Wright: 'I've had to learn' how to be a pro

Seattle Kraken prospect Shane Wright hasn't met the lofty expectations bestowed on him, but he's confident his time in the AHL will pay off in the long run.

"Obviously there’s outside expectations, the outside pressures," Wright recently told TSN. "But at the end of the day, I have my own expectations on myself, and that's really what I've focused on - just go about my business day to day.

"It's certainly been a process for me. I've had to learn what it's like to be a pro, to take that next step, to be able to have success and be an impact player at that level."

Wright was granted exceptional status to play in the OHL as a 15-year-old and was the consensus top pick for the 2022 draft after a prolific junior career. He fell to the Kraken at fourth overall.

Wright has managed seven points in 16 career NHL games. He's posted stronger numbers with the AHL's Coachella Valley Firebirds and has reached back-to-back Calder Cup Finals with Seattle's farm club.

It's unclear if Wright will make the Kraken out of camp this fall. Seattle named Dan Bylsma its new head coach this offseason and signed Chandler Stephenson and Brandon Montour to long-term deals.

The Kraken missed the playoffs in 2023-24 after qualifying for the first time the season prior.