Shane Wright’s stint in the AHL started off with a bang.
After battling for playing time with the Seattle Kraken, dealing with delays on his AHL assignment, then finally being sent down on a conditioning loan, the fourth overall pick in this year's NHL draft made his impact felt in a hurry on Tuesday.
Playing for the Coachella Valley Firebirds — Seattle's AHL affiliate — against the host Calgary Wranglers, Wright scored a slick goal off the rush, beating Wranglers netminder Dustin Wolf glove side for his first professional goal.
Wright’s goal tied the game for the Firebirds early in the second period, but it ultimately wouldn’t be enough as the Wranglers eventually won 5-3.
Coachella Valley sits sixth in the Pacific Division with a 7-4-2 record following the defeat, while Wright finished the game with the goal on his lone shot to go along with a -1 rating.
Wright will get one more crack against AHL Calgary on Thursday before he and the Firebirds head to San Diego to take on the Anaheim Ducks' AHL affiliate this weekend. After that, the Kraken’s top prospect and his squad will travel for a two-game trip to Henderson, Nev. to take on the Silver Knights — AHL affiliate of the Vegas Golden Knights — for Wright’s fourth and fifth games of his stint.
As reported by Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek on Hockey Night in Canada last Saturday, Wright is expected to return to the Kraken on Dec. 6 for a shot at revenge against the Montreal Canadiens. The Canadiens, of course, snubbed the top prospect on the draft floor last summer after he was widely expected to go first overall.
There is no word if Wright will compete for Canada at the upcoming World Junior Hockey Championships.
Wright has played seven games with the Kraken, registering one assist. If he plays 10 games, the first year of his entry-level contract kicks in, taking him closer to free agency.
The five-game AHL conditioning loan allows the Kraken to delay a decision on if he'll return to junior, where Wright's rights are owned by the OHL's Kingston Frontenacs.
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