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Hello Krakenblr (and those that may be joining for just these two). I think we should talk. Because it’s been a journey and it continues to be a journey. If you’ve ever wondered why we’re all going insane, feel free to jump in here. My hope is that this gives you a basic idea of what’s happened, and you can read as your heart desires.
Today is November 19, 2023. And this is a source library for our favorite defense pairing, full of declarations of love, devotion, and codependence so far. Let’s talk about…
Adam Larsson and Vince Dunn
On March 22, 2022, Coach Dave Hakstol moves defenseman Vince Dunn up to the first pair, slotting him beside Adam Larsson. Not much had gone well for the Seattle Kraken during their inaugural season, and this pairing—plus Matty Beniers signing his ELC and a host of draft picks ready from being a seller at the trade deadline—would prove to be one of the longest-lasting and impactful moves the Kraken have thus far made.
They’d played together before, but this was permanent. And it's been remembered ever since.
Why was this so important? How did we get here? Where are we going? Let’s begin.
Adam Larsson
Nils Erik Adam Larsson was born November 12, 1992 in Skellefteå, Sweden. His father, Robert Larsson, was also a hockey player who was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings, though never played in North America. He has an older brother, Hampus, who also plays hockey, and a younger sister, Julia.
He is projected to go first overall for some time in his draft year, but ends up going fourth overall to the New Jersey Devils. The first overall pick was Ryan Nugent Hopkins, to the Oilers.
Larsson does well on the Devils. During the 2012-13 lockout, he goes to play in Albany with the AHL. While there, he’s paired with Jay Leach, who mentors him quite a bit.
In June 2016, an infamous trade hits Twitter:
Adam Larsson thus replaces Jordan Eberle's husband Taylor Hall, a defenseman for a forward. He receives the A on his sweater when Ebs is traded away.
Lars came to Seattle a few years after tragedy. I won’t put information about it here because it’s easy enough to look up and this is a silly primer. He signed with Seattle as a free agent, explaining later that he needed a new start.
Vince Dunn
Born October 29, 1996 in Mississauga, Ontario. He’s shared that he spent some time in hospitals when he was a baby, but we don’t know much about it.
He cheered for the Maple Leafs growing up.
He was drafted 56th overall (second round) by the St. Louis Blues. During juniors and his time in the AHL, he got into a few memorable fights lmao they’re worth looking up
Dunn was in the 5-6 D role in St. Louis, especially because he was so young. He was part of a rookie group that lived together and roomed together and did a bunch of dumb shit on the internet together.
Through it all, he had Jaden Schwartz. Whom he loved. (I really recommend this video ok)
He won the Stanley Cup in 2019 at 22 years old. During that run, his jaw was severely injured, but he battled back and had some of his best performances. (He’s also a total mama’s boy. Here’s a great article about that injury told mainly from his mom’s POV)
As for how he comes to Seattle, it’s the quintessential expansion draft story: he was exposed; he was taken in the draft at Seattle’s pick from St. Louis.
2021-2022
There is a lot I could say about the 21-22 season but I’m going to try to move along to the sources I promised. The d pairings and lines change a lot during this season.
Lars is paired up with Giordano a lot this season, and Dunner’s paired with a few. Here’s a visual to see how they switched.
And because it’s important, here’s a preview of the 2022-2023. (they got married….)
Along the way, though the team lost a LOT, there was some fun
Here are matching videos where Lars and Dunner did not give a fuck about the respective sports they were asked about
Another interesting thing: remember Larsson’s first pro d partner? Jay Leach? He’s the Kraken defense coach. But anyway.
Through all the ups and the MANY downs of the first season, through a chaotic trade deadline of trading away so many players including their first captain and lead defenseman Mark Giordano:
March 21, 2022.
They're paired together and, by all accounts, even though the team struggles...they're a good match. They play a TON of minutes together. They like playing together a lot.
Ofc, this season blew chunks, so it was not long after that that Dunner was injured and missed the rest of the season.
However, before the team separated, he made plans to train with Brandon Tanev. Why? Because Tanev has some of the best endurance on the team. And Vince Dunn knew that if he was gonna be playing with Adam Larsson, he needed to work. Hard.
So he simply worked hard
2022-2023
Before the season even starts, it’s different. The team meets in Alberta in October for a bonding trip that ends with Lars, Dunn, and Tanev sticking around for a little extra time together. (Video)
It’s a little rocky at first, including Grubauer getting injured. But it’s in this injury that it becomes clear how the hell Seattle is stringing together wins
And so the Lars and Dunner show begins:
A closer look at consistent Kraken defensemen pairing of Dunn, Larsson:
“I think he knows I like to have the puck and gives me it when I demand it,” Dunn said. "He’s someone that’s easy to talk to before games, during the games, on the ice, so yeah, I love playing with him."
“I think obviously chemistry, you build that,” Larsson said about what’s been key for the two. “It’s hard to build it if you don’t get time on the ice together. So, I mean, we talk a lot on and off days, like on the bench and in the locker room.”
A November broadcast clip, which gives us the detail that they get off the plane last together during road trips
They’re asked about bucketless warmies and Vince overshares about Lars’ haircare routine for some reason
Blue Line Consistency:
"As long as we like to play together, I'd like to stay this way," Larsson said. "We're there for each other, on and off [the ice], which builds the trust."
"Before the season, Dunn called him one of his best friends."
"I've always been in the 5-6 D role so those get jumbled a bit more. It's probably the longest I've ever been with someone," Dunn said.
Stories about the Kraken, eating habits, team meals, guilty pleasures. by Mike Benton
Lars said Dunner's a good chef but he doesn't know for himself. Dunner responds by:
I hate them.
December is harder. Dunn actually goes the whole month without a goal. At the end of the year, there’s an infamous practice where everyone seems angry.
And then January. The Kraken are the first team in history to sweep a road trip that long. Here’s what happens:
Vince Dunn's friends and family are extremely rowdy during an Ottawa game
Vince Dunn is named NHL's Third Star of the Month
Sunshine moment here when he's asked about Lars' point streak
Two games where Lars appears to be talking him down
The All Star Skills Showcase has them relaxed but no less attached to each other. During a goofy little three v three game, they have Lars and Dunn take a faceoff together which quickly turns into flirting shoving.
Them just existing, too
February is a funky time! One of my favorite genres of interactions arrives which is:
Lars hitting someone, That someone wanting a fight...But only going after Dunner
From the Philly Game
And the Philly game and Winnipeg game compiled together
March is notable for the Dallas game alone
Lars gets an insane goal in OT (after completely devastated on the bench when the Stars tied it with seconds to go).
There’s footage in the locker room with Dunner accepting fist bumps like a gracious First Lady
And he looks at lars like this I mean come on
In April, the Kraken eventually clinch their first playoff spot
We get more articles, including one about Dunn having an “attitude adjustment” to thank for his improvements:
“But something happened to Dunn before the start of this season -- he declines to get any more specific, saying it was "nothing too crazy" -- that made him take a closer look at how he was approaching the game, at how he was attacking practices and how he was feeling about the grind of NHL life. "There were some things that happened outside of the rink, some personal issues, where I was like, 'Whoa, I am pretty lucky to be doing what I'm doing,'" Dunn said.”
We also get the Making Noise article, which is a full circle of sorts to the earlier articles from November imo:
Vince, on Lars: "Having him by my side grounds me a little bit out there."
"The two are constantly talking. In the locker room their stalls are next to each other. And they chat about everything from what happened in practice, to jokes and plans away from work."
AND Lars uncharted video, in which he’s asked point blank what he thinks about Vince spending his off season to work alongside Lars:
On Dunn: "I can just see a different sort of drive in him this year and I'm very proud of him," Adam said. "I feel like he realized how good he can be this year.
"When asked if he can see his impact on the 26-year-old, Adam humbly defers with a little smile."
We also get Alison L. calling Vince out for a two minute long monologue when he’s asked about Lars
There’s also some photos of them entering the plane with Vince holding no coffee and Lars holding two coffees…and we know they sit next to each other on the plane…so.
In May, they’re eliminated from the playoffs. There’s a lot to be said for the team at large during the playoffs, but I very much want to mention that Dunner is effectively neutralized
We do get this Mic’d Up TikTok video from him, in which he flirts speaks briefly with Tyler Seguin as well as proudly tells Schultz and anyone else who will listen that he’s “not a yeller this year” and that in the first season he got “84 PIMs,” which simply is not true (he got 63). (And honestly, he got 55 in the 22-23 season so he's not reformed, don't listen to him)
I don’t know what the Stars and Avs were told but whatever they were, it was useful. He spends so much time in the penalty box and being guarded well
During exit interviews, Vince says very strongly he wants to remain with the organization. He’s heading into the summer as a restricted free agent. Seattle has to offer him something good, but he very strongly says he wants to stay
2023 Off-Season
It’s largely quiet at first. Lars goes back to Sweden (in part to train with longtime friend Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, which he has done every year since he was a teenager, and in part to go on a sexy couples’ vacation with Leon Draisaitl. But whatever)
Vince goes to train with Tanev as he did last year
A short article from June: Kraken's Vince Dunn On Why His D-Partner Is "A Sleeper":
"He's a big presence on the ice, and for me, it's just someone that's easy to play with. He's calm, he's steady. He brings the same game every single night, lets me do my thing on the left side, and I'm really thankful to be playing along his side every single night."
The fanbase waits for contract news. We hear he gets an offer. We hear nothing else as his arbitration date is set and creeping ever closer.
And then, on July 21, 2023, with no other news breaking, he posts this:
Where other players let the insiders and the agents break the news, he’s too excited. He posts the photo from the very first home goal from long ago. And he makes a statement: not only is he back, but they’re back.
The contract becomes the biggest thus far in the franchise. Babygirl is getting paid.
The main Kraken account gets in on the fun, which is when Vince Dunn himself seems to correct the ship name
Something else that’s funny (and is just me being insane): There’s a period in which Vince only likes two posts on the Kraken official Twitter. One includes himself. The other is about Lars. He simply doesn’t like any other post. (August 25 until August 31)
Camp gets closer! Seattle Kraken Roll Call: Vince Dunn:
“I think he impressed everyone who watched our games throughout the year,” Larsson said of Dunn just after the season. “I’m very impressed with him, and I think he still has another step, but he really elevated his game on all levels.”
Soon after that, it’s time for training camp.
We get the polaroid post.
We get Vince saying his favorite television show is Peaky Blinders (REMEMBER THIS)
MEET THE KRAKEN: Vince Dunn's summer, food, and Adam Larsson: The infamous radio interview. We get Vince Dunn oversharing on a radio program, fussing over Lars’ feet swelling up and sharing he loves candy. This radio program is also Mike Benton asking about food, which he did last November. He hadn’t forgotten!
We also have Dunner getting a little injured and sitting out a couple preseason games.
Which is when Lars is asked about Ryker Evans, Kraken defenseman of the future, mini Vince Dunn waiting in the wings tbh, and he responds in the most codependent way imaginable. (Yes, this is the infamous, “I would like to see my partner at some point” moment.) Excellent detective work here to show that Dunner was literally there.
Dunner is then asked about it and lights up. Because of course he does. He’s delighted.
He also says other insane things like, “We’re pretty familiar with each other,” sharing that they sit next to each all the fucking time, and stating, “I get enough of him and he gets enough of me.”
Which, idk if I agree with, given their whole…thing, but sure.
He’s all good though, and then it’s time for the beginning of the season.
2023-2024
It’s still early in the season, but a few stories are emerging (adding onto this as we go)
A major “oh my god these two…” was Lars (and others, including Vince’s beloved Jaden Schwartz, but Lars is important for this primer) dressing up as Peaky Blinders for Halloween
Another: remember how the teams neutralized Dunner by getting him in the box? That’s happening. A lot. He may actually get his 84 PIMs!
He is still being equal parts a ray of sunshine and a gremlin. And Adam Larsson still stares at him like he’s the best thing he’s ever seen.
Mike Benton asked Lars about Vince during an excellent interview. Lars also shared that Vince still hasn’t cooked for him but sends him photos and videos of what he cooks “to tease [him] a little.” Here’s the clip.
I hope you’re in this now. This is definitely not exhaustive, but it’s my personal library of important sources. I reserve the right to come back and make edits <3 But I hope it helps to spread the Gospel and to explain how we all got to this point.
Live laugh larsdunn 👬
