Why he’s my Number one Candidate:

1. He’s already producing with limited ice time, on a team that’s starting to look good, and it’s fair to say Wright is a big reason why they’re starting to look good.

Wright has quietly produced solid numbers while often playing third-line minutes in Seattle.

2025-26 season:

56 GP

11 goals

11 assists

22 points

\+5 +/-

He’s also contributing physically:

84 shots

43 hits

42 blocked shots

His production shows he’s not a 1 dimensional offensive player, and as well all know. The pens love 2 way centers. (Crosby, and Malkin are both exactly that) I honestly think he could jump right into that C1 role until Crosby comes back, then jump down to C2. All though that may cause Muse to fiddle with the lines a bit, I’d still love to have the lineup of Centers that we have, once all 4 are healthy. 

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2. His career trajectory suggests a breakout could be coming

He has 73 pts through 151 career games. 

35 G 

38 A 

And a +14 +/- throughout his career. That’s 0.48 PPG, at a young age, and with how good muse is at developing young guys, that could drastically improve to potentially 1.5-2 PPG. 

There’s plenty examples already and it hasn’t even been a full season for muse: 

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Chinakov.. didn’t look so good with Columbus, came over to Pittsburgh for dirt, and looks like one of the best underrated scorers, and has a wicked fast shot on him aswell.

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Kindel, came in as the 11th overall pick, and has established himself as a good, starting center. With plenty of potential, and just as much room to improve. 

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There’s a bunch of examples of young guys who were just either written off because they were young, or weren’t doing well with their team, that came here and performed. I think Wright could be another one of those. Even though he’s already doing good, I think with however muse may mix him into the lines. He could be even better here in Pittsburgh, and would help us out a ton, with Crosby’s absence for however long it may be. 

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Many centers don’t hit their prime scoring years until age 23–25. If Wright develops into even a 60-point center, that’s huge value for Pittsburgh.

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3. His previous season showed legit scoring upside

In his first full NHL season:

79 games

19 goals

25 assists

44 points

7 power-play goals

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That’s basically a 20-goal center already — and he was still developing.

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4. His contract is extremely valuable

Wright is still on his entry-level contract with a cap hit of about $886k per year until 2026-27.

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His contract being on an entry level, with cap hit of less than 1M is huge for the penguins, and maintains the ability for Dubas to make decently big moves, during the offseason. Pittsburgh could also get top six  potential production, for bottom six money. A potential Wright trade has more value than meets the eye, and if you look at his production, and current contract. That’s clear as day.. the question is, what might the price be, what will Seattle ask of Dubas, if he does give their front office a ring.. 

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5. He fills the Penguins’ biggest long-term need

The Penguins’ biggest organizational problem is center depth after their core ages out.

Key centers:

Sidney Crosby

Evgeni Malkin

Both are near the end of their careers.

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Wright, if kept long term, could be a 2nd, (for now) maybe 3rd line center if Malkin does shift back down to 2C next season. Then, after one Crosby, and Malkin retires, I wouldn’t be surprised if he jumped up to their spot. 

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Wright immediately adds youth, and speed down the middle, improves depth scoring, starts the prep for the Post-Crosby Era for the Pens.

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Trading for Wright would give the Penguins a young, cheap, high-ceiling center who could contribute now and eventually become the face of the team after Crosby.

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Let me know what you guys think the package may be. 

Shane Wright - My number one Deadline Candidate for our Penguins.