NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman shares the sports world’s amazement at the Vegas Golden Knights‘ ability to reach the Stanley Cup Final in their first year of existence.

But if the league adds another team in Seattle in the near future [url=http://www.titanscheapstore.com/harold-landry-jersey-cheap]Cheap Harold Landry Jersey[/url] , Bettman expects it to have every opportunity to accomplish the same feat under the same favorable expansion terms given to Vegas.

The commissioner also acknowledged that the Emerald City could secure that expansion team within the year.

The Golden Knights are hosting the Washington Capitals after winning the Western Conference in an inaugural season that ”quite simply astonished the sporting world,” Bettman said in his usual state-of-the-league remarks before the Final opened on Monday night.

Sour grapes were understandable among the fans of other NHL teams after Vegas’ incredible ascent to the top of a league with 12 other teams that have never won the Stanley Cup and seven more that haven’t won it in the last 20 years.

The Golden Knights cleverly built this winner with an undeniably generous expansion draft that allowed them to select the likes of franchise goalie Marc-Andre Fleury and many other proven NHL players. Yet Bettman said he has received ”no pushback whatsoever” about the favorable expansion draft from the league’s other 30 owners

”I think people (around hockey) are excited,” Bettman said. ”I think it’s gotten their attention.”

Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly both confirmed the NHL plans to keep the same rules on the next expansion draft. If it happens within the next two years, as increasingly expected, Vegas won’t have to lose any of its players, Daly added.

The vote on adding a Seattle franchise won’t happen in June when the board of governors meets during the league’s annual awards show in Las Vegas, Bettman said. But the board will get an update on Seattle’s plans, and a formal vote could happen later this year, perhaps at meetings in September or December.

”There is a lot of due diligence that has to be done [url=http://www.newyorkgiantsteamonline.com/lawrence-taylor-jersey]Lawrence Taylor Jersey[/url] , a lot of interaction with the prospective ownership group,” Bettman said of the group headed by billionaire investment banker David Bonderman. ”We think we’re on target, and depending on how everything goes, it wouldn’t surprise me that there is a possibility that in the fall, early winter at the latest, that this could be addressed by the board. But we’re not there yet, and there is still work to be done.”

Seattle hopes to be ready to become the NHL’s 32nd franchise in 2020, pending a $600 million renovation of Key Arena. But after the energizing effect of the Golden Knights on this hockey season, the league’s appetite for expansion – and the likely $650 million fee that will be split among the league’s other owners – has been whetted.

The NHL also has talked about adding a franchise in Houston [url=http://www.cincinnatibengalsteamonline.com/billy-price-jersey]Billy Price Youth Jersey[/url] , the largest metropolitan area in the U.S. or Canada without a team. Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta has showed interest in joining the league, but a bid likely is years away.

”I don’t think at this point in time there’s interest in filing for an expansion franchise,” Daly said. ”I think they’re relatively new NBA owners. They’re getting their feet under them in terms of operating that franchise, knowing that that means. At some point in time, we’ll have a discussion with them about whether there’s an NHL team to pursue.”

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More Stanley Cup coverage:

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Forgettable campaigns for both the Buffalo Sabres and Ottawa Senators are nearing an end. Before they conclude, the two teams will meet in Buffalo’s home finale on Wednesday night.

The Sabres (25-42-12) have lost eight of their last 11 games as they prepare to finish their first season under head coach Phil Housley. Buffalo is coming off a 5-2 loss to the rival Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday and also had a 6-3 loss to the Detroit Red Wings last Thursday.

The Sabres have had a few positive moments sprinkled in between their struggles, particularly in the second half of the season — which included a stunning surprise 7-4 win over the Nashville Predators on Saturday.

In that game, top playmaker Jack Eichel had a career-best five assists in the victory [url=http://www.dallascowboysteamonline.com/michael-gallup-jersey]Michael Gallup Jersey[/url] , tying a franchise record. Eichel became the fourth Buffalo player to record five assists in a single game.

The loss to the Maple Leafs, however, was a stark reminder of just how far the Sabres have to go in order to turn things around in the future.

“That’s a good team over there, they brought it,” goalie Chad Johnson said after the loss, according to the team’s website. “Their skilled players or their best players were their best players. At the end of the day you wish you could personally, as a team, beat all these top teams all the time and have great numbers, great statistics. It’s tough beating these guys when they’re at their best. There’s a reason why they have as many points as they do. We’re still finding that consistency in our game.”

Eichel leads the Sabres in scoring with 62 points (25 goals [url=http://www.ravenscheapstores.com/hayden-hurst-jersey-cheap]Hayden Hurst Jersey[/url] , 37 assists) in 64 games. Ryan O’Reilly is second on the team with 58 points (22 goals, 36 assists) in 58 games. Young forward Sam Reinhart has turned the corner in the second half of the season, posting 48 points (24 goals, 24 assists) in 79 games.

One highlight for Sabres fans will be a Dominik Hasek bobblehead giveaway as part of the team’s fan appreciation night. Every fan who attends the game will receive one bobblehead.

The Senators (27-41-11) are also limping to the finish line in what has been a remarkably frustrating and surprising season. Ottawa has lost eight of its last night games, with the lone win coming in overtime against the Florida Panthers last Thursday. Ottawa’s most recent defeat came in a 6-5 loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Monday.

“We showed some character coming back,” Senators coach Guy Boucher said, according to the team’s website. “But we made too many mistakes defensively to allow us to win.”

With his future unclear, Senators captain Erik Karlsson did not make the trip with the team to Buffalo. It remains to be seen if Karlsson has played his last game for the Senators. Karlsson picked up the final puck in the loss to Winnipeg before leaving the ice.

Karlsson is under contract through one more season but has been surrounded by trade rumors all season long.

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