Kraken send Wright to AHL on conditioning loan

Shane Wright is headed to the minors.

The Seattle Kraken assigned the 2022 fourth overall pick to the Coachella Valley Firebirds on a conditioning loan Sunday.

Wright can be in the AHL for 14 days under the terms of the loan, and Seattle's expected to release him to Canada's world junior squad next month, according to TSN's Chris Johnston.

Kraken head coach Dave Hakstol scratched Wright in each of the last five games, which triggered the rule allowing Seattle to loan Wright to the AHL despite the fact he's only 18 years old.

The center produced just one assist in the seven contests he played. Wright averaged only 8:06 of ice time, winning seven of 23 faceoffs.

The former OHL star came into the draft as a potential No. 1 overall selection, but the first three teams passed before Seattle chose him.

Wright, who'll turn 19 in January, racked up 32 goals and 62 assists in 63 games with the Kingston Frontenacs last season.

The Ontario-born forward was granted exceptional status in the OHL ahead of his first two campaigns in the league in 2019-20. That allowed him to debut at the age of 15, and he joined only a handful of other players at the time to receive the distinction, including Connor McDavid and John Tavares. Michael Misa later earned the honor, and projected 2023 first overall pick Connor Bedard did so in the WHL.