Shane Wright says he's committed to the Seattle Kraken, and that might be exactly why Boston should call now.
Wright's agent, Kurt Overhardt, said Friday there's nothing to discuss publicly, and that Wright's focus is on playing for Seattle.
That doesn't erase what happened earlier this summer, though. Overhardt previously confirmed talks with Kraken GM Jason Botterill about finding Wright a new home.
League reporting indicated Seattle was willing to work toward a deal. That expected move never actually materialized before camp.
A fan-made trade proposal has circulated recently sending Wright to Boston for Casey Mittelstadt and future picks, though nothing suggests real talks are happening.
Still, it raises a fair question. Should Bruins GM Don Sweeney be trying to buy low on Wright before camp opens?
Wright's production has actually gone backward. He posted 12 goals, 15 assists and 27 points in 74 games last season, down from 44 points the year before.
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Shane Wright trade rumors explode as Bruins emerge as surprise destination
For a player picked fourth overall in 2022, that drop looks disappointing on the surface.
But some of his underlying five-on-five numbers reportedly held up better than his point totals suggest, a real signal for a 22-year-old center.
He's still cheap against the cap too, carrying just an $886,667 hit compared to Mittelstadt's $5,750,000.
Trading Mittelstadt for Wright could reportedly open up close to $4,860,000 in extra space for Boston, according to one outlet's cap projection.
That's the real hook here. Boston wouldn't just be adding a young center, it would be gaining flexibility for another move too.
Is one down season enough reason to give up on a former fourth overall pick who's still only 22?
Seattle finished last season 34-37-11, good for 27th overall, while Boston closed at 45-27-10 and eighth overall.
That gap in team direction is exactly why this connection makes sense on paper, a struggling team and a contender eyeing the same asset differently.
My take: buying low on pedigree this cheap is rarely a bad process, even if it doesn't work out. The downside here is limited.
Camp is close, and nothing here is close to official. But if Wright starts producing again in Seattle, this window closes fast.
Should the Bruins actually pursue a trade for Shane Wright?
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