Seattle NHL Group Names Former Canucks Exec Victor De Bonis COO

Former Canucks COO VICTOR DE BONIS has been "hired to fill the same position" for the Seattle NHL Group, according to Geoff Baker of the SEATTLE TIMES. The NHL is expected to "announce the awarding of a 32nd franchise to the NHL Seattle group" at the BOG meetings in December. De Bonis "spent 23 years in roles with the Canucks," and had served as the team's alternate rep on the NHL BOG since '10. The group also announced "local construction magnate" KEN JOHNSEN has been appointed Construction Executive for the Oak View Group's Seattle office in its $700M KeyArena "redevelopment as well as the building of an NHL practice facility" ( SEATTLE TIMES, 11/6 ).