Kraken sign Jordan Eberle to two-year extension

On a day where many pending unrestricted free agents get traded to new clubs, one key one is staying put with a new contract extension.

According to multiple reports, the Seattle Kraken and their captain Jordan Eberle have agreed to a two-year contract extension that will carry a salary cap hit of $5.5 million.

That represents a modest raise for Eberle, who is currently in the second season of a two-year contract with an average annual value of $4.75 million.

According to PuckPedia, Eberle’s new deal features a full no-movement clause for both seasons, across which the deal’s salary will be spread evenly. Upon the expiry of this contract, Eberle would hit the unrestricted free agency market at the age of 38.

The 35-year-old, who was selected at No. 22 overall in the first round of the 2008 NHL Draft by the Edmonton Oilers, is the second captain in the Kraken’s brief franchise history, as he succeeded defenseman Mark Giordano in the role.

Seattle selected Eberle in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft from the New York Islanders, where he had played since 2017-18. Prior to his tenure in New York, Eberle was a member of the Oilers for his entire career.

Eberle remains productive in his age-35 season, as his 22 goals and 20 assists for 42 points in 59 games this season, which is good enough to give him the team lead in both goals and points.

For his career, the Regina, Saskatchewan native has 330 goals and 440 assists for 770 points in 1,119 career regular season games.

After a couple years outside the playoff picture, Seattle is right in the mix this season under new head coach Lane Lambert. The Kraken’s record of 29-23-9 is good enough to give them a three-point lead for the second wild card spot, though San Jose is right behind them with two games in hand.