Kraken names Jordan Eberle as team captain

His 58 goals and 151 points each rank him second all-time among the franchise's scoring leaders, but it is his off-ice actions and composure that made him captain of the team.

There were lighter moments, like choosing Redbone's “Come and Get Your Love” as the team's locker room victory anthem in the 2022-23 season, played early and often fueling a dream playoff run. Or when he led a group of players on stage to sing along with musical group Train and lead singer Pat Monahan during the team's One Roof Foundation Gala, a charitable event last January at Climate Pledge.

Some of Eberle's more difficult moments came early last season when he broke a bone in his hand in the fourth contest of the season against Colorado. Exactly a week later, despite broken bones, he scored the winning goal in overtime in Detroit – the first home defeat for the Red Wings last season.

Two weeks later, Eberle suffered a deep cut in his quadriceps muscle when teammate Jaden Schwartz accidentally kicked him with his skate blade as he fell during practice. The frightening incident came just days after former NHL player Adam Johnson died as a result of a cut to his throat from an opponent's skate while playing professionally in England.

In the end, Eberle only missed three games and was back on the ice – his hand still not fully healed from the previous injury. A strong second half increased his point total to 44, the fourth-highest on the team.

In March, just a few days before his 1,000th birthday. NHL game, Eberle signed a two-year, $9.5 million contract extension. At this point it seemed inevitable that he would eventually be named captain in the upcoming campaign.

That part was confirmed Sunday morning, a day after Eberle's online meeting with season ticket members. Shortly before the team's practice that day, Eberle was invited to a meeting with general manager Ron Francis and head coach Dan Bylsma to receive the news.

For most of his hockey life, Eberle seemed destined to become an alternate captain, training for a starring role that never materialized. He was a reserve player on his junior teams with the Regina Rams, then with the Edmonton Oilers under the leadership of captain Andrew Ferrence and then with Connor McDavid.

Eberle was never part of the New York Islanders' leadership group after joining this roster, but immediately became an alternate with the Kraken following his selection in the July 2021 expansion draft. Eberle, Larsson, Schwartz and Gourde have been alternate captains of the Kraken since the inaugural year – and Beniers now moves up to fill Eberle's previous position.

Bylsma gathered the players in her private lounge at the Kraken Community Iceplex before Monday's practice to share updates on Eberle's captaincy.