UPDATE 1:00pm: Regarding Tod's comments at the press conference that they would be hosting the expansion draft - I have been told by NHL Seattle that the league has not yet confirmed an expansion draft will be held in Seattle but that the group is interested in doing so should the NHL want to host it in the city.
While it may not be everything fans had hoped for, the NHL is coming to Seattle for the 2021 season. The league’s board of governors gathered at the plush Cloister in Sea Island, GA for their annual winter meetings where they voted in favor of expansion to the city.
It was clear heading into Tuesday that the league was going to give a nod to Seattle Hockey Partners but whether they would hit the ice in 2020 or 2021 remained in the fog. The Oak View Group appeared certain that renovations to KeyArena would be completed on time while the league let their hesitations be known.
“More likely the 2021-22 season than the 2020-21 season, so we have some time,” deputy commissioner Bill Daly told Emily Kaplan of ESPN prior to the vote. “A variety of factors. We’ve had that discussion on a preliminary basis with the ownership group and I think the ownership group is on board with that timeline. That’s not set in stone, but I don’t think either side is feeling any time pressure.”
Although the hockey world has jumped at the opportunity to question the league, there may be some merit to waiting. By doing so, the Oak View Group is able to extend their timeline to the right with lighter shoulders.
Seattle has been waiting far too long for this moment so taking the time to ensure everything launches without a hitch is likely the best scenario - however hard it may be for us as fans to wait an extra year.
A 2020 expansion likely would have resulted in opening the season either on the road or in an alternate building. Either case being less than ideal for both parties.
There is also a potential lockout looming in the shadows. And let’s be honest with ourselves here. As hockey fans, do we really want to rely on Gary Bettman to prevent a lockout?
With a 2021 inaugural season, OVG can measure twice and cut once while hopefully, the league and NHLPA will have their Collective Bargaining Agreement issues sorted out. Additionally, with an arena complete and waiting, the city will likely host the expansion draft in their own barn.
My mind is already running wild pondering the magic Jerry Bruckheimer could pull off for such an event.
Of course, there was a third option.
Vote on expansion with an inaugural season to be announced later in the year. I tend to fall in this camp but it appears the league didn’t want to leave other GM’s on a ledge.
Preparing for the expansion draft is a long process with rosters likely looking very different between 2020 and 2021. I was first told by a league representative that this option was off the table back in October but have yet to hear a solid reason as to why.
With all that said, NHL Seattle has arrived!
OVG is set to break ground at Seattle Center later this week and SHP will need to wire the league $200-million. With everything still so fresh, I have yet to hear any news concerning an updated timeline but suspect the team will still launch branding in the spring.
The next couple of years are going to fly by as the ownership group ramps up their gameplan in January.
Until then, there is still plenty of hockey to take in.
On December 15th, Team USA will take the ice in Everett ahead of the 2018-19 World Juniors for training camp.
The group will then head to Vancouver and Victoria, B.C to represent the United States in the WJC beginning December 26th.
We will keep you updated as information comes in following today's events.
Comments
BOOM
By Trolltossin on 12.04.18 9:10am
It's almost like if you come to the city with a reasonable arena deal instead of asking for tons of cash to be dumped on your lap, something will get done!
(Well, unless you’re Chris Hansen, but you know.)
Thanks to the NHL for actually wanting to be here, unlike the NBA, which prefers cow towns and places that don’t have a rich basketball culture.
By Razztopia on 12.04.18 9:35am
Alright you fucks
Let’s drop some pucks
By sofa-king on 12.04.18 9:45am
'tis good to be the King
By Jeff - j1012 on 12.04.18 11:26am
Where are all the comments?!?!?
This is HUGE!!! Congrats to all of us in Seattle/Washington State and thank you to the ownership group for bringing this across the finish line!
And for my fellow Sonics fans: we are down to the last domino to fall (NBA opening up for expansion/relocation) now with the arena groundbreaking tomorrow!
Historic day!!!
By SuperSonicBoom on 12.04.18 9:55am
Welcome Seattle!!!
exciting day – long overdue
Looking forward to Panthers – Totems/Metropolitans/???
By Todd Little on 12.04.18 10:02am
Metros
were not submitted to the NHL as a potential name.
By Doug Mellon on 12.04.18 10:15am
Shrug as long as it's not the (Butt- Smoke-) Kraken I will be whelmed.
Hopefully no cartoony minor league logo on the sweater.
At least we get to have that conversation in earnest now.
By sofa-king on 12.04.18 10:17am
that's funny
a reporter was saying the word around a lot of the press stationed in Georgia was Metropolitans is the rumored favorite.
Good, if it was not submitted. I think it should be Totems or something new.
By Todd Little on 12.04.18 10:19am
Bettman basically vetoed it himself, which goes with what I've been saying since hearing it from an NHL Seattle exec, what, 6 months ago now?
By Throbert Bedford on 12.04.18 11:35am
I'd prefer it, but...
…it’s already the name of one of their divisions.
By regnaD kciN on 12.04.18 7:50pm
I like the idea of honoring it with a banner, throwback nights, etc. and leaving the history in place rather than forcing a very outdated name back into existence.
By Throbert Bedford on 12.05.18 9:01am
Massive deal!
Something tells me this will be a top 10 NHL environment fairly quickly. LET’S GO (soon to be named, Seattle based) TEAM!
By JerryNice on 12.04.18 10:14am
Arena cost now at 800m
By gstommylee on 12.04.18 10:22am
This is my shocked face.
By harkening on 12.05.18 8:58am
This isn't from cost overrun or poor planning, though. The increases are self-inflicted because they're trying to build the best arena possible.
They keep adding unnecessary bells and whistles, which I’m all for.
By Throbert Bedford on 12.05.18 9:01am
Literally saw this scrolling down Twitter and scrambled over here as quick as I could. Congrats guys!!! Exciting news for the NHL fans here. Hopefully a major milestone for the NBA effort, which it sounds like is OVG’s real endgame.
I’m looking forward to seeing the nickname/design. Saw some pretty cool ones in various contests/tournaments etc.
By fr_fry228 on 12.04.18 10:26am
I'm sure the NBA was listening to Bettman
By Doug Mellon on 12.04.18 10:38am
Look, here's where I settle:
Team name: Steelheads
Team colors: Pink (Salmon pink, to be exact), black, and white
By Razztopia on 12.04.18 10:35am
on colors
just no red or blue as the primary sweater color. too much of that already in the league.
By Todd Little on 12.04.18 10:46am
I was hoping for emerald green on the one hand
but on the other hand, I like the idea of a hard split from the green that is a part of four of the five main pro teams around here (MLS, WNBA, MLB, NFL) and will be a part of the fifth if the Sonics make it back.
By Razztopia on 12.04.18 11:01am
Horizontal stripes on the leggings
e.g. Devils, Habs, Rangers, Maple Leafs, Sharks. No sock design e.g. Predators, Golden Knights.
For names, I can live with anything but Emeralds (Firebirds ain’t bad:))—-redundant—people saying Ems like the Ms! and potential lack of a good logo for a rock), and Sasquatch—A sport with speed, skill, and finesse should not be associated with a hairy hominid ape like creature; Imagine a mascot on skates in a Sasquatch outfit? One doesn’t think of Hockey with a team name such as Sasquatch, Harry and the Hendersons, yes, but not hockey. We would be an object of ridicule inside and outside of the sports world. Grist for late night TV show hosts.
By NWEastcoaster on 12.04.18 6:51pm
Tim vehemently vetoed the Sasquatch a year ago, so you can count on that one being left out of the running. Agree 100% on the traditional socks.
The "modern" socks are terrible.
Surprisingly, I don’t hate the "Firebirds," as it is way better than any fish/squid name already.
By Throbert Bedford on 12.05.18 9:03am
Got worried a little:)
Too many people in the press (and fans!!!!) suggested that the team could be named Sasquatch. I knew Tim was not in favor of the Metropolitans, but don’t recall an opposition to Sasquatch.
By NWEastcoaster on 12.05.18 7:08pm
Direct Tim quote (I shortened for Twitter) from December 2017:
"I think Mr. [B&B] are very very involved []. If we’re fortunate enough to get a team, we’ll let the public decide [] the name of the team [] and we’ll live by that. I’m not doing Sasquatch. That’s the only thing. I can’t do Sasquatch. I’m just, it doesn’t work."
It’s the most direct opposition to a name on record. I heard from one of the execs at the open house, what, 6+ months ago, that they weren’t considering Metropolitans either, so those were the only two hard "vetos" that I knew about. I guess Kraken is off the table per Doug. I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re not considering Totems, either, but I do like the name. I hope they’re working out a deal with Kent’s team for the Thunderbirds (the Orca’s direct enemy would be perfect).
By Throbert Bedford on 12.06.18 9:50am