Nation Notebook: The NHL and Seattle get Serious

The NHL allows Seattle to submit an application for expansion and run a ticket drive, similar to Las Vegas. Andrei Markov has some frustrations with Montreal. Artemi Panarin has a historic night. Pittsburgh is still looking for a center. The Vegas Golden Knights Twitter account is at it again.

Seattle will get an NHL franchise. The application process and ticket drive is more of a  formality, like Vegas. The NHL moved fast once Seattle got its arena situation under control. Sorry, Quebec fans. If all goes as planned Seattle will enter the league for the 2020-21 season.

That’s plenty of time to get everything in order for the NHL’s 32nd franchise. Like, how do you alter the divisions? Seattle is going to be in the Pacific, but that leaves too many teams, with one that’ll have to head to the Central. Will the expansion process remain the same? Vegas is tearing it up, so Seattle’s entrance will be widely anticipated. Plus, the owners love that $650 million in expansion money.

Andrei Markov isn’t happy with his exit from Montreal. Markov doesn’t seem like a fan of Canadiens general manager Mark Bergevin, and felt disrespected by the lack of negotiation from Montreal. They gave him the two years he wanted, but felt slighted by the way they made their offer.

Artemi Panarin had five assists last night against New Jersey. All primary assists, too. Panarin ties the record for most points in a game for a Blue Jacket, and the last NHL player with five primary assists since Brian Leetch with the New York Rangers in 1995. The Panarin for Brandon Saad trade was shocking, but it’ll look real good for Columbus if Panarin’s scoring continues. Saad’s on pace for 42 points, and although they are different styles of players, it’s hard to argue against the one that can score 70 points. Saad has a couple more years on his contract, but Panarin might be worth it even with that contract uncertainty.

According to the Pittsburgh-Post Gazette’s Jason Mackey, the Penguins are still in the market for a center, even with the Riley Sheahan trade. Mackey cites the need for a young, third line center that can score, which might not be Sheahan considering his unreliable track record. He mentions the Vegas centers as possibilities, but what about Ryan Strome? This is just me spitballing here, but if the Oilers are out of it, he’d make an intriguing option for Pittsburgh. He can play behind Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, and still have talented wingers. The Oilers are reportedly disappointed in the trade and not committed to Strome, so moving him in a deal for futures could make sense in a lost season. Strome might be a healthy scratch for the Oilers against Montreal today.

Did Nashville reporters clap in the press box when the Predators scored? A Vegas Golden Knights tweet stirred up controversy last night, with many Nashville media vehemently denying it. The Golden Knights deleted the tweet, but members of the Nashville media want an apology. The Vegas Twitter account has made some questionable tweets before, so it’s possible this is just another poor joke gone bad.