Seattle Kraken Roll Call is assessing every player who held a significant place in the fortunes of the 2022-23 Kraken season. We’ll be looking at the highs and lows they experienced during the last campaign, as well as what the future may hold for them in Seattle. Today we feature D-man Vince Dunn.
Position: Left shot defenseman.
2022-’23 Kraken totals (GP-G-A-P): 81-14-50-64, 55 PIM
Contract Status: Four seasons remaining with an annual salary cap hit of $7.35-million. His actual salary peaks in year-1 of this new deal with a salary of $9-million. He has a full no-trade clause for the 2nd-season of the contract and a modified no-trade for the final two years.
Seattle Kraken Season Synopsis
Dunn played in every Kraken regular season game in 2022-’23 except for one. He finished the campaign as the club’s 2nd-leading scorer, six points behind forward Jared McCann. At one point Dunn set the franchise record with a 12-game point streak that ran from February 23rd to March 18th in which he tallied a total of 17 points. The run topped a nine-game streak he posted in January.
Sorry, are we getting into the “High and Lows” section prematurely? It’s easy to do when one looks back at the 26-year-old Ontario native’s season. It earned him plenty of praise, a fat new paycheck, and it raised expectations.
Highs And Lows
We’ve talked about superlatives quite a bit with Dunn this season. He put up 16 multi-point games including three consecutive two-pointers on March 9th, 11th, and 13th. He peaked on January 5th in Toronto against his hometown Maple Leafs with his lone three-pointer in a 5-1 Kraken victory.
Offensively in the postseason it took him a little bit of time to heat up, going scoreless in the first five games. He had other things to prioritize in that first series against the Colorado Avalanche; trying to help contain Nathan MacKinnon and company. Despite a struggling power play, the Kraken won three of those first five games.
Dunn then tallied seven points over the final nine Seattle playoff matches.
Bonus Link — Kraken Column: Vince Dunn’s Deal Is Nearly Perfect
It would be tough to find a low point for Dunn during the regular season. Maybe a six-game pointless streak in December if one wants to be picky for a blueliner who was remarkably consistent when it came to appearing on the scoresheet.
What The Future Holds
Dunn projects a soft spoken diligence. He’s one of many Kraken with the experience of already winning a Stanley Cup, the proverbial “knowing what it takes”. He won it with the St. Louis Blues in 2019 as a 22-year-old. He turns 27 at the end of October.
Dunn and Adam Larsson will operate as one of the best top-pair defensive duos in the Pacific Division. They provide a natural balance and plenty of grit.
“I think he impressed everyone who watched our games throughout the year,” Larsson said of Dunn just after the season. “I’m very impressed with him, and I think he still has another step, but he really elevated his game on all levels.”
Dunn pointed out in May that moving forward the Kraken won’t be catching any teams by surprise, as they gained plenty of attention and respect from their season and their playoff run.
The same applies to this player.
Opponents will be on the look-out as Dunn has raised the bar. Should he falter at all, he’s in the right market, where the expansion honeymoon continues, particularly with last year’s success. The “what have you done for me lately” effect hasn’t kicked in yet for the Kraken and their burgeoning audience.
Not that it matters; Dunn’s excellent game is likely to continue. He’s taken a step, he possesses confidence, and he’s entering his prime.
Most Recent Roll Call:
— Seattle Kraken Roll Call: Brandon Tanev
