Here Are The Best And Worst Names Fans Pitched For A Salt Lake City NHL Team

It's no secret that Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith wouldn't mind adding an NHL team to his sports ownership portfolio.

This week, he has gone a step further asking fans what they think a Salt Lake City-based NHL team should be called.

Of course, the league plopping a team in Utah isn't set in stone, but the city is a major player for a possible expansion franchise or the relocation of an existing team (let's be honest: probably the Coyotes if they keep running into arena drama).

The market is on the NHL's radar, and so Smith shared a survey soliciting team names.

We don't know what people are throwing in the survey, but we do know what people are commenting on X.

As far as names go with the NHL's two newest teams — the Vegas Golden Knights and the Seattle Kraken — I think they've been pretty successful, so let's look at some of the names people are pitching for a hypothetical Salt Lake City/Utah-based NHL team.

Some are good, while others simply aren't.

Good Name: Utah Yetis

One of the names that has really been floating around is Utah Yetis. Never mind the obvious geographical issues — Yetis are known to habit the Himalayas on the other side of the world — it certainly rolls off the tongue.

That's a great set, and as a fan of cryptozoology, I'm all about it and would probably buy a Utah Yetis hat.

However, I can't imagine the league would be too pumped about going back to the mythical creatures well when the most recent team is the Seattle Kraken.

Still, in a vacuum, it's an awesome name and look.

Loser: Brine Shrimp

The funny thing with team names is that sometimes it matters which level a team is playing at. For instance, Rocket City Trash Pandas is a great name… for a minor league team.

For an MLB team? No bueno.

That's how I feel about Salt Lake City Brine Shrimp. 

If this was the name of an AHL or ECHL club, it's kind of great. 

But can you imagine tuning in to watch the Brine Shrimp play the Blackhawks? Or the Red Wings? Or any of the other iconic NHL names?

I can't, and so while it's not a bad name by any means, it's just not an NHL name.

Winner: Utah Olympians

Salt Lake City hosted the Olympics in 2002, and there's a good chance it will again in the 2030s, so why not tip the team's cap to the Olympics?

I think that's a solid identity and playing into the Greek mythology would be cool… or confusing because it has little to do with Utah.

I like this concept, but I do think a certain team that plays in Ottawa might think it looks a little too much like some of the logos.

Loser: Utah Rangers

I think you can figure out why…

Winner: Salt Lake Stingers

You can't go wrong with some local and state tie-in and one X user pitched a pretty good one.

It's a pretty cool name, but I think it immediately brings to mind a yellow and black color palette, and that's already being used by the Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins.

I'm sure there are some ways to think outside the box with that though, and, hey, the kids lover alliteration, so this one is a winner in my book.

…

Who knows what will come of this, but considering the success the NHL has had with its two most recent expansions, I wouldn't be surprised if we get some more teams popping up over the next few years.

If it happens, there are definitely some names to choose from… and others to avoid.