A Winning Habit
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Canadiens: From Cup Finals to Lottery Pick

By Sebastian High

OSHAWA, ON - DECEMBER 05: Shane Wright #51 of the Kingston Frontenacs looks on during an OHL game against the Oshawa Generals at the Tribute Communities Centre on December 5, 2019 in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Getty Images)
OSHAWA, ON - DECEMBER 05: Shane Wright #51 of the Kingston Frontenacs looks on during an OHL game against the Oshawa Generals at the Tribute Communities Centre on December 5, 2019 in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Getty Images) /
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OSHAWA, ON – DECEMBER 5: Shane Wright. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Getty Images)
OSHAWA, ON – DECEMBER 5: Shane Wright. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Getty Images) /

Shane Wright

Shane Wright has been the consensus best player available in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft for the past two or three years and chances are he keeps that title on draft day. He scored 39 goals and 66 points in 58 games as a 15/16-year-old in 2019-20 with exceptional status in the OHL for the Kingston Frontenacs. The 6’1″, 187 lbs centreman is a sniper with excellent hockey IQ, good skating and electrifying skill.

I had the chance of watching him play in person earlier this month against the Ottawa 67s. While he had an “off” game in a losing effort, as he didn’t dominate play, he still scored a nice gritty goal in the crease while falling down. His intelligence is evident, he has a gravitational quality, getting his opponents to only focus on him, which he exploits, leading to odd-man rushes and scoring opportunities for his teammates. His lack of impact was also magnified by strange coaching decisions like stapling him, a right-shot sniper, to the right circle on the powerplay rather than the left, and not keeping him out for an entire powerplay when trailing with 1:30 remaining in the game.

He may be off to a slow start relative to expectations, with 2 goals and 6 points through 5 games, but Wright is going to be a franchise centreman, just not a generational one, think of the quality of a Barkov or Kopitar rather than a Matthews, not that his style of play matches that of either superstar. If the Habs draft Wright, the centre position would be secure for the next fifteen years.

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