Francis says Seattle franchise hopes to have name by '1st part' of 2020

Ron Francis is shedding some light on how soon Seattle's NHL team is expected to choose a name.

"It's my understanding we'll hopefully get a name out the first part of 2020, and hopefully with that will be some colors as well," the club's general manager said, according to NHL.com's Nick Cotsonika.

Francis was named the expansion franchise's first GM earlier this month. He has yet to hire a head coach.

The team won't begin play until the fall of 2021, following that year's NHL draft and expansion draft.