NHL promised All-Star Game to Seattle within 7 years

The NHL's newest franchise will apparently host the league's midseason showcase in the first decade of its existence.

Seattle's new team has been promised an All-Star Game within seven years, commissioner Gary Bettman told reporters, including NHL.com's Nick Cotsonika, on Wednesday.

Bettman added that the draft is likely coming sooner than the All-Star Game, and that the team name should be revealed in 2019.

He also said the NHL will have to study the feasibility of an outdoor game there.

Seattle will begin play in 2021-22, one season later than the franchise was originally hoping to enter the league.