The NHL has a new team in the Pacific Northwest. In the summer of 2020, the Seattle Kraken, the NHL’s 32nd franchise, announced their name and logo for the world to see. This is the first major sports team to be introduced to Seattle in recent memory, and Washingtonians are slowly turning their attention to a sport that is normally ignored. So let’s dive in (pun intended) to as much info as is possible regarding the Kraken leading up to the inaugural season in 2021.

Even though the Kraken are the first NHL team in Seattle, the sport of hockey has been a part of Seattle culture for a long time now. It all started in 1919, when the Seattle Metropolitans became the first American team to win the Stanley Cup, back before the NHL came into being. Even after the Metropolitans folded in 1924, Seattle still has had a hockey team with many different names. For the past 35 years, the Seattle Thunderbirds have taken the ice. But now, in 2021, the Seattle Kraken will take the ice, and people are excited. Shana Kruse, a member of the Thunderbirds’ Booster Club, stated that “I love that hockey will come more to the forefront here in Seattle, not only the NHL team, but more sheets of ice being built to make that happen”. 

Kruse is referring to the Kraken HQ, designated “Northgate” by the fans, and their new stadium coming in the summer of 2021. The former KeyArena, now dubbed Climate Pledge Arena, is undergoing over $930 million in renovations. These renovations cause the arena to be underground, therefore creating more room to work with, and more importantly, being the first net zero carbon certified stadium in the world. Kruse, like many fans, is excited for the new arena. “I am super excited about the environmental decisions they are making with the arena. The fact that they are trying to have a zero carbon footprint is amazing. Using rainwater to create the ice is so cool. And it goes well with the stadiums already here since both CenturyLink [Field, home of the Seahawks and Sounders] and Showare [Center, home of the Thunderbirds] are green buildings”. 

While the Kraken may be more socially acceptable from the outside, it is apparent with their hirings that they want the inside of the organization to look the same. It seems to be owner Tod Leiweke’s goal to hold the franchise to a high standard with an accepting culture. GM Ron Francis, who was hired last year, states “He’s got an outstanding reputation. He’s not only been successful at what he does, he does it with solid core values”. 

Although the excitement is real, the Kraken still have a long way to go before they are ready to play. But for now at least, Kraken management is happy with where they are at. “We don’t know yet the kind of team we may be able to draft, so we’re comfortable kind of sitting back and waiting right now and watching what happens here…I just think we have time on this. We’re not in a race to make that decision at this point” says Francis. No matter what happens, the future is as exciting as the fans are.