NHL owner Ryan Smith shares unexpected name for the Utah NHL team

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Hunter Bowman
April 18, 2024 (5:37 PM)

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The NHL's board of governors has just green-lit the relocation of the Coyotes to Utah, sparking a flurry of preparation for the team's new home. The newly relocated team faces the immediate task of establishing its identity, starting with a team name.

Owner Ryan Smith has stated that while the team will adopt "Utah" in its official title rather than "Salt Lake City," they won't rush the naming process. For the upcoming season, the franchise may simply go by "Utah Hockey Club."

This tentative naming strategy allows the team to focus on developing a fitting brand and identity, reminiscent of how the NFL's Washington team temporarily adopted "Washington Football Team" as its name, which garnered a surprising level of fan approval.

A few weeks back, the Utah ownership conducted fan surveys to gauge preferences for the team's official name. Sports journalist Greg Wyshynski hinted that a name could be announced as early as tomorrow, with new colors to be revealed later in the week.

Beyond branding efforts, the Utah team is poised to make significant moves in the player market.

With high-profile free agents like Steven Stamkos, Sam Reinhart, and Jake Guentzel on their radar, Utah aims to enhance their roster substantially, promising a stronger performance on the ice than what was seen from the Coyotes in recent seasons.

Source: Oilersdaily
Surprising name of Utah NHL team revealed