Shane Wright is officially a goal scorer in the NHL, and just as fate would have it, his first tally came against the Montreal Canadiens.
This past summer, the Canadiens passed over the long-expected top pick with their No. 1 overall pick in the NHL Draft, selecting Slovakian forward Juraj Slafkovsky instead.
Wright, who infamously stared down the Canadiens’ table at the draft after the Seattle Kraken selected him fourth overall, also said he was “definitely gonna have a chip on my shoulder” since he fell in the draft.
Sometimes a little chip on your shoulder is a good thing. In this case, it’s paying off with a bit of revenge.
Wright’s first-career NHL goal came in the first period of the Kraken’s game against the Canadiens Tuesday in Seattle, when forward Oliver Bjorkstrand laid the puck on a platter in the low slot for the rookie, who hammered it past netminder Jake Allen.
Not only is it some sweet revenge for Wright, but it’s also a major monkey off his back. The 18-year-old had gone goalless in his first seven NHL games and has struggled to find ice time with the Kraken.
Tuesday was also Wright’s first game back from a conditioning stint with the AHL’s Coachella Valley Firebirds, with whom he re-found his scoring touch by producing four goals in five games.
Here’s some of the best reactions to what many are calling a “poetic” first NHL goal.
