Shane Wright and two other NHL stars will break out in 2023-24

Every NHL season, there are players and teams that have seasons nobody saw coming. This season will be no different.

Of course, Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, and Igor Shesterkin will have their seasons but who are the young players that are candidates to have a breakout season?

That would be Seattle Kraken forward Shane Wright, Buffalo Sabres goaltender Devon Levi, and Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies.

These three players all have bright futures and are destined to be stars. With their careers in the NHL just beginning, they will need to make adjustments.

Here are breakdowns of the three candidates to break out in 2023-2024:

There are some NHL stars that will break out in 2023-24 including Shane Wright.

Seattle Kraken – Shane Wright

Seattle Kraken forward Shane Wright was one of the few players who were an overwhelming favorite to go number one in the 2022 NHL draft.

However, three other teams had plans and he was drafted fourth overall by Seattle. Wright, devastated by where he was taken to where he was projected to go, made it a goal of his to show teams that passed on him that it was going to be a big mistake.

His rookie season did not pan out that well as he was first sent to the minors, then back to the OHL where he was then traded to the Windsor Spitfires.

This set back Wright on his path to the NHL. He handled it well on the ice and performed well last season under the circumstances.

With the AHL Coachella Valley Firebirds, the Seattle Kraken’s affiliate, Wright had four goals and two assists for six points in eight games.

After the trade to the Spitfires, Wright posted 15 goals and 22 assists for 37 points in 20 games. During his short stint with the Kraken, he had two points in eight games.

With the last season behind him, Wright has shown he has the skill and work ethic to be with the Kraken in game one. My belief is that he will make the Seattle Kraken roster out of training camp and be placed in the middle six to start.

Wright has not lost that talent that made him a top-five pick in the draft and he could have a season like Matty Beniers had last season in his rookie campaign. Wright has too much talent to be held down.

He could make a serious run at a point-per-game pace and be an impactful player on the Seattle Kraken roster. He can be a real asset to the Kraken and has the skill to be a force in the NHL.

Toronto Maple Leafs – Matthew Knies

Matthew Knies is going to be a great player for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies was drafted in the second round (57th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft and quickly became a player to watch in Toronto.

At 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, he has an NHL body to go along with his on-ice skills. Knies made four stops throughout hockey in the 2021-2022 season, totaling 17 goals and 22 assists for 39 points in 43 games.

Last season, Knies played for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers of the NCAA, recording 21 goals and 21 assists for 42 points in 40 games. He then made his NHL debut with the Maple Leafs, totaling one point in three games.

His debut was not an offensive outburst but he did prove that he can play in the NHL. His speed, creativity, and moves to get open are some of the tools in his skill set.

Toronto does not have the deepest prospect pool but they are loaded at the forward position. He could, like Levi and Wright, put up those impressive numbers to be a Calder Trophy finalist this season.

He is offensively gifted and fits right in with the loaded Toronto offense. He is in the right system as he is surrounded by the right players.