Let’s rank the potential Seattle NHL franchise names
Seattle is getting an NHL franchise, and a recent list of potential names was discovered online. Let’s rank them.
Update: The NHL board has officially approved an expansion franchise for the city of Seattle. So crack your knuckles and dig into some names.
Washington Governor Jay Inslee may have made a mistake that seems to be happening more and more often (perhaps calculated) when he accidentally leaked the potential name of the new Seattle hockey franchise. Inslee referred to the “Totems” in a recent statement while discussing a high-speed rail line from Vancouver, BC to Seattle, as reported by Mike Lewis of mynorthwest.com.
Nothing gets by the internet these days. Through domain name applications, the potential names of the NHL’s newest franchise were discovered as well. From the comments by Inslee, it would seem that “Totems” is the current frontrunner. Regardless, let’s break down the list of potential names and come up with what would best suit the city of Seattle for their expansion franchise.
We’re going to start with a small list of honorable mentions. The following names are not worth consideration:
Seattle Seals – Too friendly a name and perhaps a little lazy. If you are going with a local animal, you should pick the one that is not referred to as the dog of the ocean.
Seattle Whales – See above. If you were to add “Killer” to the name, referring to the popular west coast Orca whales that reside in the area, it would be a respectable addition to the list. However, this is too similar to the Canucks’ logo and mascot.
Seattle Renegades – While this does set up well for the team to latch on to “Renegade” by Styx as a monster of a team anthem, it sounds too much like an arena football team to be taken seriously in the NHL.
The remaining 10 names are legitimate possibilities. Based on nothing in particular, let’s rank them:
10. Seattle Cougars – While the Cougar is a fearsome beast that runs rampant in the area, it has more recently taken on a different meaning in pop culture. By naming the team the “Cougars,” you risk being known as the Seattle “good looking 40-year-old divorcees.”
9. Seattle Emeralds – This sounds like the name of a soccer club. Or a new limited-edition drink at the famous Seattle coffee shop, Starbucks. “I’ll get the triple-soy low-fat emerald latte, please.” No thanks.
8. Seattle Firebirds – This is the name that will test the best with children. However, it is the most non-sensical of the group. Firebird sounds great, but it is meaningless. It would fit with the city’s football team in that both the Firebirds and Seahawks are not real types of birds.
7. Seattle Eagles – There is a large eagle population in this area, and the birds are both beautiful and terrifying. The problem with this name is that without even knowing the official color scheme, we are already assuming it is green and white. There is already a green and white Eagles team, and the fan base is not one you want to be associated with.
6. Seattle Rainiers – I assumed this was a reference to the amount of rain Seattle gets. It is not. It is a nearby mountain, which upped it’s cool factor by enough to put it at sixth in the ranking. The problem with this is that Mount Rainier is a volcano. Volcanoes have no place on the ice.
5. Seattle Evergreens – A very nice name for a tree, but still a tree. The potential “Evergreen” mascot being a giant tree bumps this from the “honorable mentions” list to fifth place.
4. Seattle Sea Lions – Falls into a similar category as “Seals” and “Whales,” however “Sea Lions” sounds far better. It takes one quick google search to discover that a Sea Lion is just a cooler name for another ocean dog.
3. Seattle Sockeyes – Fishing is a huge industry in the Seattle area. They also house the famous Pike Place Fish Market. What sets the Market apart from other markets is what might also be the greatest pull for this name: throwing fish. The Pike Place Market is famous for fish tossing, which you know would translate well to the ice, given hockey’s obsession with throwing oceanic creatures onto the ice.
2. Seattle Totems – There is a bit of history here, as the Totems were a team in the Pacific Coast Hockey League between 1958 and 1975, and as the article states, could be the reason Inslee used the term. There is promise and possibility with the Totems, from the First Nations history to the potential designs and branding. It would be a great choice for the franchise.
1. Seattle Kraken – The name alone is terrifying. If Seattle wants to come out swinging with the most terrifying possible name and mascot combination in the NHL, “Kraken” is the way to go. The artwork would be amazing. Nothing scares me more than a giant mythical sea creature whose name sounds about as terrifying as a name can get. There’s also a lack of names in sports that don’t end in ‘s,’ so the Kraken would be joining an exclusive club. Think about it.
Next: All 30 NHL Franchises Ranked By All-Time Greatness
Regardless of what Seattle chooses as a name, they must be excited for the upcoming NHL franchise. There is no doubt that Seattle is a great sports city and is long overdue for a team.