Rising from the deep: How the Kraken broke the ice on hockey in Seattle

In 2018, the National Hockey League approved an expansion team for Seattle. Early on, there were several ideas for a name, from the Totems to the Metropolitans, before eventually settling on The Kraken.

The Kraken's first season left a lot to be desired — they won just 27 games. But the fact that Seattle now hosts the NHL's 32nd franchise marks the end of a long road that took decades of planning.

The ins and outs of that history are at the center of a new book by Geoff Baker, titled "Rising from the Deep: The Seattle Kraken, a Tenacious Push for Expansion, and the Emerald City's Sports Revival."

Baker covers hockey for The Seattle Times and recently spoke with Soundside producer Alec Cowan about the efforts that brought The Kraken to life, along with the local idiosyncrasies that make the team what it is today.

Listen to the full conversation with Geoff Baker by clicking the audio above.