Seattle Kraken
Seattle's NHL expansion team, began play in 2021.
The Seattle Kraken are a professional ice hockey team based in Seattle, competing in the National Hockey League’s Pacific Division within the Western Conference. The franchise was created after the NHL approved an expansion proposal from Seattle Hockey Partners, and it began play in the 2021–22 season. Home games are held at Climate Pledge Arena.
The Kraken struggled in their debut season, finishing last in the Pacific Division with 60 points. In 2022–23, they improved to a 46–28–8 record and 100 points, placing fourth in the division and earning the Western Conference’s first wild card playoff spot. They upset the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche in a seven-game first-round series—the first expansion team to win its first playoff series against the reigning champion—but lost to the Dallas Stars in the second round. The 2023–24 season saw the team miss the playoffs with 217 goals and 81 points, leading to the firing of head coach Dave Hakstol and the hiring of Dan Bylsma. In 2024–25, the team regressed further, managing only 76 points. After that season, Bylsma was fired and replaced by Lane Lambert. General manager Ron Francis was moved to president of hockey operations, with Jason Botterill taking over as GM. The Kraken finished the 2025–26 season with 79 points, again missing the playoffs.
**History**
**Prior to establishment**
Professional ice hockey in Seattle began with the Pacific Coast Hockey Association’s Seattle Metropolitans in 1915. The 1917 Metropolitans became the first U.S.-based team to win the Stanley Cup, but the arena was sold in 1924, and the team folded soon after. The Seattle Totems (originally the Seattle Ironmen) played in the Western Hockey League from 1944 until that league dissolved in 1975.
Starting in 2012, as the NHL showed growing interest in Seattle as a market, the city was considered a possible location for expansion or relocation, pending a suitable arena. Reports indicated that Chicago Wolves owner Don Levin had expressed interest in building a new arena in nearby Bellevue to host an NHL team. When former San Jose Sharks CEO Greg Jamison failed to meet a January 31, 2013, deadline to buy the Phoenix Coyotes, speculation arose that the team might move to Seattle. On June 16, 2013, it was confirmed that the Coyotes would relocate to Seattle if an arena deal with Glendale, Arizona, fell through.
Quick Facts
- Team Name
- Seattle Kraken
- Text Color
- #000000
- Conference
- Western
- Division
- Pacific
- Founded
- 2021
- History
- Seattle Kraken / 2021–present
- Arena
- Climate Pledge Arena
- City
- Seattle, Washington
- Uniform Image Alt
- The Seattle Kraken's three uniforms: home (dark blue), away (white), and alternate (black)
- Team Colors
- Deep sea blue, ice blue, boundless blue, shadow blue, red alert / #001425 #96D8D8 #3B4F5F #639FB6 #C8102E
- Media Affiliates
- KONG / KING-TV / Amazon Prime / KJR FM 93.3 / KJR AM 950
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Professional ice hockey in Seattle dates to the formation of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association's Seattle Metropolitans in 1915. Although the 1917 Metropolitans were the first United States-based team to win the Stanley Cup, the team's arena was sold in 1924, and the team folded shortly thereafter. The Seattle Totems (originally the Seattle Ironmen) played in the Western Hockey League from 1944 until the league's dissolution in 1975. Beginning in 2012, as the NHL's interest in Seattle as a market rose, the city was considered a potential site for expansion or the relocation of a team, pending a viable arena. On December 4, 2018, the NHL Board of Governors voted unanimously to approve the addition of a Seattle expansion team to the league. In July 2020, the franchise announced their team name—the Seattle Kraken—as well as their team colors, branding, and home jersey. On April 30, 2021, the franchise paid the final installment of the US$650 million expansion fee, officially making the Seattle Kraken the 32nd team of the NHL.
Reader's Guide
The Seattle Kraken entered the NHL as the league's 32nd franchise, beginning play in the 2021–22 season. Their inaugural season was difficult, finishing last in the Pacific Division with 60 points. However, the team improved significantly in their second season, achieving a record of 46–28–8 and 100 points, securing the first playoff wild card spot in the Western Conference. In the 2023 playoffs, the Kraken upset the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche in seven games, becoming the first expansion team to win their first playoff series over the defending champion. They lost to the Dallas Stars in the second round. The team missed the playoffs in the 2023–24 season, scoring only 217 goals and achieving 81 points, leading to the firing of head coach Dave Hakstol and hiring of Dan Bylsma. The 2024–25 season saw further regression with 76 points, resulting in Bylsma's dismissal and the hiring of Lane Lambert. General manager Ron Francis was replaced by Jason Botterill, with Francis becoming president of hockey operations. The team finished the 2025–26 season with 79 points, missing the playoffs once again. The Kraken's history includes notable firsts, such as Matty Beniers winning the Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year in 2023, and goaltender Joey Daccord recording the first-ever shutout in an NHL Winter Classic during the 2024 event.
Did You Know?
- The Kraken became the first expansion team to win their first playoff series against the defending Stanley Cup champion.
- Matty Beniers won the Calder Memorial Trophy as NHL rookie of the year in 2023.
- Goaltender Joey Daccord recorded the first-ever shutout in an NHL Winter Classic in 2024.
- The team retired jersey number 32 before their first home game to honor the 32,000 fans who placed ticket deposits.
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