For the first time since announcing that the city of the Seattle would become the NHL's 32nd franchise, commissioner Gary Bettman was back in the Emerald City on Wednesday.
Among the topics discussed was Bettman announcing that Seattle would be hosting both the NHL Draft and the All-Star Game in the first seven years of the franchise's existence starting in 2021-22.
But of course, the popular, pressing talking point of the team's undetermined name was brought up to which Bettman noted that the NHL will have little input on the process of choosing the name besides the colour scheme and trademarks.
As per CEO Tod Leiweke, the team is expected to announce their selection during the middle of 2019.
According to King 5 Seattle chief reporter Chris Daniels, who attended the press conference, Leiweke mentioned a poll in the Seattle Times that had readers cast their vote on what they think the team should be called while sighting that the season ticket depositors' fingerprints "are going to be all over this franchise."
How does the Seattle Sockeyes sound, hockey fans?
In an article posted on King 5's website, Daniels noted that the Totems name could cause too much of an issue with trademarks, as noted by Bettman.
The commissioner was asked to speak on potential names like the Kraken and Metropolitans.
"I'm going to reserve judgment. Never say never."
The Seattle franchise will take to the ice at KeyArena, which will undergo a major renovation prior to its opening in 2021.
(h/t Chris Daniels)
