Report: Prospective Seattle NHL owner won't submit expansion bid before deadline

Prospective NHL owner Victor Coleman, who's expected to back an expansion team in Seattle, will not submit a bid before Monday's league-mandated deadline, reports Chris Daniels of King 5 News.

A source involved from the Seattle effort said Friday the Coleman group had told the NHL it wanted to finalize the arena site before submitting an application. The same source also indicated Vancouver, B.C., native Coleman hoped to "fast track" the expansion process once a land deal is completed. Coleman's camp, according to sources, also indicated it is still committed to bringing an NHL franchise to Seattle.

The deadline called for a $10-million down payment, $2 million of which was non-refundable.

Daniels also reports that Coleman "wants to work out a deal to allow for a hockey team to play in a potential new arena in Seattle's SoDo neighborhood."

Investor Chris Hansen, who owns land south of Safeco Field in that neighborhood, has said he hasn't received an offer, although the two sides have spoken.