Jordan Eberle has stepped into the captain’s chair for the Seattle Kraken, and he’s making it clear the job is about more than wearing the letter. Named the second captain in team history just before the start of the 2024-25 season, Eberle says his leadership starts with production, presence and setting a tone that others want to follow.
“I don’t have that Hall of Fame pedigree. For me to be successful as a leader, I have to contribute.
“I have to be one of our best players, for guys to listen to me and follow my lead. I’ve always taken that approach. And I enjoy it as an older guy.
“I’ve seen a lot of things. You try to mentor young guys with experiences (I’ve had) that they may be going through. You try to push leaders along.
“We have a good leadership group; Adam Larson, Brandon Montour, Vince Dunn, Jared McCann. Matty Berniers, who’s a young guy, seems like he’s been in the league a long time.
“And also a good group of younger guys who are chomping at the bit. It’s about bringing the group together, as cliche as it is. I’m creating an atmosphere here that guys enjoy coming to the rink.
For Eberle, that atmosphere matters just as much as the on-ice work. He said the Kraken are a team that “enjoy competing” and that the challenge is keeping the group balanced through the grind of a full season.
“They enjoy competing. They enjoy working, but also, having fun doing it.
It’s a long season. The ups and downs of a year are always quite high and quite low.
So you have to try and find a middle ground and enjoy doing it. If you can create that atmosphere and that culture, that goes a long way.
“From day one, I fell in love with being around my teammates. If you can create a bond within a group, you talk to anyone who’s won, I’m sure they’ve created that bond.
When you do it through a full season, you’re with these guys every day, it’s what makes it enjoyable. You want to be competitive and you want to be enjoying it while you’re doing it.”
He also said the fit in Seattle has been easy from the start, pointing to the way he communicates with teammates and the quality of the organization around him.
“I love being vocal. I’m a very cerebral player.
I love talking, getting guys’ opinions of what they see within games, talking to my linemates. The facilities, the food, everything here is first class.
I have absolutely zero complaints. I think anyone who’s played here can say the same thing.”
In Other News...
Kraken Head To Finland With Injury Concerns Suddenly Looming
The Krakens trip to Helsinki for the 2026-27 NHL Global Series comes with a little more uncertainty than the club probably wanted. Seattle is already managing injuries to forwards Jared McCann and Jacob Melanson, along with defenseman Ryan Lindgren, which has put a little more pressure on the roster as the team settles in for the overseas showcase.
To give itself some extra cover, Seattle recalled forward Logan Morrison and goaltender Nikke Kokko from Coachella Valley. The moves give the Kraken more flexibility if the injury situation worsens during the Finland swing, while also adding another layer of intrigue to a trip that already carries plenty of spotlight for the organization. [Read more 🡒]
Kraken Youth Program Is Opening More Seattle Kids To The Ice
The Krakens youth skating initiative is back for a sixth season, continuing a partnership with One Roof Foundation and Refugee Womens Alliance that is helping open the ice to Seattle kids who might not otherwise get the chance. About 95 children across five Seattle schools are taking part, with weekly sessions at Kraken Community Iceplex designed to build balance, coordination and confidence while keeping the cost barrier low for families who may not be able to afford lessons or equipment.
For the team, it is another reminder that the community side of the franchise has become a real part of its identity, not just a side project. The program gives young skaters a first taste of the rink and a path to keep going once they are comfortable, which matters in a city where access can make all the difference in whether a child ever gets to the ice in the first place. [Read more 🡒]