New Utah NHL Team's Logo Leak Stirs Excitement and Speculation

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Sam Jones
June 1, 2024 (7:59)

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Earlier today, the sports world buzzed with the unexpected leak of the new Utah NHL team's logo, stirring excitement and speculation among fans and pundits alike.

The leaked imagery surfaced on social media, hinting at the future visual identity of the team which is yet to be officially named.

Igniting a flurry of online discussions. This early peek may shape initial fan sentiments and expectations as the community eagerly anticipates the formal unveiling.

Ryan Smith, the new owner of the Utah NHL team, has taken a unique approach in involving the fan base in the branding process. He has decided not to select a new team name or logo for the upcoming season, instead opting for a fan-driven approach reminiscent of the NCAA's naming brackets.

Smith's strategy mirrors a similar initiative by the PWHL, which plans to adopt its new names and logos next year. Fans can expect to participate actively in the decision-making process, a method confirmed by multiple sources including

The decision to use 'Utah' rather than 'Salt Lake City' in the team name aligns with Smith's ownership of the NBA's Utah Jazz. He aims to create synergy between the two franchises, proposing a shared color scheme of either purple and white or purple and blue. The ambitious idea of featuring elements from both teams on each other's jerseys was also floated by Smith, though such a crossover is unprecedented and would require approval from both the NHL and NBA.

This development follows the relocation of the former Arizona Coyotes to Salt Lake City, an arrangement orchestrated by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, Ryan Smith, and Alex Meruelo. With the Coyotes' operations now moved, Meruelo has a five-year timeline to construct a new arena in Arizona, retaining the rights to an expansion team, as detailed in.

As the sports community watches closely, the outcome of the fan-driven naming and logo selection is highly anticipated. Ryan Smith's innovative approach not only engages the fan base but also sets a new precedent in team branding within major league sports. The final announcement, expected to establish the new identity by the 2025 season, is eagerly awaited by fans and sports enthusiasts alike, marking a new chapter for the NHL in Utah.