Seattle Kraken forward Jordan Eberle at 2022 NHL All-Star Game. (Photo by Jonathan West)
2022 in Las Vegas counts as my 5th #NHLAllStar Weekend, the last being six years ago in Nashville. That’s about half as long as Jordan Eberle‘s last visit to an ASG- playing for Zdeno Chara’s team in Ottawa a decade ago. The Seattle Kraken assistant captain is a first-line right winger from the biggest city in the smallest non-maritime province. Drafted by Edmonton and expansion drafted from the Islanders is how it started. Jordan met with me at the Waldorf Astoria on Friday to talk about how it’s going.
W: Jordan, thank you for your time. First I have some questions from the fans. Stephanie in Seattle wants to know your go-to snack?
E: Ha that’s a great question. I always say my guilty snack pleasure is chips. Ketchup chips. All dressed chips. Or Canadian ruffles- a little dressed.
W: That definitely makes sense where you’re from. Dennis in downtown wonders if you feel the team is starting to gel better after playing pretty well lately?
E: Yeah, I think we’ve started to create a little bit of an identity. I think we’re starting to realize how we need to play to win hockey games. Obviously, there’s no history in the past so we don’t really have something to feed off of.
I think we’re starting to play a little bit more defensive-minded. Playing towards the way that we need to win games with the team that we have. And we’re getting consistently guys that are playing better each night and we’re getting good goaltending. So all that’s contributing to more wins.
? Jonathan West
W: How strong are your ties back home to Regina (Saskatchewan)?
E: Oh, very strong. Yeah, I still have family living there and go back once in a while. My grandparents have a cottage close. But I have a lot of friends who still live there. I consider it my home. So I try to get back as much as I can.
W: Any inside info on how you got to pick by the hometown (Regina) Pats? I know it was in seventh round…
E: Yeah- it’s a great question. I know the scouts. But it was it was kind of a love/hate thing for me. I thought I was gonna go earlier than that in the bantam draft and almost was kind of pissed off that I went so late.
W: Haha well yeah, when you’re 14-years-old you expect certain things.
E: Exactly. But that being said, I honestly would have probably gone the college route if I didn’t get picked by the Pats. I’d grown up watching the Pats, had season tickets, went to many games. The fact that I got picked by them was the reason I probably went to the NHL. I was so excited to go play for that organization and to really play in my hometown was kind of a dream come true.
W: Now a tougher question. Any connection with the Humboldt (Broncos) community, especially after what happened a few years ago?
E: I met a couple of the guys that survived. I didn’t really know anyone personally, but obviously, it’s a deep connection. I grew up riding the bus and my brother played junior hockey in the SJHL. It hits home when something like that happens. You realize how amazing life is and how quick can be taken away. So that really, really hit home for me.
A hockey community is a small world. So when something like that happens, you feel like you’re connected in some sort where you know someone who knows somebody. So that was really tough. I think the amount of charities and the amount of money they’ve raised towards it- you try to find the positive. But it is hard for sure. And it’s something that really hurt Saskatchewan hockey.
? Jonathan West
W: Where did your middle name come from?
E: Haha yeah, I actually have two with Leslie Christopher. My wife probably knows this better than I do. My dad’s middle name is Leslie. I think it originated from something like my great grandfather on each side of my mom and dad’s middle names.
W: Who are the first two players you would choose to be on a (forward) line with from the past, present, future, or fantasy?
E: Obviously you want to play with Gretzky and Lemieux, those would be my two.
W: Any choices from today?
E: Guys in the game right now? (In Edmonton) I played with McDavid. That’s a pretty amazing player. And Crosby. I’ve had a chance to play with both of them and they’re pretty incredible.
W: I always ask this to everyone when they make a big trip. You’re on a big trip with an expansion team right now, so what’s the best experience that you’ve had with Seattle? And what’s the worst?
E: Haha. When the pick first happened in the expansion draft, I was originally disappointed. I played with that Islanders team four years- made the conference finals twice in a row, and then get switched. But as soon as I got to Seattle and saw the excitement of fans and how pumped they were to have a hockey team, that’s when my mind switched and I was excited. That was probably the moment for me and thought ‘this is gonna be awesome.’
E: Worst thing? It’s probably cliché, but it rains a lot in Seattle. You don’t see the sun too much. That’s the worst.
W: Not too many people on the street that say hi or hello?
E: You know what, there are quite a few in Seattle…
W: That’s great! Probably recognizing your face helps.
E: Yeah, but still would just say that you don’t see the sun too much.
W: What do you miss from New York?
E: Trying to think… probably the pizza. New York pizza is pretty good.
W: How was it playing in the new (Islanders and Oak View Group) arena?
E: I had a chance to play when I got traded from Edmonton to go back there and play in the new building- and that felt weird. But to go to Long Island and play in a new arena? It almost felt like I was playing in the old Coliseum. So it was a little bit easier for me, and it looks beautiful. The fans gave me a great welcome. I always enjoyed my time in New York.
In 2012, Jordan Eberle was a part of the challenge relay team skill on the All-Star Saturday Night. His group lost by a mere six seconds to Claude Giroux and Team Alfredsson. The two forwards met again to compete in a special made-for-Vegas challenge on Friday.
W: So how was the Fountain Faceoff skills event? Wish I could have been at the Bellagio to see it!
E: It was really cool. I mean, we’re in the middle of the Bellagio fountain and we took a boat out there. Really neat to do. Haha, but it was freezing cold. Like we’re shivering out there. That’s how cold it was. I didn’t expect Vegas to be that cold. But if we did it over again, I wish I had more urgency to go quicker.
They told us to take our time when we were shooting and I definitely did. We were the first couple guys to go, and (other players) watched us and went a little bit quicker. But all in all, it was awesome. A really cool experience and I’m glad I got to do that.
This year’s all-star weekend saw many omissions or snubs including Brad Marchand, Alex Ovechkin, Nate McKinnon, the Seattle Kraken mascot, Sydney Crosby, Patrick Kane, Adam Fox, and Eberle’s teammate Jared McCann. Since 1991 in the expansion era, only four players have been selected and scored for their new team. Jordan was held goal-less ten years ago, but came up with an ace of an equalizer Saturday at T-Mobile Arena.
W: Kind of a long stretch since the last one of these for you. Any thoughts or differences between this time and the last time for all-stars?
E: Well everything was different. I think I was 21 or 22 when I played in that one, I’m 31 now. The format back then was 5-on-5, there was a draft, everything’s different but I’ve enjoyed both of them. This one definitely means a lot more with my family here and being a dad now and get to share with them.
It was a pleasure to return to my second home for the NHL’s best after successful league awards shows helped pave the way here since 2009. Also, getting to meet up with the Seattle Kraken’s first-ever weekend selection is a moment I’ll always remember. Jordan Eberle is impressive on and off the ice. He continues to be an important player for the Kraken to have a strong second half in their first season. ⚓