Jordan Spence

Lore & Background

Spence's path to Seattle is inseparable from the Pacific Northwest hockey landscape. A product of the WHL, he was selected by Vancouver in the second round of the 2016 Entry Draft and quickly earned a regular NHL role, becoming a fan-favourite for his relentless pace and clean, efficient play. For four seasons he was a fixture on the Canucks' wing, developing into a reliable two-way contributor who could generate offense in transition and defend his own zone with discipline.

When the Seattle Kraken were granted an NHL expansion franchise, Spence was among the first names associated with the new club. His trade to Seattle in the summer of 2021 was widely seen as a savvy acquisition: a young, skilled, left-handed winger who already understood the regional hockey culture. He suited up for the Kraken's historic first regular-season game in October 2021, becoming part of the group of players who etched the franchise's name into NHL history from day one.

In the Kraken's founding era, Spence's role was that of a pace-setter and secondary playmaker. His speed in the neutral zone, his ability to carry the puck out of the defensive third, and his work ethic in the corners made him a linchpin in the team's early offensive system. For a young franchise still finding its voice, having a player who could accelerate the game and create separation was invaluable. Spence's presence on the Kraken's early rosters helped establish the team's identity as a fast, skilled, and competitive outfit from the very first shift.

In Their Own Story

The Climate Pledge Arena is electric but not yet loud—that first October night, 2021, the crowd hums with a nervous, almost sacred energy. This is the first game. The first Kraken game. The ice is fresh, the boards gleam under the arena lights, and the smell of cold rubber and new paint hangs in the air.

Spence laces his skates in the tunnel, the familiar creak of the boot echoing off the concrete. He's been in this building a hundred times as a Vancouver visitor, but tonight the jersey is different. The trident logo on his chest catches the light. He drops his stick on the bench, feels the familiar weight of the blade, and exhales. The puck is waiting on the ice, small and black and absolute.

Face-off. The drop. He snags it, accelerates, and the arena finally roars. For a few seconds, the speed is pure—no rival, no history, just the crack of blades on fresh ice and the knowledge that a new team is alive. He crosses the blue line, the crowd's chant swelling behind him like a tide, and he knows: this is where the story starts.

Reader's Guide

Jordan Spence arrived in Seattle as a proven NHL winger with four seasons of experience under his belt, having played for the Vancouver Canucks from 2017 to 2021. Drafted in the second round of the 2016 Entry Draft, he was a relatively young player when he joined the Kraken's inaugural 2021-22 roster, bringing speed, puck skills, and a two-way mindset that the new franchise needed.

His impact on Kraken culture was both on-ice and symbolic. As one of the first players to wear the trident, he helped establish the team's early identity: fast, skilled, and competitive. His willingness to play defensive minutes while still generating offensive chances in transition set a tone for the young roster. In a franchise with no prior history, players like Spence became the foundation upon which fan loyalty was built.

For Kraken supporters, Spence represents the 'founding generation'—the players who were there when the lights first came on in Climate Pledge Arena and the team took its first shifts. His journey from Vancouver rival to Seattle cornerstone is one of the franchise's most natural origin stories, and his speed and playmaking remain part of the early Kraken identity that fans still reference when talking about what made the team special in those first seasons.

Did You Know?

• Spence was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks, meaning his trade to Seattle turned a direct regional rival into a Kraken cornerstone almost overnight.
• He was part of the Kraken's very first regular-season game in October 2021, making him one of the players who literally started the franchise's NHL history.
• His playing style—elite speed combined with disciplined two-way play—gave the young Kraken a pace-setter who could accelerate transitions and create separation against slower defenses.
• Spence came through the WHL junior ranks before being drafted, giving him a deep connection to the Pacific Northwest hockey pipeline that the Kraken would later tap into.