Shane Wright Era Ends in Seattle as Kraken Make Bold Bet on Matthew Wood

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The Seattle Kraken have been trying to move on from Shane Wright for quite some time, and they’ve finally found a trade partner.

The former fourth-overall pick has struggled to establish himself as a full-time impact player at the NHL level. While Wright is still just 22 years old, he has yet to consistently deliver on the potential that made him one of the most highly touted prospects of his draft class.

Wright showed signs of a breakout during the 2024-25 season, recording 44 points in 79 games. However, he was unable to build on that success, finishing with just 27 points in 74 games during the 2025-26 campaign. His name has circulated in trade rumours for months, and Seattle has now found a suitable trade.

Nashville Swoops In

The Nashville Predators are taking a gamble on upside.

In exchange for Wright, Nashville is sending 21-year-old forward Matthew Wood to Seattle in a one-for-one deal. Wood was selected 15th overall in the 2023 NHL Draft and possesses a skill set that is difficult to find. The 6-foot-4, 202-pound right-shot winger combines size, skill, and power-forward potential, making him one of the more intriguing young players in Nashville’s system.

Wood scored 17 goals and 30 points in 71 games last season, though he has gotten off to a slow start this year with just one goal through 14 games. Like Wright, there is still plenty of projection involved with his development, which makes this a fascinating bet by both organizations.

The Deal

As first reported by Elliotte Friedman, the trade is a straight one-for-one swap.

1-for-1 https://t.co/yRYnaZzent

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) November 1, 2026

Wright’s value comes from his position and potential. Centers are traditionally harder to acquire, particularly young players who were once viewed as future top-six pieces. On the other side, Wood offers something NHL teams covet: a young, right-shot power forward with size and room to grow.

The risk for both teams is obvious. Neither player has fully established himself yet, but both still have the potential to become impact NHL contributors. There’s a realistic chance one organization ends up looking like a big winner, but it’s just as possible both players benefit from a fresh start.

The fact Wright had reportedly wanted a change of scenery makes the return even more notable for Seattle. Many expected the Kraken would be forced to take a lesser package given the circumstances, but landing a player like Wood is a solid return for a young forward who had become increasingly likely to move.

Now both players get the opportunity they were looking for.

Wright had been averaging 14:14 of ice time this season while primarily occupying a third-line role in Seattle. In Nashville, he could quickly slide into a larger opportunity behind the Predators’ top forwards, potentially seeing a significant increase in usage.

Wood was also playing a third-line role, averaging 14:03 per game for Nashville. Seattle’s winger depth chart presents a clearer path to increased responsibility, particularly if he can start producing offensively on a more consistent basis.

For two organizations looking to reshape part of their young core, this feels like the type of trade that could benefit everyone involved. Whether either player fully breaks out remains to be seen, but both have been given exactly what they needed: a fresh opportunity and a clean slate.

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