Seattle Kraken

Seattle Kraken
Name	Seattle Kraken
Founded	2021
City	Seattle, Washington
Arena	Climate Pledge Arena
League	National Hockey League
Conference	Western Conference
Division	Pacific Division
Colors	Deep sea blue, ice blue, shadow blue, boundless blue, red alert
Owner	David Bonderman, Jerry Bruckheimer, Tod Leiweke
General manager	Ron Francis
Head coach	Dave Hakstol
Captain	Vacant
Media	Root Sports Northwest
Affiliations	Coachella Valley Firebirds (AHL)

Seattle Kraken. The Seattle Kraken are a professional ice hockey team based in Seattle, competing in the National Hockey League as a member of the Pacific Division within the Western Conference. The franchise was awarded in 2018 as the league's 32nd team and began play in the 2021–22 NHL season, becoming the first NHL team in the city since the Seattle Metropolitans of the early 20th century. Owned by a group led by David Bonderman and Jerry Bruckheimer, the team plays its home games at the extensively renovated Climate Pledge Arena located at the Seattle Center.

History

The modern push for an NHL team in Seattle gained significant momentum in the 2010s, spearheaded by the Oak View Group and investor David Bonderman. The league's Board of Governors unanimously approved Seattle's expansion bid in December 2018, with a record $650 million expansion fee. The team's name, the Kraken, was revealed in July 2020, drawing from the mythical sea creature of Scandinavian folklore. Their inaugural season in 2021–22 saw them finish with a record of 27-49-6, but they made a dramatic leap in their second campaign, qualifying for the Stanley Cup playoffs and upsetting the defending champion Colorado Avalanche in the first round before falling to the Dallas Stars.

Franchise development

Franchise development was led by the experienced front office of general manager Ron Francis and team president Tod Leiweke. A critical component of building the initial roster was the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft, where the Kraken selected one player from each existing team, following a model similar to the recent Vegas Golden Knights expansion. The team also built its prospect pipeline through the NHL Entry Draft, selecting foundational players like Matty Beniers second overall in 2021. Their primary American Hockey League affiliate, the Coachella Valley Firebirds, began play in 2022–23 and immediately reached the Calder Cup Finals.

Team identity

The team identity is deeply connected to the Pacific Northwest and maritime themes. The primary logo features a stylized "S" shaped like a tentacle, anchoring the team's color palette of Deep Sea Blue, Ice Blue, and Shadow Blue. The mascot, Buoy, is a furry, blue troll-like creature that lives in the arena rafters. The team's goal celebration song is "Kraken" by Portugal. The Man, and their arrival has spurred a vibrant fan culture known as the "Sea of Blue" at home games. The branding extends to community initiatives and a strong presence in the Seattle Center neighborhood.

Season-by-season record

In their inaugural 2021–22 NHL season, the Kraken finished eighth in the Pacific Division. The following 2022–23 NHL season marked a historic turnaround, as the team secured 100 points, finished fourth in the division, and earned a playoff berth. They defeated the Colorado Avalanche in seven games during the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs first round, marking a significant expansion team achievement, before their run ended in the second round against the Dallas Stars. Key statistical leaders that season included Jared McCann, who scored 40 goals, and goaltender Philipp Grubauer.

Players

The inaugural roster was built through the expansion draft, acquiring veterans like Jordan Eberle, Yanni Gourde, and Mark Giordano, who served as the first team captain. The franchise cornerstone is center Matty Beniers, the 2023 winner of the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league's top rookie. Other key players include scoring winger Jared McCann, defensive defenseman Adam Larsson, and goaltender Philipp Grubauer. The team has also developed talent from within, such as forward Eeli Tolvanen and defenseman Vince Dunn.

Management and ownership

The ownership group is led by film producer Jerry Bruckheimer and private equity investor David Bonderman, with significant operational leadership from CEO Tod Leiweke. Hockey operations are directed by general manager Ron Francis, a Hockey Hall of Fame inductee, who oversees all player personnel decisions. Behind the bench, Dave Hakstol was hired as the first head coach in franchise history. The management structure also includes assistant general managers Jason Botterill and Ricky Olczyk, who help shape the team's long-term strategy and scouting department.

Arena and community

The team plays at Climate Pledge Arena, a historic venue at the Seattle Center originally built for the 1962 World's Fair and formerly known as KeyArena. The arena underwent a massive $1 billion renovation led by the Oak View Group and Populous to meet NHL standards, while aiming to be the first certified carbon-neutral arena in the world. The Kraken have established deep community roots through the Kraken Community Iceplex training facility in Northgate, Seattle, and the One Roof Foundation, which focuses on environmental and social equity causes across the Puget Sound region.

Category:National Hockey League teams Category:Sports in Seattle Category:2021 establishments in Washington (state)