Gary Bettman's Latest Decision Shows Huge Favouritism To Newly Expanded Teams

This offseason saw an interesting move where Shane Wright was granted an exemption from the CHL, allowing the Seattle Kraken the option of playing him in the AHL without returning him to the OHL.

This is undoubtedly a great advantage for the Kraken's developmental strategy. There's a bracket of players who, in their D+2 year, surpass the CHL level but might not be entirely NHL-ready. Having Wright in the AHL gives him the chance to face tougher competition, helping his growth curve.

However, Shane Wright isn't the only talent who's in such a developmental spot. Consider the Columbus Blue Jackets' situation. They have two prospects, Jordan Dumais and Denton Mateychuk, who could be vying for similar exemptions.

As reported by Aaron Portzline

Mateychuk, who was picked 12th in the 2022 draft, has showcased skills suggesting he's surpassed the WHL. His statistics with the Moose Jaw Warriors from last year support this sentiment. Yet, without the exemption, he might not get the AHL experience that could be pivotal for his progression.

Dumais's case is even more intriguing. A third-round pick in 2022, he amassed an impressive 140 points in 64 QMJHL games last season. In fact, he boasted a 2.19 point-per-game rate, outpacing Wright's 1.85 in the same category.

Given these circumstances, the decision to not extend similar exemptions to Dumais and Mateychuk, especially considering Dumais's performance, clearly shows Bettman's seeming preference for the Seattle Kraken.

As seen on Hockey OTB - REPORT: Gary Bettman Shows Blatant Favoritism For Expansion Teams