This is a win for SEA, imo. Look at all those big money FA D's on huge contracts who crashed and burned after they turned 30. If Dunn regresses back to his old self (or gets worse), they're not stuck with a $50M hole.

Over 7 million for one career year. Yikes

Good for Dunn, good for SEA in the short term.

Issue is if Dunn is still playing at a high level in that age-30 season, and swinging for a 7-8 year deal thereafter. Not fun to be bogged down to a D until he’s almost 40.

But, that’s a problem for 2027.

He will be someone else's problem by then most likely. Some desperate team will sign him like CLB Severson

You’re not wrong; but, Severson is two years younger and already $1.5M cheaper than Dunn will be at that point.

The better (worse?) example is more likely what PIT is about to pull with Karlsson.

Bro getting 10 Million AAV after this deal

Deal after deal goes on to show that most important factor seems to be career points per career games.

Whether a team decides to go short or long on a player, there’s always a risk that they’re making the wrong decision – go long and the player declines in the last half of the deal, or go short and he’s still at the top of his game or better when it ends – but I think the former is a bigger problem than the latter. Being stuck with a bad contract is likely to hurt you more than having to let a good player go or pay him what he’s worth to keep him.

I think Seattle has been smart not taking on long-term contracts. If I remember correctly, the only player they’ve ever had signed for more than 5 years is Grubauer, and they probably already regret that one.

Armstrong is terrible at evaluating defenseman.

Not sure they had a choice with all of their NMC/NTC that forced protection in the expansion draft.

He is Seattle's version of Shea Theodore. Difference is that Vegas got their extension before he became a regular 40-50 point defenseman.

I still remember when he knocked out Kurtis Gabriel in a hallway fight in the AHL lol. At least I think that was him. I think there's two Vince Dunns

Then why does he still have a job in St. Louis?

I think Theodore is slightly better, but that's not too far off from an apples to apples comparison

Because he’s good at evaluating forwards and won a cup in the last 5 years.

He gave away a top pair D (Dunn) a great top 4 D (Walman) for nothing.

He gave out terrible contracts to krug, Leddy, Scandella etc…

Walman wasn't top 4 caliber when he was in St. Louis, and honestly, I'm still not 100% sure he's a top 4 guy in Detroit, cause they're still not a proven playoff team yet. Dunn wasn't really top 4 caliber either. Those players grew into larger roles AFTER they left, no evidence to suggest they were playing below their pay grade WHILE in St. Louis

Walman is 100% a top 4 D right now. He faces tough competition and puts up elite two way results in those minutes.

Dunn was definitely top 4 caliber in St. Louis. One of the better goal scoring defenseman, generated offense and defended at an elite level. Very similar to Devon Toews while he was with the islanders.

Dunn most certainly DID NOT defend at an elite level in St. Louis, now you're delusional, and Walman may have put up elite defensive numbers, but he doesn't do much in the way of offense. Devon Toews is a very foolish comparable to bring up.

He still defended at a higher level than ANY defencemen Vancouver has trotted out after 2012

Wrong

@Knuckl3s he did though

Why are you quoting yourself? Yes, of course he's had more than one GOOD season, that doesn't mean more than one season playing as a credible no. 1 defender

I think this is an overpayment.

Dunn has had 4 seasons of playing at a high end top 4 level.

No he hasn't

The numbers don’t lie