KeyArena
A rendering of hockey being played in Seattle’s redesigned KeyArena. (Oak View Group Image)

Seattle Freeze didn’t even make the list.

Speculation about what name could be bestowed on a potential National Hockey League expansion team in Seattle turned interesting this week with the revelation that a number of domain names have been registered by the group renovating KeyArena.

According to a report by Clark Rasmussen at DetroitHockey.net, 38 domains representing 13 potential team names were registered by a lawyer representing Oak View Group.

While the group and Seattle haven’t been awarded a franchise yet — potentially the league’s 32nd — it’s never too early to drop the gloves and fight over which, if any, of these names makes the most sense:

  • Seattle Cougars
  • Seattle Eagles
  • Seattle Emeralds
  • Seattle Evergreens
  • Seattle Firebirds
  • Seattle Kraken
  • Seattle Rainiers
  • Seattle Renegades
  • Seattle Sea Lions
  • Seattle Seals
  • Seattle Sockeyes
  • Seattle Totems
  • Seattle Whales

Happy New Year! ⠀ ⠀ Been chatting with @aaroncandraw about the possibility of a new NHL team in Seattle! ⠀ ⠀ Which would be fantastic in itself, but also gets me excited about: ⠀ a) a new arena, which means ⠀ b) the return of the #Sonics!! but also⠀ c) new team = new team name, logos and mascots!⠀ ⠀ Here's a rough #sketch for one of the name suggestions floating around. Our thought was that the team and Sonics 2.0 would be arena siblings, and could therefore share a color scheme. Like how moms love dressing their kids in matching outfits.⠀ ⠀ More to come tomorrow!⠀ ⠀ #seattle is #sportsballcityusa ⠀ #nhltoseattle ⠀ #kraken ⠀ #logo ⠀ #hockey ⠀ #bringbackourseattlesupersonics

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Notably absent is Seattle Metropolitans, the actual name of a real Seattle NHL franchise which won the Stanley Cup back in 1917.

Rasmussen has more insight in his story into the names and how some of them are already tied to other franchises. And he’s quick to note that it could all be nothing. But he says he did the same thing before the name was announced for the Las Vegas Golden Knights.

GeekWire caught up with the general manager of that first-year franchise during CES last week.

“The NHL, in my opinion, is on a rocketship,” said George McPhee. “It’s the best this league has ever been. The talent is exceptional throughout the league. The in-arena experience for hockey is probably better than any other sporting event. There aren’t many delays — it’s fast-paced, it’s entertaining. That’s what [fans in Seattle] can expect. Our sport seems to appeal to millennials and Generation Z and a younger crowd. So Seattle may very well be a perfect fit for an NHL team.”

Regardless of what’s in a name, it’s a curious development in Seattle’s ongoing efforts to land another professional sports team.

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