Kraken Pursue Vince Dunn Extension While Exploring Simon Edvinsson Trade

Seattle’s defense plans appear to have two tracks: keep Vince Dunn in the fold with a contract extension and continue pursuing Simon Edvinsson, a young Detroit defenseman drawing interest from multiple teams. The Kraken are said to want both outcomes, though neither a Dunn deal nor an Edvinsson move is described as imminent.

Dunn talks are active, with contract details still to settle

Reporter David Pagnotta said Seattle and Dunn’s camp began discussing an extension around the start of the regular season, or shortly afterward in early October. The sides have been working through the possible terms and parameters, and Pagnotta described both as interested in reaching an agreement. He also cautioned that there is still work to do.

Dunn has said he would like to finish his career in Seattle, according to Darren Brown, as relayed during a discussion on 93.3 KJR. That preference gives the talks a shared starting point, but it doesn’t settle the central questions: how long the deal would run, how its money would be structured and what annual value Seattle would need to offer.

Pagnotta estimated Dunn could command an average annual value in the eight figures if the Kraken want to keep him from reaching unrestricted free agency next July. He described Dunn as a potential top available defenseman in that class, with his ranking partly dependent on what happens with Quinn Hughes in Minnesota. The estimate is a market projection, not a reported offer or agreed figure.

Term and contract structure could shape where the final number lands. A longer commitment and a shorter one can carry different annual values, while the overall structure also affects how a deal fits a team’s longer-term planning. Pagnotta said the sides seem to have a general sense of the financial range, but that the finer points remain to be worked through.

There’s no indication from Pagnotta that either side is rushing or panicking. That gives Seattle room to keep negotiating, but Dunn’s status makes the calendar meaningful: without an extension, he could become one of the more prominent defensemen available next summer. For the Kraken, the choice is whether to settle his future before that market takes shape, while balancing the cost against other roster needs.

Edvinsson would add a younger option, at a steep reported price

Even if Seattle extends Dunn, the team is still pursuing Edvinsson, Pagnotta said. The 23-year-old is a restricted free agent with Detroit and has continued skating privately. Pagnotta said Seattle’s interest dates back at least to the point when Edvinsson became available in trade discussions and his desire to leave Detroit became known.

Pagnotta characterized Edvinsson as a first-pair defenseman who is still developing. That profile helps explain why several teams have pursued him, and why the reported asking price is high. The cost appears to vary depending on which clubs are speaking with Detroit interim general manager Sean Horcoff; no specific return was identified in the discussion.

For Seattle, the attraction is clear in broad terms: Edvinsson would offer a young defenseman with room to grow, while Dunn brings an extension decision tied to the open market ahead. But pursuing both creates separate roster and asset questions. A Dunn contract would commit significant salary over a term still unknown, while an Edvinsson deal would require Detroit and Seattle to agree on trade value. Neither path guarantees the other becomes easier.

The next signs to watch are whether Dunn’s negotiations move from a shared financial range to concrete terms, and whether Seattle remains in the mix as Detroit weighs interest in Edvinsson. For now, the Kraken’s reported preference is to strengthen their blue line on both fronts, with the price and timing of each move still unsettled.