Kraken forward Shane Wright scored his third goal of this young season on Saturday against the Florida Panthers. That’s good for him, good for the team, and just as important, good for marketing him as potential trade bait.
Now would be a good time for the Kraken to consider moving the 22-year-old former 4th-overall NHL Draft pick (2022). And the perfect destination would be Detroit, where the Red Wings have a 23-year-old Swedish monster, restricted free agent (RFA) defenseman Simon Edvinsson holding out for a contract and demanding a trade.
The 6-foot-6, 225-pound lefty would be a stalwart along the Seattle blueline for years to come. He’s asking for something in the neighborhood of $9-million to $11-million per season coming out of his entry-level deal.
The Kraken, with an aging D-corps and six of its injured or active NHL blueliners facing one form or another of free agency at the end of the season, should view this opportunity urgently. While there’s obvious competition for Edvinsson’s services, the Kraken have the salary cap space, some prospects, and an expendable draft pick or two.
Throw in the two 2nd-rounders they got back for Jaden Schwartz and the 2nd-rounder they received for D-man Jamie Oleksiak at the trade deadline, and Seattle is flush with assets. Kidding: the team didn’t deal its unrestricted free agents at the deadline and let them walk for nothing at the end of the season. Sorry – couldn’t help myself.
Regardless, The team has two first rounders in 2027, one of them conditional depending on where the Tampa Bay Lightning finish this season, and a pick in each of the seven rounds the next three seasons.
How about Wright, a couple high picks, and a prospect like Jagger Firkus, and/or Jani Nyman, and/or Oscar Fisker Molgaard for a beast of a D-man to build around for the foreseeable future.
The Red Wings need all the help they can get, including a young center like Wright to add some potential offense.
Meanwhile, Edvinsson, a 2021 6th-overall draft pick, and 2026 Seattle 7th-overall selection Chase Reid, lefty and righty, would look pretty damn nice together on the Seattle back-end.
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