Canucks Approached Kraken About Shane Wright, Seattle's Ask Too High

The Vancouver Canucks have approached the Seattle Kraken about acquiring center Shane Wright, but the asking price remains steep, according to CHEK's Rick Dhaliwal. Seattle is seeking either defenseman Zeev Buium or blueliner Tom Willander in return, a price Vancouver is not willing to pay.

Wright, 22, requested a trade this summer through his agent Kurt Overhardt, a move confirmed by Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman in early July. The fourth overall pick in 2022 has struggled to meet expectations in Seattle, posting 27 points (12 goals, 15 assists) in 74 games last season after a 44-point campaign in 2024-25. He has one year remaining on his entry-level contract.

The Canucks, now led by new general manager Ryan Johnson, are in rebuilding mode and looking to add young talent down the middle. Wright fits the timeline, but giving up either Buium or Willander would be too steep a cost. Buium, 20, was the centerpiece of the return when Vancouver traded Quinn Hughes, while Willander, 21, is another key building block on defense. Both are still on entry-level deals.

Kraken GM Jason Botterill is believed to be trying to facilitate a trade for Wright, but he's not willing to give away leverage by appearing desperate to move the player. The high asking price suggests Seattle still values Wright despite the trade request and wants a controlled asset with years of team control remaining in return.

Vancouver has also been mentioned in talks involving Anaheim forward Frank Vatrano, though that would likely require the Ducks to attach sweeteners to move his $4.57 million cap hit. Dhaliwal reported the Ducks called the Canucks to gauge interest, but no deal appears imminent.

For now, Wright remains in Seattle, and the Canucks will need to wait for the price to drop or look elsewhere to address their center depth.