Kraken Pursue Vince Dunn Extension While Chasing Simon Edvinsson
Seattle and Vince Dunn are working toward an extension, while the Kraken remain among the teams pursuing Detroit defenseman Simon Edvinsson.

Seattle’s defense plans have two significant threads: the Kraken are working toward a contract extension with Vince Dunn, and they remain interested in Detroit’s Simon Edvinsson, according to reporter David Pagnotta. The situations differ sharply. Dunn’s talks are underway, with both sides aiming for a deal; Edvinsson is a sought-after young defenseman whose potential availability has drawn interest from multiple teams.
Pagnotta discussed both players on 93.3 KJR, responding to a question about Dunn’s contract year and Seattle’s pursuit of Edvinsson. The host referenced Darren Brown’s report that Dunn would like to finish his career in Seattle. Pagnotta said the Kraken share interest in keeping him and that the sides began discussing an extension around the start of the regular season, or shortly afterward in early October.
Dunn talks have a broad financial range
The discussions have covered what an extension might look like and its possible parameters. Pagnotta described the process as ongoing, without a rush or signs of panic from either side. Both, in his account, understand the shared goal: finding terms that keep Dunn in Seattle.
The financial challenge is tied to Dunn’s position in the coming free-agent market. Pagnotta said he could rank among the top one or two defensemen available next July, depending on what happens with Quinn Hughes in Minnesota. That prospect gives Dunn potential negotiating value as he approaches free agency, while Seattle has reason to pursue an agreement before he reaches the market.
Pagnotta put the likely annual average value in eight figures, based on Dunn’s current salary and the market outlook. He did not give a specific figure. The final number, he said, would depend on the length of the contract and its overall structure. Those details matter: term and structure shape the commitment on both sides, so a shared sense of the financial range does not mean the precise terms are settled.
There is no indication in Pagnotta’s comments that an agreement is imminent. He said work remains on the details, even as the sides try to reach their common objective. For Seattle, the next sign of progress will be whether that broad financial understanding can become a complete extension, with the term and structure acceptable to both parties.
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Edvinsson interest remains a separate pursuit
Even if Dunn signs an extension, Seattle is still looking at Edvinsson, Pagnotta said. The Kraken have been pursuing the Detroit defenseman since he became available in the trade market and his desire to leave the Red Wings became known, according to the reporter. That makes the Edvinsson situation a potential roster addition alongside the effort to retain Dunn, rather than a substitute for those contract talks.
Pagnotta described Edvinsson as a 23-year-old, first-pair defenseman who is still developing. He said many teams have pursued him and that Seattle is among them. The number of interested clubs and Edvinsson’s profile are pushing the potential cost high, though Pagnotta said the price appears to vary depending on which teams are speaking with Sean Horcoff, Detroit’s interim general manager.
The source doesn’t provide a specific asking price, a list of interested teams, or details of a proposed return. It also doesn’t establish that Detroit has agreed to move Edvinsson. For now, Seattle’s interest is part of a competitive pursuit, and any discussion of a deal’s cost remains a broad assessment rather than a confirmed package.
The picture for the Kraken is therefore one of parallel priorities with different timelines. Dunn’s extension talks are active, with a general financial range emerging but key terms unresolved. Edvinsson remains a target in a crowded trade market, where the price may shift with the competition. Seattle’s ability to retain Dunn and add another defenseman will depend on how those separate conversations develop.
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