Seattle Kraken's Jordan Eberle making progress after pelvic surgery
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 14: Jordan Eberle #7 of the Seattle Kraken goes down with an injury during the second period against the Chicago Blackhawks at Climate Pledge Arena on November 14, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. (Steph Chambers / Getty Images)
SEATTLE - Seattle Kraken winger Jordan Eberle is off of crutches and making progress in his recovery from surgery for a pelvic injury in mid-November.
"Progress for Ebs is kind of unprecedented," head coach Dan Bylsma said on Wednesday. ""He's dealing with an injury that there's really not a history for in terms of athletes. He's progressed really nicely."
The backstory:
Eberle, 34, was injured by a hard collision into the boards after getting tied up with Blackhawks defenseman Connor Murphy on November 14. Eberle slammed back first into the wall and was immediately in distress as he remained down on the ice and required help to get to the locker room.
Eberle had surgery a week after the initial injury, with the team giving him an expected timeline of three months.
"He's had six weeks of no weight-bearing and two more weeks of really very, very little weight-bearing," Bylsma said. "He's been doing a lot in the gym and he's been eager to step onto the ice. That's happened, but it's really just stepping onto the ice at this point in time. Skates on and feeling the ice a little bit. It's not really much more than moving around a little bit."
The absence is the longest of Eberle's career because of an injury. He's played in at least 69 games in every full season of his career with only a lockout and COVID-19 shortened seasons previously keeping him under 60 games played. Eberle has now missed 31 games and counting.
Eberle got off to the best goal-scoring start to a season in his career with six goals in eight goals after being named just the second team captain in team history at the start of the year. He has 11 points in 17 games played for the Kraken this season.
With the NHL set to take a two-week break for the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament next month, it's unlikely that Eberle will be able to return to action until after the team returns to play in late February. Seattle's first game after the event is at the Florida Panthers on February 22, which would be almost exactly three months post-surgery.
"We're still looking at weeks away. In terms of when we're going to see him on the ice (in) full, it's still a bit away," Bylsma said.
The Source: Original FOX 13 Seattle reporting.
MORE KRAKEN NEWS
Jamie Oleksiak, Adam Larsson score goal, assist as Seattle Kraken beat Sabres 6-4
Jaden Schwartz hat trick leads Seattle Kraken to 4-2 win over Kings
Dylan DeMelo scores in final minute as Seattle Kraken lose 2-1 to Jets
Seattle Kraken rally in 3rd period for 4-2 win over Penguins
To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter.
Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national coverage, plus 24/7 streaming coverage from across the nation.