The Seattle Kraken announced on Monday that they've called up 2022 fourth overall pick
Shane Wright from the AHL's Coachella Valley Firebirds as his conditioning loan has come to an end.
Wright, 18, was assigned to Coachella Valley on November 21st on a conditioning loan after being a healthy scratch in Seattle for at least five games in a row. Normally, players in the NHL with CHL eligibility aren't allowed to play in the American Hockey League, but there's a clause in the CBA that allows a conditioning loan if a player is a scratch for at least five games in a row.
The Burlington (Ontario) native had a fairly successful stint with the Firebirds, putting up four goals in five games, including a two-goal game against the Calgary Wranglers on November 24th.
Seattle's next game is on Tuesday night against the Montreal Canadiens, who held the first overall pick in July's draft. It was widely expected that Montreal was going to take Wright, but opted to select 2022 Olympic MVP
Juraj Slafkovsky instead. Wright dropped down to fourth overall after being passed over by not only Montreal, but also New Jersey and Arizona.
When walking up to the stage after hearing Kraken general manager Ron Francis call his name, Wright appeared to stare down Montreal's draft table, but later denied doing so.
Wright isn't expected to stay with the Kraken for long as Sportsnet's Jeff Marek revealed on Saturday's '32 Thoughts' he is likely to be named to Canada's roster for the 2023 World Junior Hockey Championship, which the preliminary roster will be announced at some point on Monday afternoon.
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