The Montreal Canadiens are in the middle of a rebuild, and one trade idea has them acquiring a top prospect. According to the PuckGM tool on PuckPedia, which allows users to create hypothetical trades, a user proposed a deal involving the Canadiens receiving Shane Wright from the Seattle Kraken.
This one-for-one swap is an interesting proposition. Montreal would add Wright, another top prospect, while Seattle, aiming for a playoff push, would get an established defenseman in Matheson.
Wright, drafted fourth overall by the Kraken in 2022, was once seen as the top prospect in his class but slipped to fourth and has struggled to establish himself in the NHL, playing only 16 games. A new environment might help him reach his potential.
On the other hand, Matheson has two years remaining on his eight-year, $39 million contract. The defenseman, who notched 11 goals and 51 assists in 82 games last season, would strengthen Seattle’s defense, likely filling a second-pairing role.
Wright Opens up on Stare Towards Canadiens Draft Table
Wright was widely anticipated to be the top pick in the 2022 NHL draft, but the Canadiens, holding the first overall selection, chose Juraj Slafkovsky instead.
When Seattle picked Wright fourth overall, a moment occurred where he seemed to glance at the Canadiens’ draft table as he exited the stage.
Wright, however, later clarified that the look wasn’t deliberate. “Not at all,” he said in a July 2022 interview on Blue Jays Central. “I was just looking at the cameras in front of me. Honestly, I don’t remember much from going up on stage—it was all a blur. I wasn’t intentionally trying to stare anyone down. It might have looked that way in the video, but I was just looking at the camera, and their table happened to be behind it. There was no intent behind it.”
That said, Wright admitted that not being chosen first overall did leave him with a chip on his shoulder.
Canadiens GM Expects Team to Improve
Montreal is in the middle of a rebuild and finished with the fifth-worst record in the NHL during the 2023-24 season.
Despite this, the Canadiens prioritized re-signing their own players during the offseason, while also trading for Patrik Laine. As the team looks ahead to the 2024-25 NHL season, general manager Kent Hughes expressed optimism about their progress.
“I believe we’ll improve naturally and be better than last year. The uncertainty we’ve faced in recent seasons has been largely due to injuries, but if we stay healthy, I expect we’ll be a stronger team,” Hughes said.
He added, “Having Kirby Dach for a full 82 games instead of just a game and a period makes us better. We also expect our young players to develop further. The more time they spend working together, the more they’ll improve. Continuity within the group helps build a strong foundation.”
Montreal will kick off the 2024-25 NHL season at home on October 9 against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
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