NHL BOARD IS SWEET ON SEATTLE
The NHL is moving forward with plans to expand to Seattle. Commissioner Gary Bettman said Tuesday the board of governors’ executive committee recommended proceeding with Seattle’s expansion application with an eye on voting to approve the league’s 32nd franchise in December. The recommendation came a few hours after key stakeholders presented their case to the committee. Bettman agreed with Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan that the preference is for the team to begin play in the 2020-21 season and that’s still a real possibility as long as renovations to KeyArena in downtown Seattle proceed as scheduled. After meeting with the executive committee, Durkan, Seattle Hockey Partners president and CEO Tod Leiweke and majority owner David Bonderman did not want to do a victory lap yet. “It’s been a long time coming and we can be patient,” Leiweke said.