Seattle has officially submitted their expansion application, and now will start their season ticket drive in just a few days. On March 1st, fans will be able to put a deposit down on season tickets for a potential first season, helping to indicate support for the franchise. By no means does this guarantee the NHL will be heading to the Pacific Northwest, but it is a key next step in the process.
The plan is for Seattle to enter the NHL for the 2020-21 season, meaning teams will already need to start preparing for a potential expansion draft. Though rosters will substantially change in the next few years, teams will have to make sure they’re not left in a position that Seattle can leverage into draft picks and prospects like Vegas was less than a year ago. With teams like Anaheim and Columbus, the Golden Knights were able to use their fear of losing a key player to gain valuable assets like Shea Theodore, William Karlsson and several high draft picks.
Fans of Seattle will hope for a similar situation, but it seems highly unlikely that they’ll be able to replicate the Golden Knights’ immediate success. That is, if the season ticket drive and application go according to plan and a franchise is awarded.