Seattle Kraken Secures Defensive Core: Vince Dunn Commits to Four-Year Contract Extension
According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman on Friday afternoon, the Seattle Kraken has extended defenseman Vince Dunn’s contract by four years.
According to Friedman, Dunn’s new contract with the Kraken includes a $7.35 million annual cap hit. On July 24, the 26-year-old defenceman was supposed to appear at a salary arbitration hearing.
In 81 games with the Kraken in 2022–23’s regular season, Dunn recorded 14 goals and 64 points while averaging 23:40 of ice time. He added seven points in seven games during the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs (one goal and six assists).
Later on Friday, CapFriendly released a more thorough summary of Dunn’s new agreement with the Kraken. In 2023–2024, $8 million will be paid to the left-handed defender, followed by $7 million in 2025–2026 and $5.4 million in 2026–2027. Dunn’s contract contains the following:
- A complete no-trade clause in 2024–2025.
- A 16-team no-trade clause in 2025–26 and 2026–27.
- Three years of unrestricted free agency eligibility.
After being selected by the St. Louis Blues in the second round of the 2015 NHL Draft (with the 56th overall pick), Dunn signed with them in 2017. The Mississauga, Ontario, native played for the Blues during his first four NHL seasons, scoring 102 points in 267 contests and winning the Stanley Cup in 2019. The Blues chose to defend Colton Parayko, Torey Krug, and Justin Faulk on defense in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft, leaving Dunn exposed. The Kraken chose Dunn from St. Louis and rapidly moved to their top four.
Dunn quadrupled his goal total and almost did the same with his point total in 2022–23 as the Kraken shocked the hockey world by securing their first-ever playoff appearance after recording seven goals and 35 points in his first season in Seattle. In 14 playoff games, Dunn saw an average of 23:10 ice time as Seattle defeated the Colorado Avalanche before losing to the Dallas Stars in the second round.
Dunn was the last restricted free agent signed by Seattle this summer. With a complete 23-man roster, the Kraken has just $943,424 in estimated space left under the $83.5 million salary ceiling, according to CapFriendly.
The Game-Changing Skills Vince Dunn Brings to the Kraken
Retirement is a long way off for Dunn, who is only 26 years old and only starting the prime of his career. The defenseman has flourished this season with the Seattle Kraken, embracing the good fortune, talent, and skill that brought him to this position and emerging as the representative of a young organization. He is also growing, just like the Kraken.
Jaden Schwartz, a forward who has played with Dunn for each of his six NHL seasons, said of the defenseman, “[He] just kind of doing it all for us right now.” “Everyone in the League is beginning to realize how talented he is and how much potential he possesses. For a very long time, I have been able to see it. He has been fantastic.
The group attempting to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs in its second season has done the same. On Thursday (10:30 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, SN NOW), the Kraken will play the Arizona Coyotes to move closer to their goal. Five points ahead of the Winnipeg Jets and Calgary Flames, the Kraken currently hold the top wild card into the Western Conference playoffs. Seattle may clinch a spot in the playoffs with any victory over the Coyotes or with just one point against the Coyotes with any defeat by the Carolina Hurricanes for the Nashville Predators.
Dunn won the Stanley Cup in his second campaign with the St. Louis Blues, where he spent his first four NHL seasons. Everything was nothing compared to the highest high he had ever experienced. The Blues then drafted Dunn in the NHL Expansion Draft in 2021.
Seattle’s Visionary Move to Embrace Vince Dunn’s Potential
He was taken to Seattle. He was pleased to have been chosen by the Kraken; he had hoped for it. He was eager for a change and a new beginning.
His first season with the Kraken, which was underwhelming overall, was comparable to his prior NHL campaigns. As the team struggled, he tied his NHL career high with 35 points (seven goals, 28 assists). He believes that in dragging himself through the life he had worked so hard to build, he let the drawbacks of being an NHL player affect him. He made it his mission to change his viewpoint. It has aided in a variety of ways.
This season, Dunn has demonstrated a newfound commitment to being the kind of player he is capable of becoming and the kind of player he has always had the potential to become, both on the ice and in the weight room. With an NHL career-high 63 points (13 goals, 50 assists), he is ranked 10th among NHL defensemen.
Ron Francis, general manager of Kraken, said: “Vince deserves the credit.” “He arrived last year, perhaps needed to be in the right place. And there is a process that involves becoming aware of and trusting what the coaches are attempting to accomplish with you as well as you with the coaches, and he has put a lot of effort into it. It’s the notion of treating the Kraken—the rink—as a place that Dunn wants to be and has spent significant time achieving.
His job, friends, family, city, team and staff, and coworkers were all things for which he made it a point to express gratitude. They have also been pleased with the outcomes.
“The things he’s doing on the ice are easy for everyone to see, in terms of the added minutes, the responsible defensive play, and the offensive production he’s bringing,” said Kraken coach Dave Hakstol. “But the things that are a little harder to see are behind the scenes, simply in terms of his presence, his capacity for dealing with various circumstances, whether positive or negative and his ability to always move on and move to the next play.
From game to game and over extended periods, “Dunner’s” confidence and presence in the game have genuinely increased.
It’s not like the St. Louis Blues didn’t lay the groundwork for him; they saw his potential, skill level, vision, and toughness when they took him in the second round (with pick No. 56) of the 2015 NHL Draft.
Former teammate and close friend Sammy Blais of the Blues says. “I always knew he could have a season like that,” the speaker said. Dunn thinks that the chance and the Kraken’s apparent faith in him have both been crucial. On the ice, he has been able to translate that. Even though I excelled or exceeded others, Dunn added, “I don’t think I was given much opportunity before. I think maybe I was held back from a lot of things.”
“I am aware of the numerous business-related issues that can become rather challenging in our sport. But I also understood that I had a lot more to offer. I’ve attempted to seize control of the situation and go with the flow. There’s no reason I can’t keep getting better. I am aware that my game still has a lot to offer.
Blais is gushing about how much Dunn like Seattle and how much he wants to sign a new contract when he becomes a restricted free agency this offseason because of this. That is essential. Dunn is quickly overtaking other players on the club as the most well-known player. With a 23:43 average time on the ice, he ranks 23rd He is developing. He is becoming aware of what is expected of him physically, psychologically, and emotionally on the ice and in the gym. Adam Larsson, his defensive partner, stated, “I think he’s elevated every aspect of his game this year. Watching him develop both on and off the rink has been enjoyable.
Dunn is aware of his current potential. He is aware of the fun that is. He is aware that nothing in this was assured. Dunn remarked, “I’m pretty lucky for everything that I have in my life. “I know everyone has bad days and goes through problems, but at the same time, I’m living my dream and happy to be doing it. There’s no reason why I can’t be happy most of the time. I’m fortunate. “The game loves you back when you adore it. I sincerely believe that.
