Kraken OT Hero Eberle Explains Motivation In 14th NHL Season

Jordan Eberle's most recent NHL goal could hardly have been more dramatic, coming Tuesday night in the final five seconds of overtime, leading the Seattle Kraken to a 5-4 comeback victory in Detroit.

"There was no wobble" when the Kraken surrendered a 3-1 lead, coach Dave Hakstol told his team before speaking with the media. "We went right back to it. Those are character building wins right there."

In Eberle's 947-game, 14-year NHL career - the last three in Seattle - he's had a number of those special moments. Another overtime goal for the Kraken, in Game 4 of last season's playoffs against Colorado, comes to mind.

Eberle's first NHL goal was special, too, and not just because it was his first. In the Edmonton Oilers 2010 season-opener, rookie Eberle was sent out to kill a 3rd period penalty against the hated Calgary Flames.

Eberle skated in on a shorthanded breakaway, toe-dragged past a defender, and lifted a backhander past Miikka Kiprusoff before sliding into the corner boards.

"I don't get many minutes on the PK these days," Eberle told NHL Network, describing his series of moves as "So high risk. Coming out of junior you have a lot of confidence, and you're trying to make plays. 

"Once you get playing in the NHL for a while, you look for simple plays. Nowadays, I would just shoot far pad and look for a rebound."

Nowadays, Eberle is a 33-year-old assistant captain in a dressing room with youngsters like Matty Beniers (21), Tye Kartye (22), Eeli Tolvanen (24), and Kailer Yamamoto (25). Coachella Valley Firebirds Shane Wright (19) and Ryker Evans (22) are likely to join the roster at some point.

"We have some good young guys at the gym that I still compete with," Eberle explained, when asked what keeps him motivated. 

"When you have a good young group of guys to go against, they bring the energy. You kind of feed off of it. You create atmosphere with that kind of competitiveness. I love being part of it."

Eberle says that's why he prefers training with teammates rather than on his own. Still, he acknowledged, "You have to take care of yourself a little different as you age. You have to change your training a little bit. You're not under the squat rack trying to max out every day."