If someday there was a Seattle NHL team could they just go ahead and use the old name and hoist a Stanley Cup banner in their building like Ottawa did?-or is there some organization that they would have to buy the rights from?
No, no teams have the right to it. I think the city of Seattle does. But I don't think they will be called the Metropolitans, probably something like the Totems, or something Narive.. Because of Cheif Seattle.. I hope they raise that banner when we get a team though..
Because the team folded the NHL has the right to keep the name legally which they have always chosen to do. In this case they have maintained rights to the name and can allow a team that moves there (or expands...lets hope expansion isnt the answer) to take that name if they choose. Only when a team re-locates can they keep possession of the name if it meets the criteria they agreed to when they came into ownership in the NHL. A couple examples....the Flames were originally the Atlanta Flames but when they were awarded a franchise the 2nd time around for obvious reasons they couldnt reclaim the name since the move of the franchise was from Atlanta to Calgary. However when the Jets moved to Phoenix the NHL got possession of the Jets name (through court action) and the new Winnipeg Jets had to seek permission from the NHL and not the Coyotes. If the Minnesota Wild had asked at the time they came into the league they DID actually have the right to ask the NHL for approval to be the North Stars since the Dallas Stars had to relinquish the rights to the North Star brand back to the NHL. If Seattle chooses to seek and get a franchise (all indications are it will happen) they will have the right to ask the NHL for permission to use the old Metro's name and logo if they choose. And even though they can have the name since the Metro's were never an NHL franchise the records wont come with the franchise so it is unlikely the NHL would grant permission to hang banners from the Stanley Cup teams of the 20's. But the NHL could relent and allow them to hoist banners if they felt there was a marketing advantage....only Ottawa has sought and received such permission.
