Megan Turner
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The Seattle Kraken are officially free to make trades and sign players after making their final expansion payment to the NHL, ESPN reports.
Seattle owners paid $650 million to become the 32nd franchise and the team begins play next season.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman officially welcomed the Kraken to the NHL as the newest member club.
“Congratulations to David Bonderman, the Bonderman family, their partners, the entire Seattle Kraken organization, the city of Seattle and Kraken fans as the club continues on its exciting journey towards puck drop in October,” Bettman said.
“Today is another momentous day on the journey to puck drop,” said David Bonderman, Seattle Kraken majority owner. “I would like to thank [NHL Commissioner] Gary Bettman and the NHL for welcoming us to the league.
So, now we can officially call their fans the Krackheads and their home ice will be called the Krack House!!
No city that gets annexed by a Soundcloud rapper deserves an NHL team. Go Bolts.
$650 million? For a sport that attracts attention of maybe 35-40% of the North American population? How does that make money? Oh, subsidies from local governments with the tax abatements or rental deals on the buildings the teams play.
In 1992, the expansion fee for the Lightning was 45mil. In 93, the Panthers and Ducks were 50mil. The outrageous expansion fee (650mil) now is basically making owners pay a premium for better players, such making them more relevant immediately and generating a LOT of interest and revenue for the league. Back in ’90’s, teams could protect nine forwards, five defenseman and a goalie. With Vegas, they could protect 7 forwards and 3 D, or just 8 players altogether. That’s an insane advantage, especially considering the teams they are pillaging have spent years drafting and developing the players.
My short take, the league is sacrificing the product and diluting the game to make quick money and I think it’s hurting the sport.
That was embarrassing for the league when VGK made the Stanley Cup Finals in their expansion season. That shouldn’t happen in a league more than 5 years old.
To be fair they went to the Stanley Cup Final w/ MAF as their primary goaltender – who was basically a backup in Pittsburg at that point.
Free tickets if you live in a tent outside the stadium and your first Molotov cocktail is on the house too!