from Darren Yourk of TSN,

Plenty of daylight exists between Shane Wright and the rest of the field as the race to be the next first-overall pick in the National Hockey League begins.

The Kingston Frontenacs centre is the top prospect in the September edition of Craig’s List ahead of the 2022 NHL Draft, and TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button says it’s not even close.

“There is not a player in the 2022 draft who combines the high degree of skill, IQ and competitiveness that Shane possesses,” Button said. “He would have been the first pick in the 2021 draft if he was eligible. His ability to play the game at an exceptionally high level not only separates him on the ice, but it is also a separator in the 2022 draft.”

Wright certainly has a resume befitting a No. 1 pick. The Burlington, Ont., native was granted exceptional player status by Hockey Canada for the 2019-20 Ontario Hockey League season, was the first pick in the 2019 OHL Priority Selection and was named Rookie of the Year after scoring 39 goals and 66 points in 58 games as a 16-year-old.

The COVID-19 pandemic prevented Wright from having a sophomore season with Kingston, but he did captain Team Canada to a gold medal in May at the IIHF World Under-18 Championship in Texas. Despite going more than a year between competitive appearances on the ice, the 6-foot, 188-pound pivot still had 14 points in five games.

“Shane’s game is complete. There is not an area of the game where he doesn’t make an impact,” Button said. “When we draw comparable types of games or players, Wright’s game would resemble that of Boston Bruins’ star Patrice Bergeron – and not a lower-case Bergeron but an upper-case version.”

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