The NHL announced it’s newest expansion team: the Seattle Kraken.

I’m not going to lie to you. I was hoping that Seattle would settle on my personal favorite pick, the Seattle Salmon. However, we will be wrestling next season with a mythical creature instead of an alliterative pink fish. The team owners shared the new logo and name in a very dramatic promo video.

So for everyone wondering: what the hell is a “Kraken”?

Basically, the kraken is a mythical giant squid. Primarily found in Scandinavian and Norse folklore, the kraken is said to have legs as tall as a ship’s mast and pulls ships below the ocean surface by wrapping its many limbs around the hull. Some legends say it is so large that its body can be mistaken for an island. Others say it is the largest sea monster in existence, stretching a mile and a half across. When it came up or down in the water, a whirlpool formed around the creature, sucking ships down into the depths.

Modern studies assume these myths speak about what we actually call a giant squid. These creatures can be up to 15 meters long, a far cry from the miles the legend speaks of. Despite the discrepancy, the kraken maintains a strong hold on fearsome folklore and its name is attached to many brands and items. Ever hear of “Kraken Rum“?

Do we like the name?

The Turf staff was split on the new team entirely. Some like the name and hate the logo/jersey. Some are reversed. Me? I think it’s just bad all around. Call me old fashioned but I want an NHL team that is a tangible, real thing. I am not a fan for the same reason I am against the “golden” of “golden knights”. It feels like Seattle is trying way too hard to be new and edgy in an old league. I’m not into mixing myths and high intellectual ideas with my hockey. I prefer something that is exactly what it is upfront, while the Kraken say their team name is about “what lurks below the surface.” But, it will be a fertile ground for many puns so I guess that’s something.

More will be announced about the expansion draft and the upcoming season but until then #releasetheKraken.