(New York, NY)  --  An NHL franchise in Seattle is getting closer to reality.  The league's executive committee voted 9-0 on Tuesday to move Seattle's expansion bid to a full board of governors vote, which will take place in December.  The 31-member board needs a three-quarters majority vote for expansion, but NHL commission Gary Bettman is confident that will get done.  KeyArena in Seattle has been approved for a 700-million-dollar renovation, granted that the NHL officially awards the city a team in December.