Kraken Preseason Profile
Vince Dunn
28-year-old, left shot defenseman
6-foot-0, 200 pounds.
Yes PP, No PK
How cliché. In a contract year, 2022-’23, Vince Dunn piled up a career high 64 points while missing just one game all season. That summer, he pulled in a new contract that included a raise of $3.3-million over the $4-million he’d earned the previous two seasons.
Of course, why not.
In the two seasons since, Dunn has posted 46 points in 59 games and 39 points in 62 games. Injuries can be unavoidable, unless you’re Andre Burakovsky, and Dunn has had a few. Fair enough.
But his game has slipped in general. Last season he noticeably lost his crispness at times. There was a laissez-faire appearance to his game. It’s not as if he’s had to adjust to a new partner. It’s been Adam Larsson on his right at almost all times.
Too cynical?
Maybe. His points-per-game hardly slipped in the season after the new contract, from .79 per game to .78. But last season it dropped to .63. Dunn’s turnovers skyrocketed, his shooting percentage was off, rebounds created was way down, etc., meaning he just wasn’t as involved. The fact his possession numbers suffered may have had a lot to do with coaching. There’s a reason Dan Bylsma only lasted a year. It was a tough season for a lot of players.
Dunn under Lane Lambert could see this top-pair D-man get back to his old burgeoning self. A “defense first” mentality with emphasis on the counter-attack transition game, an element Dunn flourished with previously.
Dunn needs to share the stage in “the deep”. Brandon Montour led Kraken D-men in scoring last season, although it took 81 games for him to eclipse Dunn by just two points. Montour was invited to Canada’s Olympic Orientation Camp.
Regardless, this is the type of balance Seattle needs in its D-depth.
Dunn is a blueliner who at age-28 should be playing through his prime. He has this season and next remaining on his contract. Let’s hope we don’t have to wait until 2026-’27 to see what he’s really made of.
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