Jordan Eberle is set to play his 1000th NHL game on Tuesday when the Seattle Kraken face the Vegas Golden Knights. He will be the second player to hit this milestone while playing with the Kraken, but the first to do it in front of a home crowd. Mark Giordano accomplished this career achievement during the team’s inaugural season, just before he was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
1000 games milestone
According to NHL.com, 8512 players and goaltenders, have played at least one regular-season game since 1963. Eberle will become only 393rd player to achieve 1000 regular-season games played, meaning less than five percent of NHL players are able to make this claim. The Canadian-born right winger currently sits at 695 points for his career.
It should be noted that the 1000 games-played milestone is measured in regular-season games only. Eberle has played in 76 post-season contests, which are not included in this total. The mile marker will come in Eberle’s 14th NHL season and third with the Kraken.
Time to celebrate
When a player hits 1,000, both NHL clubs and teammates typically join in the celebration. Teammates traditionally get a gift for the player, and for Giordano, Kraken players gifted a Rolex watch. Sometimes, there are also shenanigans afoot. The Pittsburgh Penguins, for example, mimicked the warm-up routines for both Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby in advance of those two players reaching 1,000 games played.
NHL clubs traditionally gift the player a commemorative silver stick and sometimes silver mini-sticks for the player’s children. The Kraken honored Giordano and family with silver sticks, as well as a special jersey with No. 1000, and a ceremony with a tribute video. We don’t expect this ceremony to happen Tuesday.
Eberle’s path to 1000
Edmonton Oilers – 507 games
While playing for his hometown Regina Pats of the WHL, Eberle was drafted No. 22 overall in 2008 by the Edmonton Oilers. He continued to develop his game at the junior level before making the jump to the NHL in the 2010-11 season.
It did not take long for the rookie to make an impact, scoring his first NHL goal in his first NHL game on Oct. 7, 2010. It was a short-handed, highlight reel goal.
His first goal was so good, TSN made a spoof about:
Eberle played 507 games, served as an alternate captain for five years, and scored 382 points (165-217–382) for the Oilers. Edmonton only made the playoffs once during his seven years and decided a change was needed. Eberle was traded to the New York Islanders for Ryan Strome on June 22, 2017.
After he left Edmonton, the Oilers created the following tribute video for him:
It was learned during his first playoff appearance with the Islanders that Eberle’s playoff beard is on point.
New York Islanders – 272 games
Eberle’s role in New York had similarities to his time with the Kraken. The right wing was linemates with a new kid in town, Mathew Barzal, from the Seattle Thunderbirds. The rookie center won the Calder Trophy with Eberle on his wing, similar to what happened with Matty Beniers in his first NHL season with the Kraken.
Eberle scored 169 points (76-93–169) during his four years with New York, which also made the Stanley Cup Playoffs three of the four years he was on the team. Twice they made it to the Eastern Conference Finals before losing to the eventual Stanley Cup champions, the Tampa Bay Lightning both seasons. In the 2019-20 season, the Isles lost to the Lightning in six games, and in 2020-21, they lost in seven games.
Eberle’s biggest goal for the Islanders came with no fans in attendance due to the pandemic and the playoffs being held in bubble cities. In Game 5 of the 2019-20 Eastern Conference Finals, with elimination on the line, Eberle one-timed a pass off a rush from Islanders captain Anders Lee in double overtime to force Game 6.
Eberle left New York via the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft. The Islanders were coming off two straight Conference Finals appearances, which meant they had a solid team and had to expose some good players. It was originally thought that Eberle was going to be protected by the Islanders, but when the lists were released, Eberle was available. The Seattle Kraken smartly selected the right winger as their pick from New York.
Seattle Kraken – 220 games and counting
Eberle has 144 points (55-89–144) with the Seattle Kraken, tied for second in franchise history. He has been an alternate captain for the club since the inaugural season in 2021-22 and is a calming presence in the locker room.
Coming to Seattle
Eberle was one of the six players that scrambled to make it to Seattle for the Expansion Draft, after finding out he had been selected. Here is Eberle’s first interview with Everett Fitzhugh after being drafted by the Seattle Kraken:
Eberle has been a key player for the Kraken in his three seasons here and has had some memorable moments in Deep Sea Blue. He agreed to a two-year, $9.5 million extension just hours before the NHL Trade Deadline on Friday.
Kraken highlights
Eberle scored the game-winner in Game 4 against Colorado, giving the Kraken their first playoff win at Climate Pledge Arena.
Eberle has been known throughout his career for his backhand shot, and these just might be two of his is best:
What it means
Playing in 1000 games in the NHL is an amazing achievement from a lifetime of dedication to the sport of Hockey. From the Sound Of Hockey team, congratulations Jordan Eberle on your 1000th game!
Details on when a ceremony will be held for Eberle have not been announced by the Seattle Kraken yet, but expect something in the next few home games.
I’m glad that we signed Ebs for another two years. Put a C on him, he is the perfect guy to transition us to our youth.
Big game for Eberle, maybe even bigger for fading playoff hopes.
No Dunn or Schwartz. This one won’t be pretty.