KINGSTON, Ontario — The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) is typically for players ages 16-20. In rare occasions, players younger than this will demonstrate such elite talent that they are granted exceptional player status, allowing them to play in the CHL as a 15-year-old.

The CHL has granted eight players such status. Most are familiar, or upcoming, superstars: John Tavares, Aaron Ekblad, Connor McDavid, Joe Veleno, Shane Wright and Connor Bedard.

An exceptional player has demonstrated they can significantly outperform their peers. A player is granted exceptional status because it is vital to his development.

Shane Wright’s minor hockey years indicate that he is a special player. Playing in the OHL Cup with the Don Mills Flyers U16 AAA team, he put up eight goals, 18 points, and went +16, all in only seven games.

Wright was granted exceptional status to play for the Kingston Frontenacs in the OHL’s 2019-20 season. He would go on to score 66 points and 39 goals in 58 games. This performance would set a new record for points per game by a rookie, beating Connor McDavid’s previously set record. Wright scored the same number of points as McDavid’s record season in five fewer games.

Wright and McDavid are comparable, yet adjacent from one another. Both players are the same height at 6-foot-1, the same approximate weight of 190 pounds, and both are playmaking centers. The left-handed McDavid is known for his skating and set up abilities. The right-handed Wright is known for his puck control and ability to put the puck in the net. McDavid was a first overall pick in the NHL entry draft. Wright is a shoe in for the same slot in the upcoming 2022 draft.

Any NHL team would benefit extraordinarily from Wright’s elite talent. He may be the final piece to turn around a franchise going through a quick rebuild, such as the LA Kings or the Columbus Bluejackets. Wright would also be a fantastic piece to a team that is strongly emerging out of a deeper rebuild, such as the Ottawa Senators or the Detroit Red Wings. Alternatively, if Wright is drafted to a team that is just starting to rebuild, or is struggling in a rebuild, he may not excel.

We must also consider that the expectations for Wright to be a generational talent such as McDavid or Matthews may fall short. We have seen slow starts from first overall picks over the last few years. Alexis Lafreniere, who was said to be the best player out of the QJMHL since Sidney Crosby, went first overall to the New York Rangers in the 2020 NHL entry draft before going on to put up 21 points in 56 games in the 2020-21 season. In 2019, the New Jersey Devils drafted Jack Hughes first overall. Hughes had beat Auston Matthews’ points record for the US National U18 Team the year before. Hughes would score 21 points in 61 games in his rookie year, compared to Matthews’ 69 in 82, including 40 goals.

Shane Wright may not be a household name in the hockey community just yet, but his opportunity is right around the corner. It will be worth paying attention.

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