Breaking Down the Brian Dumoulin Trade

Why did Seattle trade Dumoulin, and what does it mean for their offseason plans? Let's dive in.

Dumoulin's Impact on the Kraken

Dumoulin quickly became a valuable asset for the Kraken. Though his scoring was modest, his defensive contributions were significant. According to HockeyViz, Dumoulin helped suppress opponent shot quality by 11 percent above average, and his presence on the ice saw the Kraken generating 54.5 percent of the overall shot quality during 5-on-5 play. He ranked third on the team in on-ice plus-minus at +3.

### Kraken's Offseason Moves

Seattle's recent free-agent signings necessitated the trade. The Kraken signed defenseman Brandon Montour to a seven-year contract at $7.14 million annually and center Chandler Stephenson to a similar deal worth $6.25 million annually. These signings pushed the number of established NHL defensemen on the roster to seven and left Seattle with limited cap space.

Cap Space Management

With Dumoulin's $3.15 million cap hit off the books, the Kraken now have $11.4 million in cap space. This allows them to finalize contracts for restricted free agents Matty Beniers and Eeli Tolvanen, and potentially add a 13th forward and a seventh defenseman.

Evaluating the Trade

Some might question why the Kraken didn't secure a better return for Dumoulin. However, trade trends around this time often prioritize cap management over maximizing player value. Seattle avoided a scenario where they would need to include additional assets to move Dumoulin's contract, similar to other teams' experiences with cap constraints.

Final Takeaways

The Dumoulin trade was a necessary move for Seattle to manage their cap space and finalize contracts with key players. While the return might seem modest, it aligns with current market norms. The Kraken are now better positioned to enter the 2024-25 season with a more balanced roster.