Shane Wright

The right shooting centre-forward already looks like a future  impact NHLer. The question is whether he is a true generational player or not. He is a superb natural goal scorer who displays an almost blurry quick release. Reads the ice extremely well with his great vision, and his four direction skating ability aids the completion of attacks. Has a "complacent speed" that lulls the opposing defenders and creates more time for him to go into a cut at a higher speed. His skating is a clinic on how to constantly adjust edging, as he shifts weight into edges to torque off ice with great feel (and he is not a Hughes brother). He draws coverage to him, while he holds the puck that extra second and finds an open man. His defensive prowess comes with the fact that with his terrific hands and stick, he can steal a puck in all three zones on each shift. Uses his tremendous feet to cut across the grain with deceptive lateral cuts. His top and separation gear allows him to blow past the opposition. Has terrific hand - eye coordination, and is able to receive passes that are tight in on his feet and accurately fire them on net without pucks going off target. Sure, this year has seen him never hitting all the cylinders but he is 4 inches taller than 2023 Conor Bedard and already plays a disciplined two-way game in THREE zones and gets physically involved on the wall and forecheck. Many question if missing the entire Covid year in 2020-21 may have stagnated his development, but he got going mid season. Some team is going to be very happy getting him first overall. Was the captain of the Canada’s 2021 IIHF Under-18 World Championship team.

--Bill Płaczek--