Jordan Eberle, the captain of the Seattle Kraken, has inked a two-year contract extension, a move designed to retain a degree of continuity within the team's forward lines. The deal, reportedly worth an average of $5.5 million annually, will keep Eberle in Seattle through the 2027-28 season.
The agreement locks in the team's leading scorer this season, with Eberle tallying 42 points in 59 games, including 22 goals, which marks a personal best for his tenure with the Kraken.
The extension was announced by General Manager Jason Botterill, who characterized Eberle as embodying "what it means to be a Kraken." Eberle himself expressed a belief in the team's trajectory, stating, "We want to win here, and I really believe we're building something special in Seattle." He is currently ranked second in franchise history for goals with 89, and third for assists (130) and points (219) over 340 games played for the club.
Eberle, who is in his mid-thirties and will be approaching 38 years old by the conclusion of this new contract, has maintained a reliable level of production despite his age. This past season, he rebounded from a significant pelvis injury that sidelined him for half the year. His previous NHL experience includes eleven seasons with the Edmonton Oilers and the New York Islanders, where he accumulated 551 points in 779 games.
Read More: Alex Ovechkin Calls John Carlson Trade Toughest Day for Capitals
The signing comes at a time when the Kraken's forward corps could see significant changes. Eberle assumed the captaincy from Mark Giordano during the team's inaugural season. The Hockey Writers note that Eberle leads the team in points this season. NHL.com points out that Eberle replaced Giordano as captain on Oct. [Source: NHL.com]. AOL reports that Eberle is 35, though other reports indicate he will turn 36 later this month [Source: Fox13Seattle].