Introducing the Seattle Kraken, the expansion franchise that will push the NHL to 32 teams. The Seattle Kraken also shared their logo and team colors on Thursday.
Seattle Kraken is the name for NHL expansion team; Check out logo, jerseys
After COVID-19 prompted a delay or two, we now know that the Seattle NHL expansion team will be known as the Kraken.
Take a look at the three logos:
Early responses appear positive for this look at their sweaters:
If all goes to plan, the Seattle Kraken will debut during the 2021-22 NHL season. Logically enough, the Kraken will play in the Pacific Division. Meanwhile, the Arizona Coyotes will realign to the Central Division.
Climate Pledge Arena will serve as the home arena. (Yes, that’s the renovated and renamed Key Arena.)
With the salary cap expected to be flat (or close to flat), the Kraken figure to mop up at the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft. The NHL will use the same expansion draft rules as the Vegas Golden Knights did.
Naturally, this expansion club will face a significant challenge in trying to parallel the smash success of the Golden Knights. It would probably be wiser to temper expectations to somewhere between the instant success of the Golden Knights and the lengthy struggles of past NHL expansion teams.
(But, again, financial realities open up plenty of possible opportunities for this upcoming team. Their analytics-friendly perception only makes such hypothetical situations more fun to imagine.)
Hockey fans must feel a sweet release in learning the team name is the Kraken.
Here's something. Number of days between NHL expansion announcement and the team's name/logo reveal.
— icethetics (@icethetics) July 23, 2020
Vegas: 153 days.
Seattle: 597 days.
We've been waiting a minute. #NHLSeattle
So, what do you think? Is there a different name that would make more sense to you?
Release the Kraken shirts already available....#NHL #Seattle pic.twitter.com/vkZjzFdAVH
— Chris Daniels (@ChrisDaniels_TV) July 23, 2020
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James O’Brien is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @cyclelikesedins.