Seattle Hockey History

The Seattle Kraken is a professional ice hockey team that joined the National Hockey League (NHL) in the 2021-2022 season. The team is based in Seattle, Washington, and will play its home games at the newly constructed Climate Pledge Arena.

The idea of bringing an NHL team to Seattle has been around for many years. Seattle has a long and rich hockey history, with the Seattle Metropolitans becoming the first American team to win the Stanley Cup in 1917. However, the city had been without a professional hockey team since the Seattle Totems of the Western Hockey League folded in 1975.

In 2018, the NHL announced that it would be expanding to 32 teams, and Seattle was awarded the 32nd franchise. The team was officially named the Seattle Kraken in July 2020, after a public naming contest that received over 1,200 entries. The name “Kraken” was chosen to reflect the team’s connection to the sea and the maritime history of the Pacific Northwest.

The Kraken’s ownership group is led by billionaire David Bonderman and film producer Jerry Bruckheimer. The team’s general manager is Ron Francis, a former NHL player and executive.

The Kraken’s inaugural season began in October 2021, with their first game being played on October 12, 2021, against the Vegas Golden Knights. The team has quickly established itself as a popular and competitive addition to the NHL, with a roster featuring players such as Mark Giordano, Jordan Eberle, and Philipp Grubauer. While it is still early days for the franchise, the future looks bright for the Seattle Kraken and their passionate fan base.