| Born: | September 21, 1943 | Status: | Co-Owner (Seattle Kraken) |
| Hometown: | Detroit, Michigan | Known For: | Film and Television Producer |
Jerome Leon Bruckheimer (born September 21, 1943) is the co-founder and co-majority owner (along with David Bonderman) of the Seattle Kraken, the 2021 expansion team of the National Hockey League. He is best known as an American film and television producer. He has been active in the genres of action, drama, fantasy, and science fiction.
His films include Flashdance, Top Gun, The Rock, Crimson Tide, Con Air, Armageddon, Enemy of the State, Black Hawk Down, Pearl Harbor, Kangaroo Jack, and the Beverly Hills Cop, Bad Boys, Pirates of the Caribbean, and the National Treasure franchises. In July 2003, Bruckheimer was honored by Variety as the first producer in Hollywood history to produce the top two highest-grossing films of a single weekend, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl and Bad Boys II.
His best known television series are CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CSI: Miami, CSI: NY, CSI: Cyber, Without a Trace, Cold Case, and the American version of The Amazing Race. At one point, three of his TV series ranked among the top 10 in the U.S. ratings—a unique feat in television.
Kraken Under Ownership
In December 2018, the NHL approved a proposal by Seattle Hockey Partners to grant an expansion franchise to the city of Seattle. In July 2020, the Kraken’s name and branding were revealed. The Kraken are the first professional hockey team to play in Seattle since the Seattle Totems of the Western Hockey League played their last game in 1975, and the first Seattle hockey team to compete for the Stanley Cup since the Seattle Metropolitans, who won the Cup in 1917 and folded in 1924. On October 26, 2021, the team raised a banner commemorating the 1917 title team.
On June 24, 2021, the organization hired Dave Hakstol as their inaugural head coach. An expansion draft was held on July 21, 2021, in a similar manner to a previous expansion draft held in 2017 for the Vegas Golden Knights, who were themselves exempt from the 2021 expansion draft.
During the 2021 preseason, the Kraken played their three home games in the home arenas of three Washington state Western Hockey League teams, the Spokane Chiefs, Everett Silvertips, and Seattle Thunderbirds. On October 11, the Kraken named Mark Giordano the team’s first captain. They played their first regular season game on October 12, 2021, a 4–3 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. Ryan Donato scored the team’s first goal. The Kraken’s first win came in their second game on October 14, when they defeated the Nashville Predators 4–3.
Giordano played his 1,000th career NHL game for the Kraken on March 5, 2022, becoming the first player to reach 1,000 career games as a member of the team. The Kraken finished their inaugural season in last place in the Pacific Division with a 27–49–6 record and 60 points.
Deeper Dive
- Kraken Owner Jerry Bruckheimer Can Help Grow the Game
- Bruckheimer’s Hockey Dream Comes True
- Who Are the Owners of the Seattle Kraken Expansion Team?