[Canada 02]

https://www.nhl.com/news/mark-giorda...mp/c-326326604

SEATTLE -- Mark Giordano was the first player on the ice when the Seattle Kraken opened their inaugural training camp Thursday, and when practice ended with a bag skate, guess who led his teammates?

Giordano, the defenseman who turns 38 on Oct. 3, the oldest player on the roster.

It did not go unnoticed.

It inspired the leader of the organization, Kraken president and CEO Tod Leiweke, who ran up to Giordano as he came off the ice to give him a hug and a pat on the back.

"Just awesome to see him out there skating that hard, man," Leiweke said afterward. "I'm going to go work hard at my desk now."

Giordano has seemed an obvious candidate to become the first captain of the Kraken since they selected him in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft on July 21. He was captain of the Calgary Flames the past eight seasons and won the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award in 2019-20.