Kyle Dubas has been walking a delicate tightrope in Pittsburgh, trying to retool on the fly. His strategy has been straightforward: leverage cap flexibility to bring in young players with upside while keeping Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang surrounded by proven skill.
That exact approach is why the Penguins are keeping a close eye on a former first-round pick on the Seattle Kraken roster.
Penguins Keeping Tabs on Former Kraken First-Rounder
Seattle Kraken center Shane Wright, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, has emerged as a player the Penguins are reportedly monitoring.
Wright has yet to establish himself as a permanent top-six center in Seattle. His limited role, which has seen him average roughly 13 to 14 minutes per game, has reportedly created some frustration.
After a promising 2024-25 season in which he scored 19 goals and 44 points, Wright took a step back offensively in 2025-26, finishing with 12 goals and 27 points in 74 games.
That has led to questions about whether both Wright and the Kraken believe a change of scenery could help him reach his potential.
Pittsburgh could be an intriguing destination.
NHL insider Josh Yohe reported that the Penguins are “intrigued” by Wright. “I have heard that Dubas likes him. And remember, former Seattle Kraken GM Ron Francis just returned to the Penguins organization, and few people know Wright better on a personal or professional level than Francis,” Yohe said.
The Penguins have also added several front-office staff members with ties to the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League, where Wright played his junior hockey.
“Wright makes all kinds of sense for the Penguins, but it’s the same old story. From what I’ve heard, the asking price for Wright is, to put it lightly, substantial, and possibly more than Pittsburgh is willing to pay,” Yohe added.
The fit is easy to understand.
Crosby and Malkin are still playing at an elite level, but with both iconic centers in their late 30s, Pittsburgh urgently needs young high-upside talent in the middle. At 22, Wright is fast, skilled, and fits right into Dubas’s target demographic.
As Yohe noted, the price could be the biggest obstacle.
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Seattle is unlikely to sell low on a former first-round pick who still carries an affordable $886,666 cap hit. The Kraken are reportedly seeking a premium return, potentially including a young top-pairing defenseman.
That creates a disconnect between the two teams. Dubas wants to acquire Wright based on what he is today, a reclamation project with high upside, while Seattle wants to be compensated based on his 2022 draft ceiling.
Until the Kraken lowers its asking price or Dubas decides Wright is worth sacrificing significant future assets for, the Penguins will likely continue monitoring the situation from a distance.
