospects or a major first-round asset, the Canadiens should remain patient.
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