If the Seattle Kraken ever find themselves a little lost, now they have a Buoy.
The team revealed its new mascot, Buoy the Troll, before a preseason game against the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday. Buoy, with aqua-blue nose and long, blue-tinted hair, immediately garnered some attention on social media.
The mascot dropped in from the ceiling of Climate Pledge Arena to say hello to fans. Before the big reveal, Kraken forward Morgan Geekie and a team of three young fans tried to help figure out what the mascot should be. Some Seattle-area athletes weighed in with some thoughts and advice for the NHL's youngest team. The trio of kids took some video calls on the team's behalf in a video shared by the Kraken. It started with former Supersonics forward Detlef Schrempf suggesting the Kraken borrowing Squatch from his NBA days.
Mariners pitcher Paul Sewald said the mascot should be "funny and who likes to dance." Seahawks running back Deejay Dallas [who you may remember from his recent Brandon Tanev imitation], asked the obvious question. "Have you thought about a Kraken?" Dallas asks, before being reminded the Kraken is way too big for an indoor arena. Phallon Tulis-Joyce, goalkeeper for OL Reign suggested the giant Pacific octopus. Seattle Storm player Breanna Stewart threw things to Mayor Bruce Harrell who said the mascot should be "something we recognize and love." Jaison Scott co-owner of Pike Place Fish Market suggested a salmon mascot, but he was reminded that salmon are for post-game celebrations. The kid squad was also reminded by an octopus at the Seattle Aquarium that the eight-legged sea creature is already a mascot in the League for the Detroit Red Wings. More than a few NHL mascots welcomed Buoy to the family.
