The California Golden Seals were a product of the '70s and so of course their team colors looked like a Baby Boomer’s kitchen. 
They couldn’t get the rights to Black Knights because that’s the team name of Bill Foley’s alma mater, West Point. The US Gov’t wasn’t going to give away that name.
Gary Bettman was there, of course (and think Og he relishes the role of the heel) and he made a little speech about how “this will be your identity in the NHL, this is a big deal and all of you are a part of it blah blah blah”, and then they spring this shitty name on the crowd.
The internet trolling started about 23 seconds after the announcement, most likely by someone standing in the crowd with me. You can hear the crowd go “Whaaaaaaaa???” and boo in the video I shot.