Insider Names Kraken's Top Defenseman a Trade Candidate
Kypreos placed Dunn on his latest trade board, pointing to the market shift around him. "Nobody did Dunn a bigger favour than Bo Byram, who signed a long-term deal with Chicago this past summer with a $12.5 million AAV," Kypreos wrote.
"Dunn also knows that Seattle's opening bid for Jason Robertson was a $15.6 million AAV on an eight-year deal. Dunn falls into the same category as DeBrincat. He's a pending UFA, so until he inks a new deal his name will be out there. We know he can get a minimum of six years elsewhere if he goes to market, and likely get a number in the neighbourhood of Byram's contract."
Why The Comparables Matter So Much
Dunn currently carries a $7.35 million cap hit on the four-year, $29.4 million deal he signed back in 2023, a bargain given what he's provided since.
Using Byram's $12.5 million annual value as the floor for Dunn's next contract would represent a massive raise, and Kypreos makes clear that number is now the realistic starting point for negotiations rather than a ceiling.
“I’ve always looked at myself as a leader, even last year trying to lead by example. Now there's just more of a visual demand on my chest, and I’m very honored to wear it.”
— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) September 17, 2026
🗣️ Hear more from #SeaKraken defenseman Vince Dunn after being named an alternate captain. pic.twitter.com/hxAkUTua4c
Dunn has been one of Seattle's foundational pieces since the franchise's inaugural expansion draft, developing into a legit top-pairing defenseman and alternate captain.
He set career highs across the board in 2023-24 with 14 goals and 64 points, and he's remained a fixture in Seattle's leadership group ever since, promoted alongside Brandon Montour to alternate captain this season under captain Jordan Eberle.
What Happens If Seattle Waits
Until the Kraken get Dunn extended, his name stays attached to trade speculation by default, the same category he shares with pending UFAs like Alex DeBrincat around the league.
NEWS: The Seattle Kraken have named Vince Dunn and Brandon Montour as alternate captains.
— Around The Horn Hockey (@ATHornHockey) September 17, 2026
Matty Beniers and Adam Larsson will also continue to serve as alternate captains.#SeaKraken
(📷: Steve Roberts) pic.twitter.com/aYr4SfdqKz
Seattle has reason to move quickly given how the market for top-pairing defensemen has exploded this offseason, with the gap between waiting and acting only growing more expensive with each comparable deal signed elsewhere.
