As the waterfall of the summer free agency period slows to an annoying drip, the Seattle Kraken continue to shape their opening night roster with the announcement today of their latest signings, forward Marcus Johansson to a one-year deal worth $1.5 million, and defenseman Vince Dunn to a two-year deal worth $4 million annually.
Marcus Johansson
The 30-year-old Swedish forward comes to Seattle after spending last season with the Minnesota Wild. Johansson was selected 24th overall in the first round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft before making the Capitals’ roster for the 2010–11 season. He signed a two-year deal with Buffalo as a free agent in the summer of 2019, where he played 60 games before he was traded to the Wild on Sept. 16, 2020, for center Eric Staal. With the Wild, Johansson had 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in 36 games.
Johansson brings his 6-foot-1, 203-pound frame to Seattle with 10 years of NHL experience, having played 684 regular season games and amassing 378 points (135 goals, 243 assists), and 97 playoff contests where he scored 41 points (13 goals, 28 assists).
The Kraken should look to Johansson’s experience and leadership to help build a conducive rapport in the locker room for the young franchise. He will also look to revive his career after an unspectacular season in Minnesota.
Vince Dunn
Dunn was acquired in the expansion draft last month from the St. Louis Blues.
Drafted in the second round (56th overall) of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft by the Blues, Dunn enjoyed his best statistical season in 2018–19 when he scored 35 points (12 goals, 23 assists) with the Blues’ Stanley Cup-winning team. Over his four-year NHL career, Dunn has played 267 games for the Blues, scoring 102 points (32 goals, 70 assists).
The 24-year-old, 6-foot, 203-pound puck-moving defender joins the Kraken as an important member of the 2019 Stanley Cup team, where he played over 17 minutes per night. He is labeled a puck mover, but his advanced stats also tell the tale of a reliable player in his own end of the ice as well, where he ranks high among young defenders over his career in xGF/60 (expected goals for per 60 minutes) and xGA/60 (expected goals against per minutes).