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Francis: Seattle planning to announce name in early 2020

Bruce Bennett / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The hockey world will be waiting until the new year to find out the name of the NHL's newest franchise, says general manager Ron Francis.

"(Owner) Tod (Leiweke) keeps trying to drag me into that one, but I'm trying to stay out of it," Francis told Sports Illustrated's Alex Prewitt. "They have a firm that's working on that. There's a meeting every week on it. The plan is to have a name as we get early into 2020."

In January 2018, Seattle's ownership group reportedly registered trademarks for 13 potential names, with the Cougars, Eagles, Emeralds, Evergreens, Firebirds, Kraken, Rainiers, Renegades, Sea Lions, Seals, Sockeyes, Totems, and Whales all making the list.

The Seattle Times conducted an unofficial fan poll in October, and the Sockeyes - a type of salmon native to the northern Pacific Ocean - beat out the Totems as the winner.

On top of figuring out a team name, Seattle has to fill out its staff as major renovations to KeyArena are completed. The club is set to take the ice for the 2021-22 season.

Francis was hired as the first GM in franchise history on July 18.

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