Earlier today NHL commissioner Gary Bettman finally made official what many around the hockey world have assumed for months now: Seattle is officially an NHL city.
Seattle’s Oak View Group had their bid for a 32nd NHL franchise officially accepted by the NHL’s board of governors this morning during a meeting in Sea Island, Georgia.
The team will hit the ice at the renovated Key Arena in downtown Seattle for the 2021-22 season, one season after the expansion group was aiming for. Whether this is because of arena construction concerns, or concerns around a 2020 NHL lockout is not known yet.
There’s obviously still a TON of work for Seattle to do before they hit the ice in 2021 like name a general manager, create a name, logo and uniform and… well draft a team. About that team name…
When asked whether the team would embrace the history of the Seattle Metropolitans, the first American franchise to win a Stanley Cup championship way back in 1917, Bettman was quick to shoot down the idea.
Check it out:
Bettman hints Metropolitans won't be Seattle's team name... "That was a long time ago." Plus there's a Metropolitan Division
Well… so much for that great idea. Seattle Totems then?
You have to admit, these uniforms are pretty incredible.