Going into the season, Kraken GM Ron Francis had indicated that the plan was for rookie Shane Wright to spend the full year with Seattle. However, some early struggles resulted in several healthy scratches, enough in a row to the point where it allowed him to go to AHL Coachella Valley on a conditioning stint. In an appearance on the Got Yer’ Back podcast (video link), Francis indicated that the original plan might be changing. Wright will play two more games with the Firebirds and then will be recalled and put into the Kraken’s lineup with a decision on what’s next for him to be made after evaluating his performance post-recall. However, he can only play in two more games before officially burning the first year of his entry-level deal so that evaluation and decision will have to be made fairly quickly.
More from the Pacific:
- While things haven’t gone well for the Ducks this season (they enter play tonight dead last in points), don’t expect a coaching change anytime soon. In his latest podcast (audio link), GM Pat Verbeek indicated that his intention is to evaluate the coaching staff only at the end of the season. With the team clearly still in a rebuild, there’s no immediate need to make a change but if Dallas Eakins is hoping to stick with Anaheim beyond this season, they’ll need to play at least a little better than they have so far.
- The Sharks could get James Reimer back this weekend, notes Curtis Pashelka of The Mercury News. The veteran is currently on IR with a lower-body injury, his second one from November but he’s eligible to be activated as early as Saturday. San Jose plays both Saturday and Sunday so there’s a good chance he’ll be able to suit up for one of those. Reimer has a 3.00 GAA and a .903 SV% in 15 starts so far this season.
WRIGHT WILL BE IN TEAM CANADA LINEUP IN U20 TOURNAMENT A MONTH FROM NOW
That feels like the plan. I don’t think he wants to go back to Kingston and I don’t think the Kraken want to force him to go back. But with the streak they are on I don’t think they want to change up their roster right now either. Having him play that tournament buys them another month before they have to make that decision. I think Seattle already knows they are burning the first year of his ELC, it’s just a matter of finding him ice time and opportunities to be successful at the NHL level. As a Kraken fan I hate to say it, but that would all be easier if they dropped a bit in the standings.
They don’t have to force him to go back. If they send him, he has no choice. If he doesn’t want to go back, he should play a little better so they can put him on the ice. Not sure why there’s such an entitlement and expectation for him to be in the NHL this year if his play doesn’t warrant it?
#FreeWright
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