NHL News/Notes XVIII

[Doctor Soraluce]

LOL. You always makes everything sound so eloquent.

I agree with pretty much everything. I think the name Kraken just fits in our city/area. Its different. Its fun (to me). I love the logo on its own. My visual creativity/imagination is very poor so till I see the logo on the jersey, I won't be able to say if I like it there or not. Fan of the colors as well.

I'm going to see a few Kraken games a season. Every time the Sharks come to town I'll be driving up. Been waiting for either Seattle or Portland to get an NHL team for a long, long time.

 

[Fistfullofbeer]

I'm going to see a few Kraken games a season. Every time the Sharks come to town I'll be driving up. Been waiting for either Seattle or Portland to get an NHL team for a long, long time.

Dude. Please reach out and let me know. I will try to go too.

I am basically going to try and follow both boards equally once the teams is actually on the ice. Too bad they are in the same division (for me) to be honest.

 

[tahoesharksfan]

Can't wait to tell everyone I'm going to the "Krak House"....

 

[NWSharkie]

I also like how a ton of people think this is meant to capitalize on the Clash of the Titans meme and not that Kraken are a real mythological creature from hundreds of years ago.

Yeah, but let's be real here. It's not like the kraken had the same kind of cultural presence as something like werewolves or vampires before the Clash of the Titans/Pirates of the Caribbean movies. The "release the kraken" rallying cry is 100% Liam Neeson-based.

I definitely hear @weastern bias's perspective on it, and the name wasn't my first choice (though all the finalists were kinda disappointing). But F it. Sports are supposed to be fun, right? So what if it's a little silly?

 

[The Nemesis]

Yeah, but let's be real here. It's not like the kraken had the same kind of cultural presence as something like werewolves or vampires before the Clash of the Titans/Pirates of the Caribbean movies. The "release the kraken" rallying cry is 100% Liam Neeson-based.

I definitely hear @weastern bias's perspective on it, and the name wasn't my first choice (though all the finalists were kinda disappointing). But F it. Sports are supposed to be fun, right? So what if it's a little silly?

I'm not saying it wasn't a factor, but it also certainly wasn't the primary reason it was chosen like some of the whingiest twitter crowd like to suggest (purely so they can go "this is how far we've fallen, naming a professional sports team after a meme")

It's like, the Sharks benefit from the Jaws iconography they can pull from, but it would be stupid to suggest that Jaws was a primary driving force behind the name just because far more people are likely to have pop culture awareness of sharks through those movies vs awareness of the Red Triangle and the more natural connection to sharks and the bay area. The Kraken example is obviously more pronounced, but never underestimate marketing/branding peoples' ability to believe the most highbrow, deep, and cultured reasons for their brand choices.

 

[Pinkfloyd]

I like all of it. I also liked Vegas’ setup when it came. I don’t think I have standards when it comes to this stuff lol

Besides, we all know this stuff evolves and people have things grow on them in this regard.

 

[NWSharkie]

I'm not saying it wasn't a factor, but it also certainly wasn't the primary reason it was chosen like some of the whingiest twitter crowd like to suggest (purely so they can go "this is how far we've fallen, naming a professional sports team after a meme")

It's like, the Sharks benefit from the Jaws iconography they can pull from, but it would be stupid to suggest that Jaws was a primary driving force behind the name just because far more people are likely to have pop culture awareness of sharks through those movies vs awareness of the Red Triangle and the more natural connection to sharks and the bay area. The Kraken example is obviously more pronounced, but never underestimate marketing/branding peoples' ability to believe the most highbrow, deep, and cultured reasons for their brand choices.

That's fair. For me, Sharks always seemed a little more like a natural fit because a) "Sharks" is a fairly generic sports-team name, and b) growing up in the bay area, I was already aware of things like the Monterey Bay Aquarium and UCSC's marine bio program (I used to surf out at Cowell where they'd be sending boats out to chum for sharks). The Jaws kitsch seemed more or less incidental to that, but it might also just have been because I was a little kid without the context to think critically about it.

The Kraken theme here seems more tenuous to me because of the stated "connections." Yes, the Ballard area of the city was originally a Nordic/Scandinavian enclave, but they've been pushed out by yuppies and condos for 20 years. Not much Nordic heritage anymore aside from one festival a year and pancake breakfasts at the Swedish Cultural Center. (I have simliar complaints about bulldozing the cherry orchards in Sunnyvale and naming the resulting eyesore the Cherry Orchard Apartments.) And we have our own cephalopod myth here with the King Octopus under the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. No need to import an Atlantic story about a totally different animal. That would be like naming a team the Sharks because we had tuna in Monterey Bay. Impressive, yes, but not at all relevant. It just seems like a much bigger reach to me, like they picked the name first and backwards rationalized it.

All that said, if they bring in Bracken "Kraken" Kearns in some capacity, all is forgiven.

 

[Pavelski2112]

Kraken just reminds me of shitty B-movies, which isn't a bad thing, but probably not a top-level pro sports name.

 

[Used As A Shield]

Kraken just reminds me of shitty B-movies, which isn't a bad thing, but probably not a top-level pro sports name.

Sharknado.

 

[hohosaregood]

If we're being realistic, most team names are pretty damn stupid and it takes time for it to be "pro sports".

 

[hohosaregood]

Growing sense GM John Chayka and Coyotes are headed for divorce - Sportsnet.ca

It was a ballsy hire that ended up being false advertising.

 

[weastern bias]

Kraken just reminds me of shitty B-movies, which isn't a bad thing, but probably not a top-level pro sports name.

The Seattle Manos: The Team of Fate

 

[LadyStanley]

Down Goes Brown: Ranking all 59 team names in NHL history,...

Paywall

DGB ranks team names. Sharks #3 behind two defunct team names.


Finally something the Sharks are the best at

 

[Doctor Soraluce]

I'm not saying it wasn't a factor, but it also certainly wasn't the primary reason it was chosen like some of the whingiest twitter crowd like to suggest (purely so they can go "this is how far we've fallen, naming a professional sports team after a meme")

It's like, the Sharks benefit from the Jaws iconography they can pull from, but it would be stupid to suggest that Jaws was a primary driving force behind the name just because far more people are likely to have pop culture awareness of sharks through those movies vs awareness of the Red Triangle and the more natural connection to sharks and the bay area. The Kraken example is obviously more pronounced, but never underestimate marketing/branding peoples' ability to believe the most highbrow, deep, and cultured reasons for their brand choices.

While I get what your trying to convey I don't think it's the same. People we're acutely aware of how terrifying sharks were prior to any movies made about them. The overwhelming majority of people never even heard the word Kraken prior to The Clash of The Titans. Basically, without the original movie and then the remake covering multiple generations it wouldn't even have made their top 10 for options.

 

[weastern bias]

Down Goes Brown: Ranking all 59 team names in NHL history,...

Paywall

DGB ranks team names. Sharks #3 behind two defunct team names.


Finally something the Sharks are the best at

I may be misremembering, but I'm pretty sure The Hockey News also ranked the original Sharks jerseys as the greatest in NHL history during the league's centennial season

So we've got that going for us, which is nice

 

[LadyStanley]

While I get what your trying to convey I don't think it's the same. People we're acutely aware of how terrifying sharks were prior to any movies made about them. The overwhelming majority of people never even heard the word Kraken prior to The Clash of The Titans. Basically, without the original movie and then the remake covering multiple generations it wouldn't even have made their top 10 for options.

And Pirates of the Caribbean franchise (by Kraken co-owner Jerry B) which reignited interest for later generation.

 

[Levie]

I would have stopped being a sharks fan and become a Seattle fan if this were their logo:

 

[Doctor Soraluce]

And Pirates of the Caribbean franchise (by Kraken co-owner Jerry B) which reignited interest for later generation.

Oddly enough, I saw all those POTC movies and completely forgot there was a Kraken there too.

 

[Mrs Ski]

My parents are from Seattle

I find the name hilarious. I thought my son was joking when he sent a text about it. The logo reminds me of a cheap beer can.

Hopefully they play as bad as they look,

 

[LadyStanley]

RIP. Condolences to family and friends

 

[LadyStanley]

 

[one2gamble]

the yotes are such a shit show

 

[LadyStanley]

VGK President Bubolz in zoom meeting with STH mentioned that NHL camp should start November 17, 2020, with season start December 1.

 

[LadyStanley]

Back on the Island, Matt Irwin awaits return to NHL action

Former Shark Matt irwin talks about watching hockey, not playing it. (He was with Ducks at closure)

 

[LadyStanley]

Tallon out as general manager of Panthers after 10 seasons

GM Tallon out