Seattle Kraken forward Jordan Eberle was cut by a skate blade during Wednesday’s practice but avoided serious injury to his quad, general manager Ron Francis revealed to Geoff Baker of The Seattle Times.
“They’re doing an MRI to see if it got the tendon, so I don’t know enough yet,” Francis said. “It wasn’t gushing but it was a deep cut, so they’ve taken him to a hospital and they’re doing an MRI.”
Francis also revealed that Eberle may have avoided a serious long-term injury but did not provide a timeline for his return. Forwards Shane Wright, the fourth overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, and Ryan Winterton were called up from the AHL.
“I think we dodged a bullet,” Francis told the Times. “But he’s going to be pretty sore tomorrow.”
Eberle’s injury occurred during a climate of heightened discussions about player safety and protection in professional hockey.
Adam Johnson, a former NHL player who played for the Nottingham Panthers in England, died as a result of getting cut by an errant skate blade during a game. Johnson’s death has led to several discussions about whether NHL players should be mandated to wear neck guards. Washington Capitals forward T.J. Oshie and Buffalo Sabres defensemen Rasmus Dahlin are among the NHL players who have since worn neck guards in the aftermath of Johnson’s death.
The 33-year-old Eberle was off to a slow start to the season, posting one goal and four points in 13 games but was a key component of the team’s top-six forward group. Wright is widely expected to replace Eberle within the top six with an opportunity to prove why he was considered the future of the franchise in tandem with Matty Beniers after an eight-game audition where he played sparingly last season.
