With the 2026-27 NHL season nearly here, insiders are taking a look at what players will be soon available in free agency. Elliotte Friedman is making his pick in a new report about who will be the top available defenseman next summer.
While many hockey fans rightfully assume that skater is Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes, Friedman is also naming his pick for the second person on that list.
“Quinn Hughes is — deservedly — the sexiest defenceman currently available next summer, but after that, it’s the Kraken's Vince Dunn. There were talks between player and team, but there is work to do. Still time,” Friedman wrote for Sportsnet.
Dunn appeared in 81 games for the Kraken during the 2025-26 season. He also posted 44 points. Seattle failed to reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs, posting 79 points on the campaign.
Article Continues BelowIn his career, the defenseman has appeared in 623 contests. He also has 330 career points. Dunn started his career with the St. Louis Blues, before joining Seattle in 2021.
“Dunn is a smooth-skating defenseman who generates plenty of offense and excels in transition. He’s probably a No. 2 or 3 defenseman on a playoff/Cup contender, but he’d almost certainly upgrade any team’s blue line,” The Hockey Writers reported.
The Kraken clearly have a lot of trust in Dunn. He was named part of the team's leadership group for the upcoming season, per NHL.com. The Kraken have a goal of making the postseason, and a strong year from Dunn could certainly help make that happen.
Seattle last made the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2023. Time will tell if Dunn signs a new contract with the team, or goes to another club.