NHL commissioner Gary Bettman is pushing to get an expansion team in Seattle, according to a report by KJR radio in Seattle.
Mitch Levy, a host on the station, sent this tweet early Wednesday: "The short of it is: I'm hearing that the NHL Commish is encouraging the board of governors to make an expansion team available to Seattle."
Levy also reported an expansion team would cost about $275 million and, if approved, would begin play during the 2014-15 season. However, he cautioned that an expansion franchise in Seattle remains contingent on two things: a solid ownership coming forward and buying the team, and the proposed new downtown arena staying on track to be built.
Levy reports that the ownership group that was interested in purchasing the Phoenix Coyotes and moving them to Seattle is among the potential groups in play in the expansion bid.
Earlier this year, Seattle made an unsuccessful bid to lure the NBA’s Kings from Sacramento. That attempt did get the ball rolling in terms of the proposed arena, however.
