Sean Maloughney: Shane Wright (Kinda) Sent Down

The trouble here is simple. Ron Francis feels Wright IS NHL capable. Wants hom 10-15:00 minutes a night. He has spoken openly on this. Hakstol however had no trust in him, doesn’t feel he is ready, and won’t use him unless he absolutely has to. Like when after four straight scratches McCann went down and Wright slotted back in.

It is O or the show with Wright. Francis is using the conditioning stint clause to get him in more ice time and games in the AHL which gets them to WJC (one Kraken game in Montreal before the camp). He will get loaned and get in more playing time there before returning.

There isnt any real tinfoil. Its simply GM and Coach certainly not seeing eye to eye.

As far as developing I agree it hurts not getting him out there. That said big fish in small pond where he doesnt have to prove a thing being a man amongst boys as it were in Kingston isnt going to do much on development either.

This point I think it comes down to how he shows in large minutes playing in Coachella if Francis blinks or not on his stance and assessment of his player.

Also the player and agent aren't calling shots or have random clauses. And sorry but I really doubt Wright would pass on being in the NHL getting his rookie salary practicing and travelling with the team and getting into games infrequently over going to the OHL to get 50 a week too.

The wright usage has puzzled me from the start.

Bust!

Your issue here is the same thing the flyers had with the moron that is Dave Hakstol. The gm puts players on the roster with an expectation that they will play, then Hakstol refuses to play them, then the development stalls and the player is wasted. How any team was dumb enough to give Hakstol another chance after what he did to the Flyers is shocking. I feel bad for you guys.

LA is in a similar situation with defenseman Brandt Clarke, their 1st rounder in 2021. He made the team at 19 years old last month, the coach didn't put him in the lineup for two weeks and he's now in the AHL on a similar conditioning loan. The organization seemingly doesn't want to send him back to juniors, but doesn't want to play him with the big club, either. It's probably great for a kid's development to not know whether he'll get to play this week or even which team he'll be playing for next week.

The wright usage has puzzled me from the start.
- hockeyaddict89

Wasted that precious 1st year on the ELC for less than 13 minutes total TOI on the season. I guess they might recall him, but better off giving the kid some serious reps to regain that confidence. He will bounce back.

Hellberg on waiver (again). Fingers crossed he makes it through and reaches Coachella.

First game in Coachella vs Calgary and Wright is on the board with a goal in the 2nd period.

And Hellberg grabbed off waivers by detroit.

Guy is playin pokemon with nhl teams and jerseys. Gotta catch em all. Sheeesh. Kinda feel sorry for the guy.

Here we go. Last game of the homestand. Gourde bobblehead night.

Jones vs his old team. Time to go full Chief Brody and blow up some Sharks.
Khuleman and Fleury out. Oleksiak returns.

Larsson big chance early on Khakonen.

How was that hit on Beniers not called?! Sheesh.

Already chippy. Dunn almost getting into a fight. Donato nailed Karlsson who didnt like it. Going to be a chippy game.

Bad goal. Couture a tip. Jones not getting a great look. Sharks open up the scoring.

Bad too many men penalty. Karlsson pings the post. Geeez. Not a good opening period really. Aaaaand SJ gets called too many men 🤣

Delay of game SJ. 5 on 3 Kraken and boom. Burakovsky ties it up. Back to 5 on 4 PP

2:53 to go and Tanev and Kunin get scrumming it up. Offsetting roughing penalties.

4 on 3 and SJ scores. Meier makes it 2-1 Sharks.

Early 2nd Period PP drawn by McCann. Chance to get it tied up again.

Turbo being a big physical force tonight.

Dunn!!!! Beniers on another fast rush in gets it to the net and beauty pass for Dunn to finish it off. 2-2 all squared up again!

Holy hell!!! Jones goes insane. What a stop!!!

Donato!!!! Cleans up in front bangs it in. 3-2 Kraken take the lead

Big Rig!!!! Backdoor tap in and Kraken taking control. 4-2. Welcome back Oleksiak!!

Best shot ever at ref non call!! “Its the holidays. They just let off a bit 🤣”

Ugly chance given up. Meier with a snipe top shelf. 2nd of the night and its 4-3.

HUGE point blank slot save by Jones on Kunin looking for the equalizer.

Tanev misses a wide open net. 🤬🤦

McCann late big chance and cant finish it. 4-3 after 40.

Fast wild one to ight this should be an insane 3rd

60 seconds and Barabanov ties it 🤬

Bjorkstrand!!!!! FINALLY!!!!! 5-4 Kraken

Schwartz!!!!! 6-4. Back on top by 2

11:02 and Sharks score. Meier gets the hatty. 6-5.

Soucy huge rub out. Springs em and Beniers trailing right up the gut and BOOM!!! 7-5. 2 goal lead reestablished. 4:30 to go.

JONES!!!! Robbing em blind!!!!

Hello 80’s hockey!

Finally!!! Schwartz pops the ENG!! 8-5.

Season and franchise high for goals.

Thats Kraken Hockey baby!!! Way to win it boys. Fantastic end to the homestand.

Shane Wright watch 2nd game down VS Wranglers again and 2nd goal of the season (PPG) with Coachella for him. 2 game goal streak now as he ties it in the 1at period 1-1.

Make it a 2 goal night for Wright!!!

Bust!
- LFS

just like Dach

Vegas tonight in Sin City. Going to be a real big game but a tough one. Vegas is rolling and will be a real tough challenge.

17:20 and Donato finds the net for goals in back to back games and an early lead jumping on the Knights. Whoooohoo!!

Seattle PP as McNabb for holding. Chance to build on the lead

PP getting some nice movement. Some late chances but no goals. Seattle really all over Vegas so far.

11:58 Burakovsky!!!! Catching Vegas on bad change and beauty finish. 2-0

Gru looked awkward but made the key stops. Schultz for tripping to the box.

Just 7 seconds left and Roy gets the rebound off the tip shot. Bad penalty costs the Kraken there.

And what was just a bad play by Gru, bad along the boards and Kessel ties the game up. Wth was that?!?! We want Jones back!!

Brutal last part of the 1st after being all over them, giving up a pair and letting the Knights back in the game. 2-2 after 20.

Fast nack and forth. Knights have their legs and getting better chances. Kraken look a step behind now.

Seattle strikes!!!! Get it in the zone and Big Rig draws two to him and Burakovsky again lights the lamp walking in to rip ot past Hill. 3-2 Kraken.

Kraken go to the PP. Whitecloud returns and chops the slash knocking the stick out of the hands. Now if the PP can get going here… nope. Took em till 8 seconds to get in and set up at all. Not a single shot 🤬

GRU!!!!!! Huge save there. Theodore point blank on the doorstep gets robbed.

Another big stop by Gru on Kessel on a 2 on 1.

Eberle!!!! Turnover at the blueline and stayed with it to get it in and 4-2 Kraken lead just over a minute left.

Right out of the gate Dunn rings the point shot off the post!!

Ouch! Bjorkstrand takes the shot off the jaw. Gone to the dressing room. Just hope not too bad. Guy finally got the monkey off his back last game now that?!

10 more minutes. Just gotta hang on and stay on em.

Holding Vegas to just 4 shots. Hill to bench. Last push now.

9 in last 11, 4th in a row. Kraken take a big 4pt game against the division leaders. HUGE win. Kraken pushed the pace, took away space, and just never let Vegas have any breathing room to really get their game going after that late 1st 10 min or so. Gru settled down and came up big when they needed him to as well.

Shane Wright notches another goal, 4th in 3 games and Coachella wins again 4-1. Fourth game not till Dec 2 vs Henderson. See if he can keep it rolling then but kid had been pretty good.

VS Ducks

Jones vs Gibson in the nets tonight.

McCann notches the first of the game 23 seconds in past Gibson. Huge fast start.

Wennberg with a nice play at the side of the net. 2-0. Ducks so far really outmatched.

Sprong off for hooking giving the Ducks a PP chance here. Sprong out of the box and Gibson has to come up big on the break away chance.

5:44 and Ducks on another PP and this time they score. 2-1.

Time running out 26 seconds left and Tanev gets it cycling. To Dunn who just walks right up the middle to the net to make it 3-1. Boom.

And early 2nd Ducks score. Kraken cant get it out, lose the board battle and it winds up behind Jones. They're getting a bit sloppy defensively the past few games.

Geekie down and being helped off. Skating backwards and nailed into Larsson, hitting his head on Larsson's elbow. Hopefully will be ok here.

Oleksiak down the tunnel with a tweaked knee. Another hoping it isnt too bad.

BOOM! Beniers re-establishes the 2 goal lead. 7th of the season and a nice PP marker. 4-2 Kraken.

Ungh!!! Back to back goals. WTH guys??? Giving up ANOTHER two goal lead??

4-4 after 2 periods when we really should be dominating. Stay out of the damn box!!

Geekie not returning at all. Not good.

Sprong!!!! 5-4 Kraken retake the lead.
Gibson took a hit in a collision there, slow to get up. He is gone off ice. Stolarz is coming in now. His own defenceman collided with him, leg bent odd.

And there it is. Kraken hold on and fend off the 6 on 5 there with Stolarz to the bench and get it done. A win is a win. Kraken hockey baby!

Wasted that precious 1st year on the ELC for less than 13 minutes total TOI on the season. I guess they might recall him, but better off giving the kid some serious reps to regain that confidence. He will bounce back.
- bikeguy99

I believe teams are more willing to blow the ELC years because if they don't perform at a huge level the team can sign them to a more team friendly contract. Be it a bridge or a long term deal.