Kraken Almost-Ancestors
A half-century before the Seattle Kraken brought the National Hockey League here, Seattle was promised an NHL expansion team. Or the transfer of an existing NHL team. Or a World Hockey Association team.
Of course, none of those happened. How it all fell apart is a fascinating mid-1970s tale of broken promises, missed payments, egos, lawsuits and backroom maneuvering. This is the fourth of five stories retrieved from the dusty archives of the Seattle Times (ST) and Seattle Post-Intelligencer (P-I).
May, 1975: Sad End For Totems
“The Seattle Totem Hockey Club suspended operations and personnel have been terminated. The Vancouver Canucks have operated the farm team the past three years. Vince Abbey operated the Totems in the Central Hockey League this past season at a deficit which he says totals $180,000. This apparently does not include players’ salaries, which the Canucks had to pay when Abbey was unable.” (ST 5-3-75)
“The entire Western Hockey League has been disconnected – if destroyed isn’t a better word. As one hockey official put it recently, ‘Hockey is an idea whose time has come… and gone in Seattle.'” (P-I)
Or Has It?
“Mel Swig, owner of the California Golden Seals, tentatively has offered the team to Vince Abbey, former operator of the Seattle Totems. Swig and his associates planned a new arena, but so far have run into difficulties. Abbey previously was interested in purchase of the Seals. But it is believed the sale price will include operating losses. The price could run as high as $9 million.” (ST 5-14-76)
“The California Seals had been offered to Abbey last December, but he could not put the package together. Abbey has missed four financial deadlines from the NHL, and appears out of the running for a franchise, although he holds the territorial rights.” (ST)
“Seattle Supersonics president Sam Schulman admitted he has been contacted by the World Hockey Association. Zollie Volchok, Sonics vice president, told the Times, ‘We feel Seattle is a very viable town for a hockey franchise. We realize the NHL is the preferable league, but the way they are playing games with Seattle and Vince Abbey, I don’t know if they really intend to come in.'” (ST 5-20-75)
“The Province (Vancouver, BC newspaper) says the Baltimore Blades of the World Hockey Association will return to the league next season as the Seattle Totems.” (ST 5-24-75)
“Coleman Hall, former stockholder in the Vancouver Canucks, is attempting to form an ownership group for a Seattle entry in the National Hockey League. Hall said his group will include Irving Clark, attorney, who was part of Vince Abbey’s group. ‘I have enough encouragement from the expansion committee to go ahead. We in Vancouver feel there’s only one place for Seattle to go and that’s in the NHL.'” (ST 5-28-75)
June, 1975
“Irving Clark’s group missed its June 13 deadline for submitting an offer for the California Seals. ‘It doesn’t look too encouraging for Seattle right now,'” said Flyers GM Keith Allen, the onetime Seattle Totems coach. (ST)
Columnist Hy Zimmerman: “It was by means of some unrealistic deadlines that a faction of the NHL splattered Abbey’s image and made his fundraising more difficult. He took his lumps at all those NHL meetings, at which he often was ignored if not insulted. Abbey’s group offered the NHL $6 million cash for the Pittsburgh franchise but the offer never was considered by the Penguin owners or the NHL. ” (ST)
July, 1975: Penguins vs. Seals
“The Penguins went into bankruptcy receivership two weeks ago with $6.5 million in debts. More and more, the plight resembles that of the run-aground Pilots of Seattle. As here, a bank there has called in a note. Into this scene walks Seattle’s Vince Abbey, this time well-armed, fully documented and with the NHL much more receptive.” (ST)
“Munson Campbell, president of the Seals, said, ‘The way it looks now, the Seals are headed for Seattle unless something very radical happens very quickly.’ Abbey said he would reactivate his group to handle the Seals situation.” (ST 7-18-75)
Seals To Seattle Scuttled
“The NHL will sell the California Seals to Mel Swig, San Francisco businessman. ‘The next step,’ said Vince Abbey, ‘is a lawsuit. We were used. They have put the Western Hockey League out of business.’
“The Vancouver Canucks had operated the Totems of the Western and Central Hockey Leagues. Debts of over $2 million have accrued. ‘The pullout here by Vancouver, against the promise of the NHL, leaves me with no method of protecting hockey dates in the Coliseum. They just plain have put us out of business. And actually, I don’t think the NHL wants to expand.'” (ST 7-25-75)
“Vince Abbey and Eldred Barnes, stockholders in the defunct Seattle Totems, have filed antitrust action against the National Hockey League and its member clubs, charging the NHL with destruction of the Totems and the Western Hockey League and bad faith in the award of an expansion franchise to Seattle.” (P-I 11-18-75)
“At no time was I given anything tangible to back up a mere promise, with which I could solidify financing. I did have backing, but nothing from the league to help pin that down.” (ST)
Legendary hockey writer Stan Fischler, in The Sporting News. “For the metropolis of Seattle to be without a pro hockey team is like Raquel Welch minus sex appeal.”
Tomorrow: Final gasps for 1970s pro hockey hopes in Seattle.
Earlier Kraken:
— Kraken’s 2026 Relevance Put To The Test
— Big Time Kraken – NHL Talk With TV’s John Forslund
— Who The Heck Is … Ryden Evers
