Why It Would Be Best For Shane Wright to Stay In The OHL

Photo by Ken Andersen/Getty Images

Shane Wright put himself on notice during the 2018-19 season with the Don Mills Flyers putting up an absurd 150 points in 72 games and another 18 points in seven games en route to winning the OHL Cup. His skills earned him exceptional status, allowing him to play in the OHL as a 15-year-old.

Right out of the gates, the Kingston Frontenacs decided to name him as part of the leadership group wearing the assistant captain. During his rookie season, he had 66 points in 58 games. He set franchise records by beating Bernie Nicholls’ goal record, which Bernie had 36. Shane had 39 goals during his rookie season.

It was all fine and dandy with the season heading along; it looked like the Kingston Frontenacs and the Niagara Ice Dogs were going to fight for the 8th and final playoff spot. That was until March 11th. The day the NBA shut down their season and caused many others to follow suit due to the surging coronavirus pandemic. Little did we know, this would have further implications.

With the OHL season in limbo, players had to find ice on their own times. Many players were frustrated by the government’s handling of it. This led to one unique opportunity that Hockey Canada took advantage of, which was boasting the best roster in years for the U18s.

Shane Wright was captain of Team Canada for the U18s and had 14 points in 5 games. This is especially important to note since that is all the hockey he played during the year as the OHL had to shut down the 2020-21 season.

It’s clear that the OHL missing one entire season due to the COVID-19 pandemic really hurt Wright’s development. This season he didn’t come out as hot as everyone thought he would, leading to questions about whether he would be selected first overall. In the end, he finished with 94 points in 63 games and had 14 points in 11 games during the playoffs.

It may be best for Wright to get one more year in the OHL because of how the pandemic stole his 2020-21 season. No matter what team he gets drafted to (Montreal, New Jersey, Arizona), they are not one center away from being a playoff team, allowing Wright to develop his game further and maybe get to the AHL later in the year. Furthermore, it allows Wright to answer some of the scouts’ questions about him.

In addition, this allows him to dominate against the same competition for another season. The thought of him winning the OHL scoring title would be amazing for whoever drafts him. Plus, he may not be guaranteed top-line minutes in the AHL, whereas he is already guaranteed those minutes in the OHL.

Stanley Cup Aspirations Cue’ the Duck Boats Pod

The boys are back after a long break but have plenty to talk about as the playoffs are in full swing. We go series by series, looking at how teams have fared so far and who will come out on top. Thanks for listening! Please rate and review our show on your favorite listening platform. Check out our partner's website at www.insidetherink.com for all your latest hockey news.
  1. Stanley Cup Aspirations
  2. The Final Countdown
  3. Here Come the Playoffs
  4. Home Stretch
  5. Kevy Cooks

Discover more from Inside The Rink

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Leave a Reply

Dan Hinote coaching for US Hockey

Tampa Bay Lightning Hire New Assistant Coach For Next Season

TAMPA, Fla. — After bidding farewell to assistant coach Jeff Blashill, the Tampa Bay Lightning searched for a new assistant coach. A few weeks after Blashill’s departure to become the Chicago Blackhawks’ head coach, the Lightning announced a replacement. Today, June 6, the team’s Vice President and General Manager, Julien BriseBois, announced that they have […]

Read More
The Edmonton Oilers celebrating an overtime win in Game 1 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final

Edmonton Oilers Thoughts: Stanley Cup Final – Game 2

There haven’t been enough mentions about Corey Perry’s subtle backhand pass on the Overtime winner. The 40-year-old was probably our team’s worst forward in last year’s Playoffs, but the complete 180 he’s made in this year’s Playoffs is what you’d read if you looked up Fountain Of Youth on the internet. Also, with the third-period […]

Read More
Stanley Cup Game 2 Preview: Florida Panthers at Edmonton Oilers with Line Combinations 6/6/2025

Stanley Cup Game 2 Preview: Florida Panthers at Edmonton Oilers with Line Combinations 6/6/2025

Stanley Cup Game 2 Preview: Florida Panthers at Edmonton Oilers with Line Combinations 6/6/2025

Read More