Jordan Eberle Named Captain of Seattle Kraken

SEATTLE – The Seattle Kraken have appointed Jordan Eberle as the second captain in the franchise’s history, filling a leadership void that was left when former captain Mark Giordano was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in March 2022. This announcement was made just moments before the Kraken’s season opener against the St. Louis Blues, where they suffered a narrow 3-2 defeat.

Eberle, who has been with the Kraken since being selected in the July 2021 expansion draft, was introduced as captain during the pregame introductions at Climate Pledge Arena, drawing applause from the crowd. The 34-year-old forward was the last to be introduced after Adam Larsson, Jaden Schwartz, Yanni Gourde, and Matty Beniers, all of whom are alternate captains.

“It’s always nice to interact with them,” Eberle said regarding the fans, in a statement reported by Geoff Baker of nhl.com. “They’re the people that are cheering and the people that are loud in the stands – the ones that kind of will us to win hockey games.” His appointment marks the first time all 32 NHL teams have named captains since the 2010-11 season.

Eberle’s leadership role comes as no surprise to many within the organization, given his contributions both on and off the ice. He is known not only for his notable 58 goals and 151 points, ranking him second all-time among franchise leaders but also for his visible presence during community events and his efforts to engage with fans and season ticket holders. Eberle recently participated in a Q&A session for Kraken fans alongside general manager Ron Francis.

Eberle has had pivotal moments in Kraken’s short history, including scoring the first hat trick for the team and netting an overtime goal that turned the tide in the franchise’s first playoff series win against Colorado Avalanche. His leadership qualities have been evidenced both during Nashville on-ice challenges, such as overcoming injuries, and in lighter instances, such as choosing the team’s victory anthem.

Head Coach Dan Bylsma praised Eberle’s leadership following the announcement. “Leadership to me is often a misunderstood word,” Bylsma explained. “Every person, in every situation, has a chance. You are a leader in how you act, the time you show up, how you train, how you eat, how we come to the rink, how we play.” Bylsma emphasized that Eberle exemplifies true leadership, which is about a team mindset and influence.