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Shane Wright Trade: Why St. Louis Was Right To Pass
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- Shane Wright Trade: Why St. Louis Was Right To Pass
Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
The most surprising fact about the recent Shane Wright trade is that St. Louis would have made a terrible mistake by getting involved. The Blues stayed away from the center the Seattle Kraken just shipped to Nashville. The deal sent Wright to the Predators for winger Matthew Wood in a straight one-for-one swap, a move that leaves the Blues looking far better off than they would have been with Wright in their lineup.
Wright was drafted fourth overall in 2022 by Seattle, but his career has hit a wall. Per Bleedin Blue , the old rules kept him from playing in the AHL because he was too good for junior hockey yet not ready for the NHL. This development gap meant the sheen wore off before he could become a full-time star. He is now four years past his draft, and Wood is a year younger.
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The Size Factor That Doesn't Matter
Wood brings a specific physical profile that teams usually love. He stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 202 pounds, fitting the power forward archetype that general managers covet. However, his best-case scenario is still just a middle-six winger, a role that is available everywhere in the league. Wright plays a more important position as a center, but the trade value does not favor the Blues making a move for him.
The Blues already have the assets to go after a player like Wright, but the cost would have been too high. Jake Neighbours anchors the Blues' emerging leadership group, while Jimmy Snuggerud possesses 30-goal capability. Trading either of those valuable players for a guy in need of rehab simply did not make sense.
Center Depth Makes Wright Redundant
St. Louis is already set at the center position, which makes adding Wright unnecessary. Mason McTavish's trial continues despite reduced scoring output, with Robert Thomas anchoring the top line. Dalibor Dvorsky will likely serve as a durable third-line center for the long term, flaws notwithstanding. Adding Wright would have required giving up a piece of this current young crop, a move that hurts the team's future.
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They need help on the blue line, not another center who might struggle to find his game. Real improvement areas are highlighted by the team's 21st-place ranking in Goals Against per game. Focusing on the back end is a smarter play than chasing a center who has already hit a ceiling.
Logan Mailloux is one of the players the Blues are adding to improve their defense. According to Yardbarker , the team assigned him to the AHL's Springfield Thunderbirds on a conditioning stint after surgery. Mailloux struggled in his first season with St. Louis, posting a -10 rating in 67 games. His time in the minors showed he can score, but his on-ice save percentage of 88.8% at even strength left room for improvement.
The Blues will return Mailloux to add depth. His offensive potential is confirmed by tallying 26 goals and 80 points across 135 Laval Rocket games.
