Seattle Kraken Are Finally Officially NHL's 32nd Team

SEATTLE — The Seattle Kraken have cleared the last remaining hurdle and are officially the National Hockey League's 32nd team.

It probably would've taken some sort of unmitigated disaster to stop the Kraken from becoming a team at this point, given all the groundwork that's been laid out over the last few years to get the ball (puck?) rolling. Still, hockey fans are likely glad to hear that yes, it is really finally happening, for sure this time.

The NHL announced the news Friday with a statemnent from Commissioner Gary Bettman congratulating Seattle and Kraken majority owner David Bonderman:

“On behalf of the Board of Governors, I am delighted to officially welcome the Seattle Kraken to the NHL as our 32nd Member Club,” Bettman said. “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.”

With formality out of the way, all that's left is for fans to get hyped up for the coming hockey season. As one Twitter user put it best:

The Kraken will compete in the 2021-22 season as part of the Pacific Division in the NHL's Western Conference from their home at Seattle's Climate Pledge Arena — formerly Key Arena. They are the first pro hockey team to play in Seattle since the Seattle Totems (and their whole Western Hockey League) folded in 1975.