Mar 2, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly (right) speaks to the media as NHL players association director Don Fehr during a press conference for the upcoming 2016 World Cup of Hockey at Intercontinental Hotel. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports / Reuters Picture Supplied by Action Images

Seattle’s bid to receive an NHL expansion franchise likely won’t be voted on until December.

So says NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly, who termed it “doubtful” that the NHL board of governors would vote on the matter earlier.

“We would have the vote in person,” Daly told reporters in reference to a scheduled meeting in Florida.

Seattle Hockey Partners, the group behind the city’s bid for a franchise, is slated to make a formal presentation to the executive committee on Oct. 2. But a vote won’t occur that day.

The NHL recently expanded into Las Vegas for the 2017-18 season, so the league isn’t in a hurry to put a 32nd team in play.

Daly said a Seattle squad likely wouldn’t enter the NHL until 2021-22, but the ownership group is aiming to have the league in the Pacific Northwest for the 2020-21 campaign.

“I think the ownership group is on board with that timeline,” Daly said of 2021-22. “That’s not set in stone, but I don’t think either side is feeling any time pressure.”

The Seattle group is working on an arena plan, but KeyArena would likely renovated to serve as the initial home.

--Field Level Media