Encouraging Health Update On Kraken Forward Shane Wright

Looks like the absence of Shane Wright in Sunday's Coachella Valley Firebirds victory over the Ontario Reign was more precaution than inability to play.

The Desert Sun sports columnist Shad Powers tweeted this on his @shad_powers X account:

"Update on Shane Wright: Coach Dan Bylsma said Wright skated with the team Sunday and was lobbying to play in the game, but the team chose to exercise caution. Sounds like a safe bet that Wright will be available for the upcoming series and the lower-body injury isn't serious."

That upcoming series is the AHL Calder Cup Western Conference Finals. Coachella Valley punched their ticket by completing a sweep of the Ontario Reign, 3-2. (Details here.)

A break for Wright is that all the Firebirds will be getting a break, until their opponent is determined. The Grand Rapids Griffins lead the Milwaukee Admirals 1-0, with Game 2 of the Northern Division Finals Monday night.

The best-of-five series has to have at least a Game 3 Wednesday, and could potentially extend to Sunday, May 26. So coach Bylsma, a candidate for the open Seattle Kraken vacancy, will have to worry more about his team's rust than assorted wounds in coming days.

How Wright Was Injured

Editor's Note: These are details from a story published here on Sunday.

In Friday's Game 2, the Seattle Kraken 4th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft took a hard - and illegal - hit from Ontario's Hayden Hodgson. As you can see from the AHL-TV screengrab, Wright had no reason to expect contact from Hodgson, 3:15 into the 3rd period at Acrisure Arena.

AHL-TV Screengrab

By the time of the contact (top arrow), the puck is completely across the width of the ice surface (bottom arrow). Hodgson received a major interference penalty and ejection. Later, the AHL tacked on a two game suspension.

For his part, Wright was slow to return to his feet. He skated a power play shift after the collision, but left the Firebirds bench prior to the conclusion of the 5-3 Coachella Valley victory.

Wright had been an offensive engine in that win, scoring one goal and adding two assists.