The Seattle Kraken officially have a mascot and it was certainly not the one hockey fans were expecting.
On Saturday, during the team’s preseason game against the Vancouver Canucks, the Kraken announced their newest mascot Buoy, a sea troll inspired by a Seattle landmark, the Fremont Troll. The news came as a surprise to many, not just because the Kraken are only in their second year as a franchise, but also because the team’s mascot isn’t a sea creature of some kind.
Instead of an octopus-type creature or some other seafaring animal or myth, the Kraken went with a blue haired troll — with an anchor earring! — straight out of the Trolls doll collection from the 1990s.
yoohoo 👋 pic.twitter.com/wQaPFYm1fx
— Buoy (@SEAbuoy) October 2, 2022
Here’s how Buoy was announced to Seattle fans, with quite the entrance from the rafters too.
Oh Buoy, this is going to be good! 😉
Welcome to The Deep, @SEAbuoy! pic.twitter.com/ZNCNfqn4iR
— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) October 2, 2022
I’m willing to give Buoy a chance here, because he’s not even a day old, but it does feel really disappointing the Kraken couldn’t keep up their run of excellent branding to create a mascot more unique than this. But hey, at least Buoy is having fun with hockey fans on Twitter already.
*literally exists* 🥱 pic.twitter.com/T79mZgW8Td
— Buoy (@SEAbuoy) October 2, 2022
It seems like it’s going to take some time for NHL fans to warm up to Buoy.
NHL fans were perturbed after the announcement of the Kraken's new mascot, Buoy
Buoy???? You had ALL the sea creature options in the world and you pick a TROLL????
— robert 🏳️🌈 (@rs_molloy) October 2, 2022
therapist: Buoy the Troll can’t hurt you
Buoy the Troll: pic.twitter.com/k61H0PkFSq
— alyssa (@alyssaturnz) October 2, 2022
Oh Buoy this sucks https://t.co/WlRMkagPG7
— Taco Bella (@bellathetaco) October 2, 2022
buoy the troll wins worst mascot award lmao
"ah yes, i know how to embody the spirit of the kracken: a smooth beige oval with blue hair & a clown nose. make it as generically off-brand-pixar as possible. perfect. no notes." pic.twitter.com/k4LtKBTqEm
— here lies musa (@idealbraintonic) October 2, 2022
happy spooky season from my new sleep paralysis demon https://t.co/43tHL9Qp6l
— el (@tensevowel) October 2, 2022
Seattle Kraken: we want an innovate new mascot who represents our team and city
Tired designer who stayed up all night watching Frozen with their kids: I have just the thing pic.twitter.com/fa7nbuXi15
— Hockey Players With Animals (And Other Chaos) (@animalsofhockey) October 2, 2022
Buoy should have been a hot merman. Absolutely ripped. He should have been giving daddy issues not furby energy
— in the Court’s opinion (@ChaosInTheCourt) October 2, 2022
why are we hating on buoy when it looks like every teenage hockey player trying to grow a mullet it’s representation pic.twitter.com/5QUlNgKGFo
— sasha (formerly formerly the nordiques) (@goalietaps) October 2, 2022
I'm sorry what? This is a huge miss. You have an awesome brand with so many things you could have expanded on and this is your best. Wack. https://t.co/BRScQyN7Bb
— Blais (@BlaisHunter) October 2, 2022
And yet, some NHL fans were willing to give Buoy a chance
To be honest, ya Buoy wouldn’t have been my first choice and on first glance, I’m not a fan of the style, but remember, gritty was universally disliked when he debuted, and now he is one of the most beloved mascots in all of sports. Give Buoy time to build a personality.
— Seattle Kraken Countdown (@KrakenCountdown) October 2, 2022
just a Weird Little Guy https://t.co/7bIyVaa9ue
— Catherine Tinker (@catherinetinker) October 2, 2022
NHL Mascots rated:
1. Gritty
2. Buoy
3.— EvolvingWild (@EvolvingWild) October 2, 2022
