"I do believe I can step into the NHL and truly make a difference," Wright said on the latest edition of the "NHL Draft Class" podcast. "I think that's the type of player I want to be. I want to make sure I'm actually making a difference. I don't just want to be a player that's just kind of following along. I want to make sure I'm a good strong player in that League.
"I want to get a little faster this offseason, get a little more physical; maybe add a little physical element to my game. I think that's something I'd really benefit from as well."
The 18-year-old right-shot center (6-foot, 191 pounds), No. 1 on NHL Central Scouting's midterm ranking of North American skaters, finished eighth in the Ontario Hockey League with 94 points (32 goals, 62 assists) in 63 games with Kingston. He's had 14 points (three goals, 11 assists) in 11 OHL playoff games.
RELATED: [Complete NHL Draft coverage]
Wright and left wing Juraj Slafkovsky of TPS in Liiga, Finland's top professional men's league, were guests on Part I of the 'NHL Draft Class' podcast Scouting Combine show. Slafkovsky is No. 1 in Central Scouting's ranking of International skaters.
"It would be nice if I get to go first overall in the NHL Draft but it doesn't really matter when I get drafted, but where," Slafkovsky said. "If I get the chance to play in the NHL as soon as possible and then I can show them there. The third or fourth pick can be even better than the first and that's the most important thing for me."
In Part II of the 'NHL Draft Class' Scouting Combine show, "NHL Draft Class" co-hosts Adam Kimelman and Mike Morreale sit down with USA Hockey National Team Development Program Under-18 Team center Logan Cooley and Northeastern University center Jack Hughes is the son of Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes.
"I think I'm a very dynamic, electrifying player and I think my work ethic, my compete, my two-way game is at the top of this class," said Cooley, No. 2 in Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters. "I think I've showed that the past two years."
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