Kraken Trade Shane Wright to Predators
Seattle sends the fourth overall pick from the 2022 draft to Nashville in exchange for Matthew Wood in a 1-for-1 deal.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Hockey
The Seattle Kraken traded Shane Wright to the Nashville Predators for Matthew Wood. Wright, drafted fourth overall by Seattle in 2022, had requested a trade away from the club in summer 2025.
Why it matters
Wright had not met expectations for the Kraken this season or his own, and the move gives both players a new opportunity with their respective clubs. For the United States audience, it is a notable example of a highly drafted prospect struggling to establish himself and seeking a change of scenery.
Wright has 39 goals and 82 points in 182 regular-season games, while Wood has 18 goals and 34 points in 91 games with Nashville. Both players have posted 3 or 1 goals respectively this season in 14 games, and neither has appeared in a playoff game with his current team.
The players
Shane Wright
Wright is a center who was drafted fourth overall by the Seattle Kraken in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft and has spent his NHL career with the club.
Matthew Wood
Wood is a forward drafted 15th overall by the Nashville Predators in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft who has spent his early NHL career with the club.
Seattle Kraken
The Kraken are an NHL franchise based in Seattle that joined the league as an expansion team in 2021.
Nashville Predators
The Predators are an NHL franchise based in Nashville, Tennessee, that has competed in the league since 1998.
The details
Elliotte Friedman reported that Seattle and Nashville were working on a deal involving Wright and Wood, which was finalized as a 1-for-1 exchange. Wright had requested a trade after last season, when he produced 12 goals and 27 points in 74 games.
Timeline
Summer 2025: Wright requests a trade away from Seattle.
2025-26 season: Wright posts 12 goals and 27 points in 74 games.
Sunday, November 1, 2026: The Seattle-Nashville trade is completed.
Season Trajectory
The trade reflects how high draft picks who fail to establish themselves can be reshuffled across the league, changing the developmental paths of both players. It also underscores the ongoing competitive balance questions surrounding teams that rebuild around early-round selections.
Fantasy managers tracking Wright and Wood should monitor their new roles and ice time with Seattle and Nashville over the coming weeks. The trade may shift depth chart expectations for both clubs as they evaluate the players' fits.
The takeaway
Changes of scenery can help players who have struggled to meet early expectations find new footing, though results will ultimately decide whether the move pays off for both teams.
Further reading
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