Seattle NHL Team Picks Hall Of Fame Player For GM

With just two years to go until the first puck drops, the Seattle NHL expansion franchise has named Ron Francis as it's new general manager.  Francis, who played 22 seasons in the NHL and is 5th in all time points.

Francis has played on two Stanley Cup winning Pittsburgh Penguin teams.    He previously had been general manager with the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Seattle team has yet to pick a nickname, but getting a known general manager should get it on the right track to build a winning franchise.

NHL Expansion Vote Won't Be In June

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman (pictured) has stated that reports that the League  vote on expansion could happen this June are untrue.  Bettman said that a vote will probably take place in fall or early winter at the latest. 

No doubt, some will blame the newly passed Seattle Head Tax for the delay.  However, I don't that had anything to do with that and no one has said anything yet that hints a halting of expansion plans.

Expansion Golden Knights Going To Finals

The State Of Nevada's first Major Sports Franchise, The Las Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League , are going to the Stanley Cup finals in their first year of existence.  The Golden Knights beat the Winnipeg Jets 2-1 to become the first expansion team to go to it's  sport's championship finals since the St Louis Blues, also an NHL team, did it in 1968.  The Golden Knights were beat the Jets, 4 games to 1.

This should elevate excitement in our area for Seattle's possible NHL expansion team, which is scheduled to be announced next month.

NHL In Seattle Gets One Step Closer

 

Seattle winters may be more exciting in the coming years as Mayor Jenny Durkan  has tweeted that OVG has completed the papers for requesting an National Hockey League expansion team.  Seattle has been without a major professional winter sports team since the NBA's Seattle Super Sonics left town in 2008. 
Of course, many Seattle sports fans are disappointed that the city didn't stay with the Chris Hansen plans to build an arena with the NBA as the primary tenant. 
The Oak View Group's plan is to remodel what is now Key Arena with the NHL as the primary tenant.  At this time, a new NBA team is not on the horizon.

NHL Said To Be Coming To Seattle

With the approval of a remodel of Key Arena, news sources are reporting that Pro Hockey could be on it's way to Seattle.  Social media has been talking at possible names which have ranged from standard to ridiculous.

Seattle Goes With OVG For Sports Arena

In what could be the most controversial of the never ending saga of new sports arenas, the Seattle City Council has given approval to Oak View Group to build a 600 million dollar renovation of what is now Key Arena.  The move means the city has abandoned efforts by Chis Hansen to build an ground up arena in the SoDo district.
Many NBA fans believe the SoDo arena would be a better in luring an NBA (pro basketball) team as Hansen indicted his desire to purchase a team.  Hansen had tried to lure the Sacramento Kings a few years back.
The Key project is said to be an attempt to lure the NHL (pro ice hockey) to Seattle, with  the possibility of the NBA returning in later years.

Oak View Group Selected In Key Remodel

The Oak View Group has been tapped by Mayor Ed Murray to redevelop the Key in an effort to get the two major winter sports in the area.  The group, let by Tim Lieweke and Irving Azoff, was introduced at a news conference.  The leaders announced a partnership with two perspective NHLowners, most likely a deciding factor in getting the nod.  Of course, the long range goal, would be to bring back the NBA. The previous mayor Mike McGinn, partnered with Chris Hanson, in attempting to build a basketball arena in Sodo that would also house Ice Hockey. 
The irony to this is that McGinn is again running for mayor, a position he lost 4 years ago.  Murray is not seeking a second term.
The Key Arena is located on the grounds of the Seattle Center, the site of the 1962 World's Fair. It was the home of the Seattle Super Sonics before the team moved to Oklahoma City to become the Thunder. 

Vegas To Get NHL Expansion Team

King 5 reports that Las Vegas will be awarded an NHL expansion team.  This in the aftermath of the Seattle City Council voting to not vacate a street for a proposed sports area, Seattle had been considered as an expansion site. It would be the city's first major sports franchise.  It has been reported 14 thousand season ticket deposits have aided the Las Vegas bid.

Gordie Howe Dies

When I started watching NHL in the late 60s, Gordie Howe was already a 40ish, 20 year ice hockey veteran, but he was no doubt, one of the best in the sport.  Howe, a Detroit Red Wing would retire in 1971, but returned to play in the upstart WHA.  He got the chance to play with his sons and when the WHA folded, he was back in the NHL where he would play until 1980.  He is the only Pro Hockey player to play in 5 different decades.  He was known as Mr. Hockey.  Howe died last night. 

Well Known Area Sports Figures Look To Build Suburban Arena

Area news sources are reporting on efforts to build a multi purpose sports arena in Tukwila, a South King County suburb not far from Maple Valley.  Among the investors are well known former Seattle Super Sonic Fred Brown, former Sonic coach and NBA legend Bill Russell, and Ray Bartoszek, who has been trying to land an NHL hockey franchise to move to Seattle. 
The involvement of Brown and Russell suggest that although an NHL franchise would be the most likely first tenant, the building of the arena could lure an eventually NBA team.  The NBA has said that team relocation and/or expansion are not in it's immediate future.  The NHL has not been as clear. 
At this time, there is also an MOU, or memorandum of understanding for Chris Hansen to build an arena in Seattle in his attempt to lure an NBA team to Seattle.  The NBA left Seattle for Oklahoma City in 2008.

Quest To Build Seattle Downtown Arena In Full Swing

The movement to build a winter sports arena in the attempt to lure NBA basketball and the National Hockey league to Seattle now has a website.    You can click here to find the site, which give the argument in favor of Arena Construction, as well as links to supporting facebook and twitter pages and e-mails of city and county government officials.  Back in February, it was reported that Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn has been in negotiations with San Francisco financier Chris Hanson to build a privately funded arena in the Sodo district near where both the Seahawks and Mariners play.