Eberle returning vs. Panthers after 40-game injury absence

Seattle Kraken captain Jordan Eberle will play Saturday against the Florida Panthers after missing 40 games with a pelvis injury.

Eberle required surgery after crashing into the boards during a game against the Chicago Blackhawks on Nov. 14.

"It was a lot," Eberle said. "It's definitely the hardest thing I've gone through, from getting hurt, knowing something was pretty wrong, to finding out the news and then having to deal with something. The hardest part for me was this is an injury that I couldn't find evidence of another hockey player having."

Eberle spent the 4 Nations Face-Off break practicing with Seattle's AHL affiliate to help return to game shape.

The 34-year-old notched 11 points in 17 games before his injury. Eberle was an expansion pick of the Kraken in 2021 and was named the franchise's second captain prior to this season.