SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 02: Adam Larsson #6 and Vince Dunn #29 of the Seattle Kraken talk during the first period against the Edmonton Oilers at Climate Pledge Arena on October 02, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)Photo: Steph Chambers / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images
The first speedbump of the season for the Seattle Kraken is a hit to the depth of their blueline. Defenseman Vince Dunn was placed on long term injured reserve on Monday, and the Kraken recalled defenseman Cale Fleury in his place from the team's American Hockey League affiliate in Coachella Valley.
What we know:
· Dunn has three points in four games with a minus-2 rating.
· Dunn sat out two of the first six games of the season including Saturday’s overtime win over the Calgary Flames.
· Dunn’s injury which benched him from Saturday’s win was termed by head coach Dan Bylsma termed a “mid-body” ailment.
· Fleury is in his seventh pro season, and fourth within the Kraken farm system with 63 career NHL games.
· Fleury comes off a hat trick in Coachella Valley’s win last Saturday at San Diego.
Instant analysis from 93.3 KJR-FM:
Not the news the Kraken were hoping for, especially early in the season where they’re off to their best start in four years, at 4-2 under new head coach Dan Bylsma. Dunn is a premier puck mover and has operated as the team’s top power play point man. He logs a heavy workload of ice time. When healthy, at times he’s performed as the best player on the ice for a team that prides itself on offensive distribution throughout the lineup – even among defensemen.
But injuries have become a concerning pattern for a key component of the Kraken lineup, who is under team control for three more seasons on a deal worth $7.35 million annually. Dunn, 27, logged 46 points and 11 goals 59 games last season, derailed on a hit from Martin Pospisil last March which earned the Flames forward a three-game suspension. Dunn would miss the next 12 straight games and sit for 19 of the final 21 games as the Kraken fell from playoff contention. Eight of his 11 goals last season came in Kraken wins, while 40 of his career-high 64 points two years ago came in Kraken victories, en route to the team’s first Stanley Cup Playoff berth in franchise history.
According to long term injured reserve rules, Dunn must sit for a minimum of ten games and 24 days, making him eligible to return November 12 against Columbus, at the earliest. Dunn’s absence opens a potential long term injured reserve financial pool of $7.345 million the Kraken may exceed past the salary cap, according to puckpedia.com.
Josh Mahura, a part of the roster as a seventh defenseman since opening day, has been skating in Dunn’s spot at full strength with defenseman Adam Larsson. The move almost certainly amplifies an offensive role and heavy five-on-five ice time for Brandon Montour, a prolific right-handed defenseman currently seventh in the league for average time on ice per game (20:34), and youngster Ryker Evans, seen as a point man on the power play last Saturday in Dunn’s absence.
Fleury is likely up in a reserve role, as the Kraken were skating in practice on Monday with Mahura in the top defensive pair slot with Larsson. Fleury has 63 games of NHL experience with a goal and an assist in his career with the Kraken and Montreal Canadiens.
Montour and Evans each have four points in six games to begin the season.