As the summer rolls along, it is time to dissect this team from top to bottom. With a flurry of deals handed out daily to top NHL talent, let's see who gets paid the most to wear the Seattle Kraken sweater.
With Brandon Montour and Chandler Stephenson being the two big signings for the Kraken this offseason, they did not eclipse the team's current average annual value leader. Who could it be?
The Highest Paid Player on Seattle Kraken
The title of highest-paid player per season on the Seattle Kraken goes to defenseman Vince Dunn. Dunn, who has been a part of the Kraken since the expansion draft when the St. Louis Blues exposed him, has an AAV of $7.35 million. He just barely edges out Montour, who is set to make $7.142 million in his first year with the team.
Dunn is well worth every penny of that contract, which will expire in 2026. He has led all Kraken blueliners in points the last three seasons and has contributed back-to-back 10+ goals seasons with 14 goals in 2022-23 and 11 goals last year. He has been an integral part of their defense, and obviously, he adds a ton of offense. Without a doubt, he was one of the three best skaters that the Kraken had last season.
The Kraken could be considered a balanced team in terms of contracts, with no one eclipsing even $8 million a year. If you look at many teams around the NHL, their highest contracts are usually hovering around the $10 million mark. In some cases, teams have multiple contracts of over $10 million AAV.
Sure, they may not have a "superstar" player on the roster, but they have a lot of great players that fit the puzzle nicely. A good blend of lower-end contracts will go a long way, especially if they continue to save their salary cap for a top-tier player.
How do you feel about Vince Dunn being the highest paid player on the Kraken?