Penguins reporter's Shane Wright revelation fuels major Seattle trade buzz

It seems like only a matter of time before Pittsburgh Penguins GM Kyle Dubas makes some noise on the trade front. They are still chasing Jason Robertson, but don't be shocked if they are forced to pivot to new options or consider adding beyond Robertson.

According to Josh Yohe of the Athletic, the Penguins might be interested in acquiring a young center from the Seattle Kraken.

Up-and-coming centers in the NHL rarely hit the trade block, but that is what has happened with Shane Wright. The former fourth overall pick from the 2022 NHL Draft hasn't panned out in Seattle, which has forced the player and team to mutually accept a change of scenery. With that news hitting the wire, he becomes a top trade target for the Penguins this offseason.

"General manager Kyle Dubas and the front office are intrigued by Wright." Yohe continued, "And really, why wouldn’t they be? He checks every box."

Bringing a young center onto an aging roster would be fantastic for Pittsburgh. On the surface, it appears acquiring Wright shouldn't cost too much, but according to Yohe's speculation, the current asking price from the Kraken is too high. Maybe that price comes down, but one thing is for sure, Shane Wright is a player that checks off every box that Kyle Dubas is searching for.

Pittsburgh Penguins appear to have trade interest in Shane Wright but only for a fair price

Although there are several interesting trade options for the Penguins to consider this offseason, Shane Wright might be their top target at the center position. He's currently on an affordable contract, is only 22 years old, and seems to have some potential left in the tank. He is the exact type of player that this team desires to add to their veteran riddled lineup.

Perhaps the biggest roadblock in negotiations will be Seattle's asking price.

Wright has disappointed in the early days of his NHL profession, but he hasn't been terrible either. The Kraken will want some sort of trade value in return. They won't be giving him away for free despite the team and player openly talking about their impending divorce in the public eye.

"From what I’ve heard, the asking price for Wright is, to put it lightly, substantial, and possibly more than Pittsburgh is willing to pay."

Time will be the ultimate factor in a possible Shane Wright trade to the Penguins. Kyle Dubas will not pay a hefty price on this gamble. Yes, Wright should do better in a more structured locker room like Pittsburgh has, but there are no guarantees. Acquiring a potential future star center is nice in theory, but if you give up the farm to add him via trade, and he flunks out, then it would be devastating.

It will be interesting to see how the Jason Robertson trade saga unfolds as the star winger appears to be the main trade target for the Penguins at the moment.

If he re-signs with the Stars and isn't dealt to Pittsburgh, then Kyle Dubas could turn his attention towards Shane Wright as a fallback option. Don't expect Pittsburgh to pay a hefty asking price, but if that demand lessens, a deal could be struck.

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This article was originally published on penslabyrinth.com as Penguins' reporter's Shane Wright revelation fuels major Seattle trade buzz.