Seattle Kraken: Five breakout candidates to watch
Ed Stein
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1 – Vince Dunn, defenseman
Anyone who read our mocks leading up to the expansion draft knows how strongly I feel about Vince Dunn. When I read scouting reports on young players, certain buzz words catch my attention, such as dynamic, intelligent, hard-working, and vision. Those are attributes that set some prospects apart from others.
Dunn is dynamic with the puck on his stick. He sees the ice well and makes smart decisions. Just as important, the defenseman isn’t afraid to work hard to take the puck away from opponents. Dunn doesn’t neglect his defensive duties either. Last year was his first negative +/- season in the NHL. Then again, St. Louis goalies struggled with consistency for a good part of 2020-21.
Some might ask why a guy who scored 35 points in 2018-19 can still be a breakout candidate. Even with that good season under his belt, Dunn gets overlooked in the conversation of up-and-coming defensemen. It would be a surprise if he scored over 50 points this year.
In St. Louis, players such as Alex Pietrangelo and Torey Krug took power-play minutes away from him. Dunn is the Seattle Kraken’s top candidate to be the man advantage quarterback. He should more than justify the team’s belief in his abilities.
Who do you think the Seattle Kraken’s breakout players will be this season? Let us know in the comments section below or on social media.