Seattle's NHL Team Will Spend $7 Million For Monorail Upgrades

Seattle will join the NHL as an expansion franchise for the 2021-22 season, and the organization is already going great lengths to make games accessible for their fans.

The 32nd NHL franchise (name to be determined) shared their plans to present free public transit for those attending games, per NHL.com. The games will be played at KeyArena, which is located in downtown Seattle.

NHL Seattle also announced that they'll spend $7 million to upgrade Westlake Station, which will help fans transport fans from the downtown area to KeyArena in only six minutes.

And for what it's worth, the team said the revealing of their name isn't "imminent at this time." The Seattle Kraken, Seattle Sea Lions, Seattle Emeralds are among the many team name ideas that have floated around.

Seattle's NHL franchise will be play in the Pacific Division, along with the Anaheim Ducks, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks, Vancouver Canucks and Vegas Golden Knights.

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The Arizona Coyotes, who play in the Pacific Division, will be moved to the Central Division, which features the Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators, St. Louis Blues and Winnipeg Jets.

Hockey Hall of Famer Ron Francis, who previously served as general manager for the Carolina Hurricanes, will hold the GM role for Seattle's NHL team. A head coach has not been announced, however, although there won't be any shortage of quality candidates out there.

There will also be an expansion draft in 2021 that will help Seattle make up their franchise. It will be the same format that was used for the Vegas Golden Knights in 2017, where teams have to protect one goalie. They'll have the choice to protect either eight skaters or seven forwards and three blueliners. Players in their entry-level deals are automatically protected, and teams will not be forced to use protection slots on them.

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